At the Silk Road, we love silk and have lots of it! Silk comes in a variety of types and textures. It can be soft and fluid like Charmeuse, or have structure and body like Dupioni. We carry a selection of fine silks including Velvet, Charmeuse, Organza, over 200 colors of Hand dyed and woven Dupioni as well as Machine Woven. Please browse through our silk pages for more information on manufacture, use, and care of fine silk.
DUPIONI:
Dupioni (sometimes spelled 'douppioni' or 'dupion'), is a lustrous silk often woven from two different colors of threads so that it shimmers or changes color in the light. Dupioni is made from an irregular, rough silk reeled from double cocoons or cocoons spun side-by-side which are interlocked, making it necessary to reel them together. Usually brightly colored, it has a moderately structured drape, fairly reflective luster, and a slubby texture. It is crisp to the touch and does not wrinkle easily or hold a crease well. It is reversible, not particularly stretchy, and relatively easy to sew.
General Uses: Dupioni is most often used for blouses, jackets, suits, skirts, dresses and draperies for the home. It is often the choice for bridal gowns due to its lustrous sheen and relatively low cost. Dupioni is easy to pin, cut and sew, making it a great choice for your next project!
Care: Dupioni is marked 'Dry Clean Only' but can also be washed IF you wash it before you cut it out. Silk Dupioni loses much of its stiffness when washed, and just a bit of its sheen, but it still looks great. It will shrink up to 12% - 5 inches (13 cm) per yard - when washed, but it is very difficult to wrinkle after that. And no dry cleaning bills! Pre-made or lined Dupioni garments should most likely be dry cleaned. Remember, to preserve the crisp texture of Dupioni, dry clean only. Otherwise, wash away (delicately, of course)!
MACHINE WOVEN DUPIONI:
Simular to Silk Shantung , it shares many of the qualities and characteristics of Dupioni. It is a medium weight silk with structure and body. Like Dupioni, the warp and weft are often two different colors, giving the fabric an iridescent look. Shantung also has a slubby texture, though much less so than Dupioni.
Uses: Shantung is most appropriate for use in structured garments such as coats, suits and dresses. It also works very well for bridal wear. Like Dupioni, Shantung is easy to pin, cut and sew!
Care: Like Dupioni, Shantung requires dry cleaning in order to maintain the it’s body. If it is washed, it becomes much softer and loses a bit of its sheen. Pre-made or lined Dupioni garments should most likely be dry cleaned.
ORGANZA:
Silk Organza is a sheer, thin, open weave fabric that is heavier and crisper than silk gauze or chiffon. It has a smooth, flat finish, is strong and durable, and gets its stiffness from tightly twisted yarns. It is often used under a garment, as an overlay or both!
Uses: Silk Organza is very lightweight and sheer but also a bit stiff. It can easily be gathered into a bouffant, used alone or over other fabrics for fitted to loosely fitted blouses, dresses and evening wear. It is also useful for facings, interfacings and lining. Organza works well as an underlining to add crispness to parts of a garment. It sews easily, does not show pin holes, and holds a crease well.
Care: Organza is washable, but as with all fabrics, it needs to be washed prior to cutting. It is best to wash in cold water and dry on low. We stock Organza in white, ivory and black. We also carry a few iridescent colors. Please give us a call for specific colors and quantities. .
CHIFFON:
Chiffon (French for ‘Rag’) is elegant and sheer, with a slightly rough feel to it. Chiffon is very lightweight, but strong. Chiffon is softer and thinner than Georgette, sometimes called 'Crepe Chiffon'. Georgette is made like chiffon, but a two or three ply yarn is used.
Uses: Chiffon is most often used for loose, full, flowing garments. It is very popular for dresses, scarves and nightgowns. Chiffon is very difficult pin, cut and sew because it is so flimsy and slippery. Because of it’s characteristics, it is not recommended for the novice seamstress.
Care: Some chiffon is made with a special starch that may leave water spots if it gets wet. Check a small piece before you attempt to wash chiffon and especially if you decide to wash a chiffon garment. A good dry cleaner can remove the water spots.