textile collection samples brocade damask charmeuse foulard tussah silk

sample 31 brocade fiber content: silk or MF filament, often with metallic; occasionally made of cotton yarn: usually filament for brocade, often with metallic fabric construction: Jacquard weave, elaborate or intricate pattern with raised effect as if embroidered—not usually reversible, as there are often floating yarns especially on the back of the fabric weights, uses: bottom weight to heavy, used for all kinds of formal wear and accessories, drapes and upholstery names: Latin brocare, meaning to figure

sample 32 damask fiber content: silk or MF filament, but much damask today is table “linen” made of flax, cotton or rayon and blends yarn: “silky” version uses filament yarns, low twist as a rule; better quality spun yarns will be smooth and fine (cotton will be combed) fabric construction: firm Jacquard weave, with large, sweeping designs set off rom the ground by the luster of satin weave floats; in any damask there are more weft than warp; fabric is reversible, with lustrous areas on one side being duller on the other; when two colors are used, these reverse from front to back weights, uses: bottom weight to heavy, used for dressy wear, neckwear, table linens, drapes, upholstery, bedspreads and towels names: from the city Damascus, Syria

sample 33 charmeuse fiber content: silk or MF fiber yarn: warp is filament, slight twist and minor luster; weft yarn is crepe twist (very high) which gives a dull or matte look fabric construction: warp-face satin weave which puts most of either set of yarns on one side; may alternate in stripes of matte and luster; not reversible, used with more lustrous side as face weights, uses: light, top weight, soft, drapes very well with a semi-lustrous face and duller back; used for lingerie, sleepwear, loungewear, blouses, dresses, eveningwear, and trim names: French charmeuse meaning charming

sample 34 foulard fiber content: silk or filament MF yarn: filament yarn, 2/2 right-hand twill weave fabric construction: soft, smooth closely woven fabric; foulard is the name given when fabric is printed in small geometric or other design typical of classic scarf and necktie materials weights, uses: top weight, used for neckwear, lingerie, robes, blouses, dresses, and linings name: French foulard, meaning neckerchief or scarf

sample 35 tussah fiber content: silk—associated with the roughest wild silk fabrics which may be as coarse as burlap; spun by different types of undomesticated silkworms that eat oak, castor and other leaves yarn: Coarser and more uneven than cultivated silk, stiffer and of an ecru color since not all the gum can be removed from these fibers; usually spun from relatively short fiber lengths (silk as staple), producing uneven, slubby or nubby yarns fabric construction: can be made into fabric in various ways, usually plain weave weights, uses: usually bottom weight, used for dresses, suits and furnishings name: from Sanskrit tasara, meaning a shuttle