What kind of fabric is taffeta?

Modern light industry offers the consumer a huge selection of fabrics: natural and artificial, dense and almost weightless, smooth and with complex textured relief, plain and variegated. Each has its own characteristics and is designed for sewing certain types of clothing or other textiles.

One of the most beloved materials by women is taffeta: elegant, capable of adding chic to both an evening look and the surrounding environment. For a long time it was available only to very wealthy people with high social status.

Description of fabric

It is quite thin, but dense, has a beautiful gloss, looks expensive and elegant.

Composition and properties

Even 100 years ago, taffeta was made only from natural raw materials:

• silk - the highest quality and most expensive, first obtained in Persia. It is environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic and has increased abrasion resistance;
• cotton. The origins of its production are in Byzantium.It allows air and moisture to pass through better, but is slightly less wear-resistant;
• combined - based on the interweaving of cotton and silk threads.

With the development of the chemical industry there appeared items made from rayon (viscose), polyester and other artificially synthesized textiles. Although externally similar to natural materials, they behave differently in operation:

• viscose, processed from cellulose, suffers from strength - wet fabric is especially easy to tear, for example, during intensive spinning. Moreover, she significantly less permeable to air and moisture;
• acetate is the least high-quality variety of viscose; things made from it wear out quickly. However, if a girl needs to be dressed up for a matinee in kindergarten, a school competition or a concert, and the budget is limited, this is the best option;
• mixed - the most common today. Most often on the shelves you can find a combination of polyester and spandex. Thanks to the latter, the material stretches if necessary, but quickly returns to its original state.

The price of synthetic materials is an order of magnitude lower than their natural counterparts, but in terms of consumer characteristics, the former are definitely inferior to the latter: do not “breathe”, are not hygroscopic, sometimes become highly electrified, cause discomfort on the skin and even allergic reactions. They can be quite durable, but pretty soon they lose their presentable appearance.

Due to the high density of weaving, most varieties of this fabric, especially those made from artificial fibers, are water-repellent.

Features of the structure

"Taffeta" translated from Persian means "retinue". The production technology is that natural and (or) synthetic fibers are twisted and very closely intertwined with each other in a checkerboard pattern. At the same time, they can be heated, as a result of which the texture becomes as dense as possible and acquires a characteristic shine.

Interesting! For many centuries, exclusively manual labor was used to make this material. Only at the end of the 20th century did the Indians present a machine that made it possible to do this by machine. Currently, India is the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of branded taffeta.

The thickness of the fabric largely depends on the raw material: the thinnest is made from natural silk.

Advantages and disadvantages

Taffeta, like any other fabric, has its own characteristics that make it attractive to buyers:

• generally durable and lasts quite a long time;
• easy to paint, the color does not lose its brightness if used correctly;
• holds its shape perfectly, “lays down” in beautiful large folds, so it is ideal for decoration;
• the new thing looks elegant, you can “shine” in it in every sense of the word at any festive event.

The obvious disadvantages include the fact that it:

• shrinks when heated (washing in hot water, extreme drying);
• crumbles along the edges when cutting fabric;
• requires very careful attention.

Types of fabric

In addition to purely natural, increasingly rare, and artificial bases, manufacturers rely on their various combinations. And these are no longer single fabrics with 100% content of one raw material component, but a mixture of several “ingredients” in different proportions.

There are various modifications of color and texture solutions:

1. Plain - weaving threads of the same color.
2. Shanzhan is a combination of yarn of different shades, providing a chameleon effect - unusual shimmering of fabric when illuminated from different angles.
3. Printed - a contrasting pattern is applied on a smooth fabric using a special typewriter.
4. Crash is taffeta, artificially compressed under the influence of high temperatures and a mechanical press.
5. Taffeta tapestry is a fabric made of tightly knitted several (2-3) layers of threads.

Differences from similar materials

It’s easy to get confused in the huge range of fabrics now, many of them look the same and it is difficult for an ignorant person to distinguish one from the other. It is easy to mistake other shiny materials for taffeta:

• natural silk, but it is thinner and lighter;
• satin - shiny and smooth, made from silk and cotton, and increasingly from artificial mixtures. Only an experienced expert can distinguish it from taffeta;
• satin – translated from Arabic as “smooth” – is made from the same raw materials, but the weaving technology is different. Most of the warp threads end up on the right side, and the wefts end up on the back side. That's why one surface of the satin (except for double-sided) is smooth, and the other is matte;
• brocade - ideally interspersed with metal (gold, silver or platinum) threads in the silk yarn. It can sometimes be confused with printed taffeta. To dispel doubts, you just need to take it in your hands - brocade is much heavier;
• jacquard is a fabric based on not two, but many more threads knitted into a fancy large ornament, so it is denser and thicker than taffeta. The design can be created by dyeing the yarn before it is woven, or applied to the finished fabric. The second option is more used for synthetics;
• memory – 100% polyester fabric with a slight matte sheen.Just like taffeta, it is able to retain its shape, but unlike the latter, it can be easily smoothed out even by hand. Used for sewing light windbreakers.

What is made from taffeta?

This material is suitable for the manufacture of textile products. You can sew various clothing models from it:

• evening dress, blouse, skirt, any festive or carnival outfit. The leader here is smooth, shiny material, shanzhan or reaper;
• a business suit, which, depending on the cut, can be universal for both going to the office and going out.

In addition, tailors use this fabric as a lining for outerwear and bags, but with one condition - it must be without elastic additives.

Household textiles are often produced from taffeta:

• curtains;
• cushion covers;
• bedspreads;
• decorative elements - draperies, screens.

Matter is in demand and in furniture production. The densest structure is used to cover sofas and armchairs. Less commonly used to cover kitchen corners and chairs.

Subtleties of care

Taffeta is quite capricious in maintenance. Before performing any manipulations with it, it is necessary to carefully study the information on the label: water temperature, spinning and drying features, steaming mode. If the label is lost or the item is not purchased, but sewn, and there is no information about the material, The general rules of “do no harm” apply:

• It is better to wash by hand or in a machine, but in a delicate mode at a temperature of 30˚;
• use liquid detergents rather than powders;
• exclude bleaches containing chlorine, even for plain items;
• Do not use automatic spin. It is recommended to “pick up” excess moisture from the fabric using a cotton or terry towel;
• dry naturally in a straightened state on a horizontal surface covered with clean hygroscopic material. Do not place on a radiator, hang near heating devices or near an open fire.;
• iron with a warm iron from the wrong side so as not to spoil the color and shine. High temperatures can lead to material shrinkage at best, and serious thermal damage at worst.

Important! Spinning is not contraindicated for crushed taffeta, since small creases are its distinctive feature. In addition, it does not require ironing.

When storing, it is better not to fold, but to roll up the fabric; if possible, hang the clothes on hangers and cover with a protective (but not vacuum) cover.

Artificial material is easier to care for than natural material, but if you follow all the recommendations, it will last a long time and will become a highlight in the wardrobe of any fashionista or in the interior of your favorite apartment.

In the 21st century, anyone can afford to purchase this fabric. When choosing it, you must be guided by personal preferences and financial capabilities. Taffeta made from natural ingredients gives the greatest comfort and is absolutely safe. The only problem - high price, which somewhat reduces the demand for it among most buyers.

Artificial and mixed analogues are more affordable and will not create inconvenience, especially if the item will not be worn constantly and the skin is not hypersensitive. In general, this is an interesting and quite practical material that can both decorate an image and add shine to the interior.