Wedding Dress Fabrics

The world of special order wedding dresses can be a daunting one. And if you do not know the terminology of the industry it can be especially frustrating. So here is a listing of the some of the most common fabrics used in the wedding dress industry.

Batiste - A fine, soft, plain weave fabric traditionally made from linen, now often made with other fibers, most commonly cotton.

Brocade - A heavy, exquisite, jacquard-type fabric with an all-over raised pattern or floral design.

Chiffon - A plain, woven, lightweight, extremely sheer, airy, and soft silk fabric, containing highly twisted filament yarns.

Crepe - Any fabric with a crinkle, crimped or grained surface.

Damask - A glossy jacquard fabric, usually made from linen, cotton, rayon, silk, or blends but in a lighter weight than brocade.

Duchess Satin - A hybrid of silk and polyester woven into a satin finish.

Dupioni - A fabric that is similar to shantung. This textured fabric is recognized by irregular-sized, thick fibers woven into the base fabric. It is different in that the fibers that create the texture, are thicker and heavier than those used in shantung.

Gazar - A criss cross weaved fabric. It looks somewhat similar to linen.

Illusion - A Semi-transparent fabric similar to organza.

Organdy - A stiffened, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric, with a medium to high yarn count.


Organza - A crisp, sheer, lightweight plain-weave fabric, with a medium to high yarn count, made of silk, rayon, nylon, or polyester.

Polyester - A manufactured fiber which has high strength, excellent resiliency, and high abrasion resistance. Low absorbency allows the fiber to dry quickly.

Rayon - A manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose, derived from wood pulp, cotton, or other vegetable matter.

Satin - A traditional fabric utilizing a satin weave construction to achieve a lustrous fabric surface. Satin is a traditional fabric for evening and wedding garments. Typical examples of satin weave fabrics include: slipper satin, crepe-back satin, faille satin, bridal satin, moleskin, and royal satin.

Shantung - A specific type of finish. Comes in medium-weight, plain-weave fabric, characterized by a ribbed effect, resulting from slubbed yarns used in the warp or filling direction. End-uses include dresses and suits.

Silk - Silk is obtained from cocoons of certain species of caterpillars. It is soft and has a brilliant sheen. It is one of the finest textiles. It is also very strong and absorbent.

Silk Mikado - A type of blended silk that is heavier than regular silk.

Taffeta - A lustrous, medium-weight, plain-weave fabric with a slight ribbed appearance in the filling. A popular choice among brides who want that "rustle" in their dress.

Tulle - A lightweight, extremely fine, machine-made netting, usually with a hexagon shaped mesh effect.