Georgette, Chiffon, Voile, Poplin & Flannel Fabric: Features, Types & Uses

Georgette, Chiffon, Voile, Poplin, Dotted Swiss and Flannel Fabric: Types, Features & Uses

Md. Didarul Islam
Dept. of Textile Engineering,
BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT)
Email: didarul.buft@gmail.com

Fabric:
Fabric is a flexible planer substance constructed from fibers, yarn or combination of these. There are many types of fabric with different features and uses.

Woven Fabric:
It composed of warp threads and weft thread interlaced with one to another.

Classifications:

Plain: Interlacing warp and weft yarns in a pattern of over one and under one that mean each warp yarn goes alternately over and under each weft yarn
Twill: Interlacing the yarns in a pattern of diagonal lines that mean the weft thread passing over one or more warp threads then under two or more threads and so on.
Satin: Four or more weft threads passing over one warp thread/ or the opposite four or more warp threads passing over a weft thread its called satin.

Some Popular Types of Fabric and Their Uses

Georgette Fabric
Georgette is a type of crêpe fabric that is typically made from pure silk but can also be made from synthetic fibers like rayon, viscose, and polyester. It is easily dyed in any colors and is one of the most popular fabrics for printing. Georgette is typically a plain weave fabric.

Feature of georgette fabric:

Light weighted fabric due to lower GSM
The fabric is semi-transparent
Made with highly twisted yarns alternating by S- and Z-twist yarns. These twists create slight puckers on the surface of the fabric, which gives Georgette crinkled finish.

Types of georgette:

Pure Georgette/Silk Georgette: this type fabric is so expensive
Jacquard Georgette: It is woven on a jacquard loom, giving the fabric added strength and a jacquard design.
Nylon Georgette
Polyester Georgette: This Fabric is demanded by the clients for its an excellent finish, softness, wrinkle & shrinkage resistance, smooth texture and convenient washing.
Viscose Georgette
Satin Georgette

Uses:
Now a days it uses on ladies’ scarf & Saree. It is often used for gowns, bridal wear, and special occasions, but is a versatile fabric used for many different cuts of dresses, including a-line, pleated, flare, and wrap dresses. Also suited for midi dresses and maxi dresses with both long sleeves and short sleeves. Georgette is also used in home decor for items like table decorations, and pillow covers.

Chiffon Fabric
Chiffon fabric similar as georgette fabric. This type of fabric was originally made from silk, and it was both expensive and in high demand among upper-class women in Europe and the United States. Now a days it made by polyester due to its low cost and durability. Chiffon is typically a plain weave fabric.

Feature of chiffon fabric:

A transparent sheer fabric in a plain weave of fine highly twisted yarn
The fabric is delicate but relatively strong
Light weighted fabric
Approximately same count in warp & filling & the same number of ends & picks per inch
Usually has a soft finish & may be dyed or printed

Varieties/Types of chiffon fabric:

Material variations: This style of fabric can be made with a variety of different organic, semi-synthetic, and fully synthetic materials like polyester, rayon, and silk.
Silk crepe chiffon fabric: This type of fabric when people asked for visualize chiffon. It features the slightly puckered texture and relatively rough feel that made this type of material famous.
Silk satin chiffon fabric: This type of chiffon fabric is smoother than silk crepe, and it is more transparent and lightweight.
Pearl chiffon fabric: Featuring a pearlescent shade and glossy texture
Jacquard chiffon fabric: While this type of chiffon fabric is quite thin, it also feels hefty when it is picked up. It is commonly used in kurta dresses and scarves.
Chameleon chiffon fabric: This type of chiffon is one of the rarest varieties on the market, and its name is derived from its multi-toned appearance.

Uses:
Chiffon is most commonly used in evening wear, especially as an overlay, for giving an elegant and floating appearance to the gown. It is also a popular fabric used in blouses, ribbons, scarves and lingerie. It is often used to make sarees and dupattas.

Voile Fabric
Voile is a lightweight, plain woven fabric usually made from 100% cotton or cotton blend. It has the higher thread count than most cotton fabrics, which results in a silky soft hand. Voile fabric is a perfect dressmaking option for summer because it is lightweight, breathable and semi-sheer.

Feature of voile fabric:

Semi-sheer lightweight fabric that drapes wonderfully
Silky soft finish
No stretch
Crisp and sometimes wiry
Stiff but flexible

Uses:
Cotton voile is a perfect option for casual clothes. It is also use for made tunic, layered skirt, sundress, lingerie like a nightgown or a bralette.

Poplin Fabric
Poplin, also known as tabbinet, is a plain-weave cotton fabric with very fine horizontal warp and a vertical weft yarn that results in a strong, crisp fabric with a silky, lustrous surface. Poplin is now made with wool, cotton, silk, rayon, polyester or a mixture of these.

Feature of poplin fabric:

Poplin fabric is medium weight durable fabric
It has a very fine ribbed effect
It usually comes in a cotton or cotton/polyester blend
Delight to print on poplin fabric

Uses:
It is perfect for making shirts, dresses, skirts, light weight jackets etc.

Dotted Swiss Fabric
Dotted Swiss is a sheer cotton fabric embellished with small dots. It is a fine, lightweight plain weave cotton fabric, ornamented with embroidery or flocking with dotted patterns.

Feature of dotted swiss fabric:

Ground weave is plain and flocked yarn is inserted on the face side of the fabric
The dots can be applied in a number of different ways and colors in a regular interval

Uses:
The fabric is suitable for wedding dresses, shirts and fuller dresses, blouses, baby clothes, and curtains.

Flannel Fabric
Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of various fineness. Flannel was originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, but is now often made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fiber.

It may be brushed to create extra softness or remain unbrushed. Brushing is a mechanical process wherein a fine metal brush rubs the fabric to raise fine fibers from the loosely spun yarns to form a nap on one or both sides.

If the flannel is not napped, it gains its softness through the loosely spun yarn in its woven form.

Types of flannel fabric:

Baby flannel: It is a lightweight fabric used for childrenswear.
Cotton flannel or Canton flannel: It is a cotton fabric napped on one side or two sides.
Ceylon flannel: It was a name for a wool and cotton mixture.
Diaper flannel: It is a stout cotton fabric napped on both sides, and used for making cloth diapers.
Vegetable flannel, invented by Léopold Lairitz in Germany in the 1800s, uses fibers from the Scots pine rather than wool.

Uses:
To make tartan clothing, blankets, bed sheets and sleepwear.

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Mazharul Islam Kiron

Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. He is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.