History of Georgette

 

Georgette is a crinkled, sheer, and flowy fabric that has its root deep down to the 20th Century. The fabric was introduced by a French dressmaker Madame Georgette de la Plante and thus is named after her.  It is popularly believed, that her inspiration behind the creation of Georgette was a much alike Fabric Chiffon. She wanted to create a fabric similar to chiffon but stronger in terms of the weave. While chiffon had more of a transparent texture, Georgette was tightly woven for a translucent/opaque finish to suit the conservative crowd.

 

Georgette comes in two varieties- one is the pure georgette which is typically woven out of silk. Another is the faux georgette which is made out of fibers like rayon, polyester, etc.

 

We will later in this article tell you, how to identify whether the fabric is pure georgette or faux georgette. But let us just dive little in for a while!

 

Making and Texture of Georgette

 

Georgette is a lightweight fabric with a crepe-like texture. It has got a rough touch, because of the S twist and Z twist yarns which are tightly twisted in opposite directions to weave the fabric. It is indeed because of this weave type that the fabric gets small puckers on its surface which in turn gives it a crinkled texture. The threads used in the weaving process are thin, thus, even though the fabric is tightly woven, the overall appearance of Georgette comes out to be sheer and bouncy.

 

 

 

Pure Georgette Vs Faux Georgette

 

These days, the market is full of fabrics and georgette is no exception. However, it is always good to know the authenticity of fabric, before you pay the price. Pure Georgette is usually expensive than every other type of Georgette. But how would you know what you are buying is pure or not.

 

There are three ways you can differentiate Pure Georgette from Faux Georgette

 

Touch Test

 

Both Pure and Faux georgette has a rough feel because of its crinkled texture. However, when you touch a pure georgette fabric, it would feel soft and rough. On the second hand, when you touch a faux georgette, it would have a harsh touch to it.

 

Burn Test

 

The Burn test is known to be the most reliable way of testing a fabric’s purity. What you do in a burn test is that you burn a small piece of fabric and observe its flame, smell, and ashes to check the purity. We, at our organization, have a special set up for conducting burn tests, but you can do it on your own with some basic insights.

 

All you need for this test is a container and a matchbox/lighter.

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Characteristics of Faux georgette during the Burn Test

 

1. It would stop burning if you take it away from the flame
2. Smells like burning plastic
3. The smoke produced is dark grey
4. Ashes formed in the form of hard beads which are hard to break
5. There is no afterglow

 

Characteristics of Pure Georgette during the Burn Test

 

1. It keeps on burning even after the flame is removed
2. Smells like burning paper or hair
3. The smoke produced is white
4. Ash formed is soft and powdery and can be rubbed between fingers
5. There is an afterglow to it

 

 

Water Stain test

 

The water stain test is done by sprinkling some water on the fabric that is to be tested, followed by drying it with an iron until the water evaporates.  Now, if the water stain remains, the fabric is pure georgette and if not, then it is a faux georgette.

 

 

Georgette- Types and Prints

 

Georgette is one of the most loved fabrics by designers across the globe. The reason being its versatile characteristics.

Be it a Sari, Suit, or a gown, georgette does wonders with its sheer texture and bouncy fall. The Georgette fabric was originally weaved out of silk yarns. However, what you see in the market today, is a flood of this fabric, most of which is Faux Georgette.

 

Here are the most common varieties that you find in the shops

 

 

• Silk Georgette
• Satin Georgette
• Viscose Georgette
• Polyester Georgette
• Nylon Georgette
• Jacquard Georgette

 

 

As Georgette can be made out of different fibers, the properties and wearability vary as a result. The silk georgette is considered supreme of all because of several reasons. We have

Listed some for you below:

 

• It has a high absorbency, which allows it to feature the most vibrant prints and colors. Plus, it is so easy to dye and dry!

 

• It is a natural and breathable fabric, which makes it a perfect summer choice.

 

• Silk Georgette is stronger than chiffon and gets a stability edge all the time.

 

• Another unavoidable feature of Silk Georgette is the excellency of its drape. Not only does it go well with individual dress materials but also makes a perfect choice for layering over other garments. Also, Georgette made out of silk yarn is Crease-resistant.
  
  
• It is a natural fiber and is thus very unlikely to cause any kind of allergic reaction.

 

 

This was all about getting you familiar with the fabric. But it is not just about the fabric, prints and colors speak as loud!

 

Georgette fabric is designed with a wide range of prints and colors. Be it florals or botanicals, Geometric or abstract shapes, animal or conversational patterns, you will find anything and everything to play with Georgette. On top of it, this fabric goes fabulous in its solid form for the kind of texture it has.

 

Different uses of Georgette

 

 

 

Being versatile and highly adaptable, this fabric gives you several ways to use it. After all, there surely must be a reason why the fabric is an all-time Designer-favorite. It is suitable for all body types. Also, it's not-so-sheer property gives it an edge over chiffon. Moreover, it has got a high tensile strength which allows it to hold embroideries well. You can simply decorate your piece just the way you want.

 

Georgette is mainly used for the female crowd. In the initial years, it was only worn by the royal families. Gradually, with the invention of cheaper artificial fibers, georgette became available for the public at large.

 

Having talked a lot about its versatility, it’s time to answer the most obvious question you are likely to have. What are the probable uses of this fabric?

 

Georgette fabric can be used for the following purposes

 

• Saris
• Blouses
• Dresses
• Gowns
• Shirts
• Flared Skirts
• Tunics
• Salwar Suits
• Bridal wears
• Scarves, Shawls, and Stoles
• Waist belts
• Hair Turbans and scrunchies

 

Several leading brands like Panash India are head over heels for this Super amazing fabric. The high dye holding capacity of the fabric makes it a perfect choice for vibrant ethnic wear. There is absolutely no way to avoid this all-round fabric.

 

 

Sustainability with Vintage Georgette Sarees

 

With an increased level of Carbon footprints in the environment, sustainability has become a need of the hour. Every sector is obliged to contribute its bit and we accept it with the whole spirit.

 

We, at Sanskriti India, promote Sustainable fashion through our practices. We deal in Vintage Silk Georgette Sarees along with other varieties in the range.  When we say vintage, we associate it with the premium quality of the good old age followed by our commitment to hold on to it.

 

 

How do we do that, you ask?

These vintage fabrics that we stand by, are used by designers for Upcycling. They use vintage Saris to make fashionable garments that not only put the existing fabrics to use but also substitute fresh production of new apparel. If you browse through the term 'Upcycled Fashion' on the internet, you will realize how powerful the concept is getting day by day.

 

With people getting aware of the environmental impact of the textile industry, adopting old is becoming the New Cool. Silk georgette Sarees, which is usually very expensive can be more economical when you buy it vintage. You get the quality of natural fibers, purity of old times, and the modern twist of fashion altogether. If this is not cool, don’t you wonder what is?