Fabric consists of a network of natural and/or artificial yarns. The most common way fabric is formed is by weaving or knitting.

Knit fabric is produced by a single yarn which is looped and interlocked together. There are two categories – warp knitting where the loops run up and down and weft knitting where the loops run back and forth. While Woven fabric is where threads or yarn are interlaced together. If you look closely at a woven fabric, the threads have a perpendicular crisscross pattern – instead of loops.

Knitted Fabric

Most knit fabric is soft, wrinkle resistant and stretches all over – think of your typical t-shirt material which is commonly made out of cotton or viscose.

Here are some examples of knitted fabric;

Jersey Knit

Originally made from wool, nowadays jersey knit can be made from different fabrics such as cotton &/or synthetic fibres. Typical Jersey fabric is usually made on a knitting machine and has a distinct face and back. The face side is characterized by knitted loops which look like rows of v’s and the back side has flat purl stitch, which looks like small curves or bumps. Jersey knit is soft and flexible and used for many different kinds of garments.

Terry towel / terry cloth

Your typical towelling fabric which is super absorbent. It has loops on one side and piles of yarn on the other. Terry cloth can be made out of cotton but may include polyester, rayon, linen or blends with spandex for added stretch. It’s commonly used for beach wear, towels, and kids wear.

French Terry knit

French terry is a smoother & softer than terry cloth, though both feature a similar soft surface. It’s generally mid weight, great for casual clothing such as hoodies and gym gear.

Rib-knit

Rib knit features long vertical columns, forming tight stretchy rows.

Velour knit

Velour knit has a raised surface or nap which consists of upright loops that are cut to create a soft, plush feel.

Woven Fabric

Woven fabric will not always stretch lengthwise and widthwise like knitted fabric, some types can be prone to wrinkling if you scrunch it.

There are three types of weaves used to create woven fabric however each type can have many variations.

• Plain weave (also known as tabby weave) is a simple perpendicular weave that resembles a checkerboard pattern. An example is chiffon and poplin.

• Twill weave where the weave runs in a ribbed diagonal pattern. An example of twill weave is denim and corduroy.

• Satin weave is similar to twill however it’s woven in such a way that the light falling on the yarn creates a shiny surface. The smooth, lustrous surface provides ideal drape quality.

Here are some examples of woven fabrics:

Chiffon

This plain weave fabric is super thin and sheer. It can be woven from a variety of textile types such as rayon, silk, polyester & nylon.

Poplin

Poplin fabric is a plain weave fabric with crosswise ribs that typically gives a corded surface. It’s usually lightweight and commonly used for shirts.

Muslin

Muslin is a loosely-woven cotton fabric made using the plain weave technique.

Crêpe

This fabric can be woven from any weave structure (plain, satin, or twill). Crêpe has a rough, irregular texture due to specially twisted or crimped yarns.

Georgette

Georgette is typically a plain weave fabric woven using tightly twisted yarns which create a slightly puckered, crinkled surface.

Silk is a natural fiber which is extracted from the cocoons of silkworms. Amazingly, one continuous thread from a single cocoon can measure up to 900 meters! It’s also incredibly strong – one of the strongest natural fibers in the world.

Silk production, known as sericulture is a quite labor intensive process which dates back thousands of years. Silk was first produced in China around the 27 century BC with cultivation eventually spreading to Japan and India. Nowadays China is still the largest producer of silk with India in second place.

Known as ‘the queen of textiles’ traditionally silk was used exclusively for high end society and today still holds its reputation for being an elegant, luxurious fabric.

Silk has a natural sheen and luster due to the structure of the silk fibers. This shape of the silk fiber refracts the light at different angles, which gives it a shimmering appearance. The shine of the fabric also depends on the weave and production. There are several different weaves that are used, each giving the silk a distinct look.

Here are some examples of popular silk weaves:

• Silk Satin (also known as charmeuse) is sleek, glossy and glamorous. It has a glossy face with a matte back.
• Silk Crepe is lightweight with a crisp texture and granular surface.
• Silk Chiffon is sheer with a soft feel and matte crepe texture.
• Georgette is made with a high twist resulting in a dry, grainy surface feel.
• Habutai is a basic plain weave traditionally woven in Japan (hence the name) however nowadays woven in China. Lightweight and commonly used as a lining.
• Crinkle has a subtle crinkled pleated appearance, it’s great for layering.

Silk fabric is measured by momme weight (mm). The bigger the number the heavier the silk weight, meaning more silk has been used in the weaving process. A very sheer silk chiffon may be 6mm while a silk satin might be 16mm.

Silk is graded A, B or C with A being the best. Grade A silk is high quality and comes from pearly white cocoons. At Silky Jaya we supply grade A silk and guarantee the best quality. 

Be careful if you are purchasing from a different supplier as there are plenty of synthetic imitations out there! Remember silk is a relatively expensive fabric (due to the production process), so if you are getting it at a super cheap price, there is a possibility it is fake.

Why we love silk

Silk is durable, lightweight, breathable and hypoallergenic. It drapes beautifully and dyes easily, no wonder it’s such a favourite in the fashion industry. Being a natural fibre it is biodegradable and requires less water in production compared with cotton. It’s also thermo regulating, a stylish blouse or dress will keep you cool in hot climates while also providing insulation in colder climates if worn close to the skin.

How to care for Silk garments

We recommend hand washing in cool water. Some silks can be put on delicate cycle in the washing machine or you could have it dry cleaned. Dry your fabric flat, out of direct sunlight. You can steam it or iron it on a cool setting.

 

In addition to our 100% silk fabrics, we have a variety of different blends such as silk velvet, silk linen & silk cotton.