WHAT IS A BROCADE FABRIC?

Brocade fabrics are a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in coloured silks. Sometimes it could be with or without gold and silver threads. Because of its decorative appearance, brocade is highly popular among fashion designers. It is used to make special occasion garments and evening gowns. Originally it was made of silk, but today you can find it in all kinds of fibers.

Brocade fabrics are easily distinguished by their regal look. A supplementary weft creates an embossed or embroidered effect, though nothing is actually embossed or embroidered. The backside of the fabric usually has floating yarns, which is the reason why brocades are non-reversible. Such fabrics can be additionally decorated with sequins or beads, but even without this extra décor, they are opulent.

Brocade fabrics can be made of various fibers. At first, they were woven on draw looms which were operated by hand, but with the invention of the jacquard loom, the manufacturing process got much simpler.

All brocade fabrics are divided either into:

• Continuous brocade, where weft threads are left floating on the back, or cut away.
• Discontinuous brocade, where extra yarns are woven into the fabric to create a fancy pattern.

No matter what brocade is made of, it is bound to enliven your wardrobe. In general, this decorative material is used to make autumn/winter pieces, but lighter versions are worn with ease in summer.

WHAT CAN YOU SEW WITH A BROCADE FABRIC?

We sometimes get this question a lot from our customers and because of its smooth and lustrous touch, it is great for evening wear, wedding gowns, costumes, and more.

Brocade has a great soft texture that can be used for semi-formal and informal wear, office suits, jackets, and blazers.

Excellent for office suits. Depending on the weight and texture of the fabric, you can make pants, skirts, jackets, and formal or semi-formal dresses. Brocade is also great for casual wear, just keep the look simple and choose brocade patterns without metallic yarn. The Sky is your limit.