Georgette is today one of the most popular and abundantly yarned fabric in the Indian textile industry. Categorised by its sheer texture and its weightlessness, georgette is a very cosy and comfortable fabric which is used for tailoring various styles of garments.
History & Characteristics
The fabric georgette takes its name after the famous 20th century French dressmaker Georgette de la Plante. She was a big name in the fashion world and introduced this fabric through her esteemed work wherein she tailored gorgeous gowns and dresses for women with a net finish like fabric which came to be known as georgette.
The ancient georgette was typically made out of silk with a series of twisted yarns alternating S- and Z-twist yarns in both warp and weft.
What started off as a basic fabric in the French riveria soon gained popularity in India after its introduction.
The fact that georgette is extremely light weight and quite stretchable, makes it the best choice for tailoring garments. The georgette fabric by the metre weighs anywhere between 30 and 70 grams.
Slightly crinkled and with a very bouncy feel, the fall and look of this fabric is quite classy and highly appealing.
Georgette fabric these days as opposed to the traditional technique of weaving out of silk is now mostly woven out of synthetic and semi-synthetic fibres.
Varieties of Georgette
The georgette in its purest form is made of raw silk only and is the most expensive variation of the fabric. Sarees are primarily made out of pure georgette as dresses and gowns require some amount of synthetic fibre to be added to the pure one to bring out the best effect.
Viscose and polyster are the most popularly used synthetic fibres used in georgette these days.
Georgette can be broadly classified into the following styles :
- Pure Georgette- this the traditional form of georgette which has the highest silky factor and lightest texture. It is grainy to feel and is oftentimes also referred to as crepe georgette.
- Satin Georgette- this has the highest sheen factor and is usually heavier in volume. Made purely out of satin majorly, this fabric gives off a royal look. A popular choice in night gowns and satin pyajamas.
- Jacquard Georgette- this kind of georgette is woven on jacquard loom and has the wonderful properties of the native fabric- durability and strength.
- Embroidery Georgette- this fabric is like the basic georgette except that it has embellishments like sequins and stone work traced out on it.
- Double Georgette- this is just a denser version of the georgette fabric and is relatively less sheer.
- Poly Georgette- As the name suggests, this one is made out of polyster.
The best part about the georgette fabric is it can be dyed in any color and the colors sit perfectly on it. It is possible to trace any sort of designs and pattern son the fabric given its sheer flexibility. The tiny holes giving it a net like look only add to the beauty of this fabric.
These days, abstract and animal prints are very popular patterns in georgette dresses and georgette kurtis. Georgette sarees are an all time hit and are fit for any and every occasion.
Faux georgette sarees are another very popular style. In fact, dresses and gowns made of faux georgette are equally popular. Georgette has a bouncy look which enhances and compliments the figure beautifully. It also doesn’t cling to the skin and thus easily conceals those extra pounds around the waist and the stomach.
Made of rayon and polyster, faux georgette is almost as light in weigh as the pure georgette woven out of silk yarn except that it is not as sheer as the real one.
Georgette though quite similar to chiffon, ranks much higher in its durability. It is also less lustrous than chiffon. It is tear resistant and the most popular fabric choice for printing.
Because of its weightlessness and bouncy properties, it makes for wonderful drapes in sarees and also as a layering garment in bridal gowns and fashion couture. It also retains the dye very well and doesn’t fade or leave off color like some fabrics do.
Other than in sarees and dresses, georgette also finds great popularity in home décor options. The drapes and pillow covers and fancy runners made of georgette make for a very alluring and aristocratic look.
Wash Care for Georgette
The light and stretchable georgette should be hand washed only. The heavy spinning of machine and dryers can warp the yarn twists of the fabric and loosen their strength. Also make sure that the garments made of georgette, pure or synthetic, should be washed only in cold or slight lukewarm water with very little or mild detergent. Always dry them in shade and never wring a georgette garment.
With proper washing care, a georgette garment can run for years together retaining its bouncy beauty and its flowy fall!
