top of page
Acetate, historically known as "artificial silk," is a man-made fiber derived from chemically compounded cellulose. It is renowned for its highly lustrous sheen and exceptionally luxurious feel, making it an elegant choice for sophisticated window treatments. Acetate possesses good body and excellent draping qualities that allow it to hang beautifully in formal settings.Beyond its striking resemblance to natural silk, acetate offers several practical advantages, including being dimensionally stable, wrinkle-resistant, and generating low static electricity. It also holds color remarkably well, allowing for vibrant and lasting hues that resist fading, making it perfect for solid drapery designs.Because it is a synthesized cellulosic fiber, acetate requires gentle care to maintain its sheen and structural integrity. Dry cleaning is typically recommended, and like natural silk, it benefits greatly from a high-quality lining to protect it from environmental wear and ensure long-lasting preservation in the home.
Cotton batiste, a lightweight, sheer fabric with a delicate plain weave, shares similarities with cotton lawn but is thicker. Its graceful drape is enhanced when mercerized for added luster.In the Victorian era, batiste adorned summer and sash dresses, often featuring pleats, ruffles, fringes, and intricate embellishments. Dry cleaning is recommended for batiste lace and garments.
Brocade, an opulent silk fabric, features a raised design and intricate jacquard weave, often incorporating gold or silver threads. Motifs include flowers, foliage, scrollwork, and pastoral scenes, reflecting its Latin origin "brocade," meaning to figure.
For care, dry cleaning is recommended. Additionally, we offer heirlooming and preservation services for both museums and individuals, ensuring the lasting beauty of antique clothing and brocade.
Cashmere, a fiber known since Roman times, gained prominence in the last two centuries through East-West trade. Celebrated as the "fiber of kings," Empress Eugenie, Napoleon III's wife, popularized it in Europe, securing its enduring appeal.
Named after Tibetan Kashmir goats, found in the Himalayan and Central Asian regions, notably around the Gobi desert, cashmere is prized for its use in knitted sweaters and dresses. Often combed and sold in tops and noils, cashmere continues to captivate with its luxurious texture and rich history.
From the French word for caterpillar, chenille yarns bear a resemblance to a pipe cleaner or a caterpillar. This fabric boasts a soft, luxurious appearance and texture. However, chenille garments are prone to abrasion damage and snagging, commonly initiated by normal rubbing and friction. Cleaning, even on a gentle cycle, can exacerbate the damage.
Chenille finds applications in millinery, rugs, decorative fabrics, trimmings, and upholstery. It is advisable to dry clean most chenille fabrics to preserve their quality and longevity.
Ideal for spring and summer, chiffon is a sheer, lightweight, and drapable woven fabric, initially crafted from silk but commonly synthetic today.
For optimal care, most chiffon garments are recommended to be dry cleaned.
Originally crafted from silk imported to the West from China through Damascus, damask has a rich history. In the 13th century, Marco Polo showcased his travels by wearing crimson damask Chinese robes at dinners to prove his visit to Kublai Khan's court in Cathay.
Damask remains one of the oldest and widely admired fabrics today, allowing for intricate designs. The quality is often determined by the firmness of the texture.
For care, both damask garments and household items are suitable for dry cleaning. Additionally, we recommend heirlooming and preservation services for antique damask, catering to museums and individuals alike.
In 1850, during the California gold rush, Levi Strauss, a 20-year-old Bavarian immigrant, ventured to San Francisco with a limited supply of dry goods. A chance encounter with a prospector led to the creation of denim pants, initially made from rough canvas. Responding to miners' feedback about chafing, Strauss replaced it with "serge de Nimes," a twilled cotton cloth from France, giving birth to denim.
For care, denim garments are suitable for dry cleaning.
EMBROIDERY & MACHINE EMBROIDERY
Queen Elizabeth I cherished embroidery, keeping her women engaged in the craft. While early embroidery was professional, domestic embroidery gained popularity during the queen's era, often indistinguishable from professional work. The Broderers’ Co., established in 1430 and renewed by the Queen, maintained high standards for its members' work.
Gift records from the 17th century provide insight into the extensive embroidery for Queen Elizabeth I. From slippers to hangings, each item showcased opulence and charm, including removable sleeves—a delightful idea!
For care, embroidered garments and items are recommended for dry cleaning. Additionally, we suggest heirlooming and preservation services for antique embroidery, catering to both museums and individuals.
Woven fabrics, crafted using the Jacquard attachment on the loom, offer unparalleled design versatility and individual control of each warp yarn. Brocade and damask exemplify jacquard-woven fabrics.
Joseph Jacquard, recognizing the repetitive nature of weaving, envisioned automating complex patterns using pasteboard cards with punched holes. This control system, akin to today's computers, provided flexibility and complexity. Jacquard fabrics are suitable for dry cleaning.
For preserving antique Jacquard, heirlooming and preservation services are recommended for museums and individuals alike.
The origin of lace is challenging to pinpoint. Some link it to ancient Rome due to the discovery of bone bobbins. Concrete evidence emerges in the 15th century when Charles the Fifth mandated lace making in Belgian schools and convents. In this renaissance era, lace became a fashion staple, replacing embroidery and allowing for easy style transformations. Unlike embroidery, lace could be seamlessly transferred between dresses.
For care, lace garments are suitable for dry cleaning. Additionally, we recommend heirlooming and preservation services for antique lace, catering to museums and individuals alike.
Silk or any fiber with metallic threads in the warp or filling. Lamé, also a trademark for metallic yarns, often features surface-wide patterns. Its shine and glitter make it ideal for dressy wear, with the term originating from the French for "worked with gold and silver wire."
Uses: Primarily for evening wear.
Derivation: French for "trimmed with leaves of gold or silver," from the Latin lamina.
For care, most lamé garments are suitable for dry cleaning.
Just as silk derives from the silkworm's cocoon and wool from animal fleece, linen comes from the fibers of the flax plant's stalk (Linum usitatissimum), aptly named "most useful linen."
To produce linen, textile flax is not cut but pulled from the ground to preserve the full length of the fibers. The intricate process involves retting, turning, scutching, rippling, drafting, breaking, hackling, drafting and doubling, or carding, and finally, spinning into yarn for weaving, bleaching, dyeing, and finishing.
While linen itself is robust, dry cleaning is often recommended for items made from it, particularly interior furnishings. This recommendation is primarily due to the dyes, finishes, interfacing, lining, buttons, trim, and thread used in construction. The concern, especially for garments, lies in these components.
For linen draperies, a reputable dry cleaner is suggested for a thorough, professional cleaning. Linen wallcoverings can be maintained with occasional vacuuming or waterless stain removers. Upholstery and carpets made from linen benefit from dry cleaning, with word of mouth being a reliable way to find a reputable, professional dry cleaner.
In essence, professional dry cleaning is recommended for the proper care of all linens.
Modacrylic is a modified synthetic fiber highly valued for window treatments due to its inherently flame-resistant properties, making it ideal for meeting stringent fire safety codes. It produces a soft, bulky fabric that drapes exceptionally well, offering both aesthetic appeal and practical safety for residential and commercial settings alike.This versatile fiber is often blended with other materials to add softness and loftiness, particularly in heavy casement draperies. Modacrylic is highly resilient, offering excellent resistance to sunlight, shrinking, wrinkling, mildew, and stains, ensuring the fabric maintains its pristine condition over years of use.While modacrylic can often be washed or dry-cleaned depending on the specific blend and construction, it requires mild alkaline soaps and careful handling to prevent pilling or static buildup. When properly lined and cared for, it provides a long-lasting, highly durable window treatment solution.
The first microfibers, developed in Japan over 20 years ago, included the well-known Ultrasuede®, made of polyester microfibers. DuPont introduced their first polyester microfiber in the 1980s, making it economically feasible.
Microfiber technology gave rise to ultra-microfiber, with fibers less than 0.1 denier. Processes involve splitting a larger fiber into many smaller ones. DuPont's microfiber, introduced in 1989, boasts extremely thin, tough, and resilient filaments, allowing for fine tolerances and exceptional absorbency.
While microfiber (especially polyester) as the sole cloth constituent may wear and shed fibers, it excels when combined with nylon. With various applications, including cleaning and drying surfaces, microfiber is used in diverse products such as bras, dockers, and pillowcases.
For care, microfiber may be dry cleaned.
Derived from the French Mousseline, originating from Mussolo in Mosul, Iraq (Mesopotamia), muslin is a finely woven cotton fabric popular for dresses and curtains. Coarser cotton fabrics, also referred to as muslins, are utilized for shirts and sheeting.
For care, muslin garments, quilts, and household items are suitable for dry cleaning. Additionally, we recommend heirlooming and preservation services for antique muslin, catering to both museums and individuals
This robust manufactured fiber is exceptionally strong and resistant to both abrasion and various chemicals. With elasticity, ease of washing, and a lustrous appearance, nylon quickly regains its original shape and remains non-absorbent. Notably fast-drying, it resists certain dyes, as well as moths, insects, water, perspiration, and standard dry-cleaning agents.
Nylon finds application in diverse products such as hosiery, knitted or woven lingerie, socks, sweaters, rugs, carpets, tents, sleeping bags, duffle bags, racquet strings, fishing lines, sails, tire cord, machine belting, filter netting, fish nets, laminates, and ropes.
For care, nylon may be dry cleaned.
Polyester is a highly durable synthetic polymer often referred to in the industry as the "workhorse fiber" due to its exceptional strength and reliability. It is celebrated for its ability to drape beautifully while offering immense dimensional stability, meaning it strongly resists wrinkling, shrinking, and stretching over time.As a highly versatile man-made fiber, polyester is frequently used in a wide array of window coverings, from heavy draperies to delicate sheers and casements. It boasts excellent resistance to light deterioration and abrasion, is nonallergenic, and can even be heat-set to hold crisp pleats and creases permanently.Polyester is incredibly easy to maintain, as it is washable, quick-drying, and dry-cleanable. Its inherent resilience to environmental factors, including mildew and sunlight, makes it a superb, low-maintenance option that requires minimal preservation efforts compared to delicate natural fibers.
Poplin, a plain-woven fabric typically of cotton, boasts a corded surface and a more pronounced filling effect than broadcloth. Mercerized for a high luster, it can be bleached, dyed (often with vat dyes), or printed. Heavy poplin may feature a water-repellent finish for outdoor use. Initially crafted with a silk warp and a heavier wool filling, modern variations include mildew-proof, fire-retardant, and suede-finished options. Versatile, poplin finds applications in sportswear, shirts, boys’ suits, uniforms, draperies, blouses, and dresses.
For care, most poplin garments and household items are recommended for dry cleaning.
Ramie, frequently referred to as China Grass or grass linen, is a prominent natural bast fiber known for its strong, lustrous, and sophisticated appearance. Highly dimensionally stable and resistant to sun deterioration, it delivers a crisp, cool aesthetic that retains a fresh, new look even after extended use in interior spaces.Because pure ramie can be relatively inflexible and prone to permanent creasing, it is beautifully complemented when blended with softer fibers. Blending it with cotton adds necessary flexibility and softness, while mixing it with rayon further enhances its natural luster, making it a highly desirable choice for structured draperies.While ramie can be washed and bleached, it runs a slight risk of fading or shrinking; therefore, dry cleaning is often the preferred and safer alternative. To preserve its fibers, any stored ramie textiles should be rolled rather than folded, as harsh folds can cause the brittle fibers to break permanently over time.
Raw silk, also known as silk noil, is a type of silk fabric that is produced from short fibers leftover after the silk has been combed or carded. Unlike traditional silk, which comes from continuous, long silk fibers, raw silk includes shorter fibers and small knots, creating a fabric with a more textured and nubby appearance.The irregularities in raw silk fabric give it a unique, natural, and slightly coarse texture. It is often less shiny than traditional silk and has a matte or subdued luster. The fabric may have a slightly slubbed or uneven surface, contributing to its distinctive character.Raw silk is appreciated for its natural and rustic charm. It is commonly used in various applications such as clothing, home furnishings, and accessories, offering a casual and textured aesthetic. The fabric's imperfections are considered part of its appeal, giving it a distinctive look and feel.
This fiber, not a hair but a filament spun by the silkworm to form its cocoon, is believed to have been discovered in ancient China. According to legend, an empress dropped a cocoon into her tea, revealing a single, strong continuous strand as the cocoon unwound. Regardless of the story's accuracy, silk has been cultivated in China for centuries.
Cultivated silk is exceptionally fine and smooth, possessing a soft hand and a pearly luster. Its exceptional drape imparts a "watery" movement, especially in finely woven silk fabrics. Wild silk, known as tussah or raw silk, is coarser, exhibiting a more linen-like appearance and texture. Both cultivated and wild silk find use in yarn and fabric production.
Silk readily absorbs dyes but is prone to fading, especially when hand-washed rather than dry cleaned. Despite lacking elasticity, silk is the strongest natural fiber and does not conduct heat, serving as an excellent insulator and offering a soft touch against the skin. When knitted into garments, silk may stretch, prompting blends with other fibers like wool to enhance elasticity and affordability.
For care, it is advisable to dry clean most silk garments and household items.
Taffeta is a crisp, lightweight fabric with a smooth surface and a distinctive rustling sound. It is woven with a tight plain weave and often made from silk or synthetic fibers like polyester. Taffeta is known for its high luster and ability to hold its shape, making it a popular choice for formal wear such as evening gowns, bridal dresses, and historical costumes. The fabric's smooth texture and vibrant sheen contribute to its elegant appearance, while its stiffness adds structure to garments. Taffeta can also be used for various decorative purposes, including draperies and home furnishings.
Velour is a plush and luxurious fabric characterized by its soft and dense pile. It is crafted using a special weaving or knitting process that creates a raised, fuzzy surface, giving it a rich and velvety texture. Velour is often made from cotton or synthetic fibers like polyester, providing a comfortable and warm feel. This fabric is prized for its opulent appearance and is commonly used in clothing items such as loungewear, tracksuits, and eveningwear. Its velvety surface adds a touch of sophistication, making it a popular choice for both casual and elegant attire. Additionally, velour can be utilized in upholstery and home decor for a plush and inviting aesthetic.
Velvet is a sumptuous fabric known for its soft and luxurious feel. It is characterized by a dense pile, created through a special weaving process that results in short, evenly distributed fibers on the surface. This intricate technique contributes to the fabric's smooth and lustrous appearance. Velvet is crafted from various fibers, including silk, cotton, and synthetic materials like polyester, offering versatility in both texture and application. The fabric's rich, tactile quality makes it a popular choice for elegant garments, upholstery, and decorative items. Velvet's ability to reflect light gives it a subtle sheen, enhancing its opulence and making it a sought-after material for formal wear, draperies, and luxurious accessories.
Velveteen is a pile fabric that generally features a shorter pile compared to true velvet. It is characterized by a low-filling pile, achieved by cutting an additional set of filling yarns woven in a float formation and bound intermittently to the material's back by weaving over and under one or more warp ends. "True" velvet typically boasts a short, closely-woven pile and is commonly crafted from rayon, acetate, silk, or a blend of these fibers.
In contrast, velveteen, similar to velvet, possesses a shorter pile but is typically made from cotton or a cotton/polyester blend. Velveteen is best cared for through dry cleaning.
For preservation purposes, it is recommended to heirloom and preserve antique velveteen, a practice suitable for both museums and individuals.
Viscose is a semi-synthetic fabric that generally features a smooth, luxurious finish comparable to true silk. It is characterized by its exceptional softness and fluid drape, achieved by regenerating natural cellulose fibers, typically derived from wood pulp. Viscose typically boasts a subtle, elegant sheen and is commonly crafted as a standalone fabric or blended with other fibers.While possessing the refined appearance of silk, viscose is highly versatile and is frequently blended with cotton, linen, or polyester to enhance structural stability and durability in window treatments. Because its fibers can weaken and shrink when exposed to moisture, viscose is best cared for through professional dry cleaning.For preservation purposes, it is highly recommended to pair viscose drapery with a high-quality lining, a practice necessary to protect the fabric from direct UV light degradation and ensure its longevity in residential settings.
Wool, the 'big daddy' of natural fibers, is the most common and cost-effective choice for knitting. Derived from various sheep breeds, wool ranges from coarser types like Icelandic Lopi to the exquisite softness of Merino. With excellent dye receptivity and remarkable insulative properties, wool offers comfort in both warm and cool climates by efficiently absorbing moisture.
Likely the first animal fiber spun into cloth, wool's history dates back to around 4000 B.C., fostering trade around the Mediterranean. England saw its first wool factory in 50 A.D. in Winchester, established by the Romans. The British introduced Merino sheep to Australia in 1797, initiating the country's thriving Merino sheep industry.
Globally, 40 sheep breeds yield an estimated 200 types of wool, varying in standards. Major wool producers include Australia, Argentina, China, and South Africa. While wool is resilient, exposure to excess handling, heat, and moisture can lead to shrinking and felting, warranting careful handwashing.
For most wool garments and household items, dry cleaning is recommended.
bottom of page