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Be
Royal With Silk Brocade
A rich fabric that transcends both time and substance, today, brocade weaving can be found bordering the highest end of couture fashion to the pillow covers that grace your couch at home, says Christine.
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The beauty of silk brocade weaving has never been lost on the international fashion realm. Brocade, which is commonly defined as a heavy fabric interwoven with a rich, raised floral or figured design, has long been a tradition in Asia – dating back several hundreds of years and once reserved only for royalty. Indeed, brocade’s imperial roots have ensured it has carved a niche in the industry as a rich, timeless, and extremely detailed fabric; nevertheless, I find it ironic that its royal pedigree had, to a certain extent, alienated brocade fabric designs from mainstream fashion.
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That is certainly no longer the case. Today, brocade weaving – of differing qualities – can be found bordering the highest end of couture fashion to the pillow covers (and other home products like drapes) that grace your couch at home. Although the relatively recent re-dispersion of brocade necessitated the production of interwoven fabrics of varying (and sometimes substandard) quality, its reentry into the fashion industry has been as glamorous as the designs themselves.
Brocade weaving, especially with gold and silver, emanates sophistication and glamour; if you have an occasion to wear a brocade woven dress, you’re surely going out with the “it” crowd. When choosing a brocade fabric/pattern for you, always investigate the quality of the silk used in the weaving process. |
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You have been forewarned: substandard quality brocade fabrics may blend small portions of raw silk with cotton instead of utilizing pure silk threads. The importance of the silk used in the brocade weaving process cannot be understated as it is this material which dictates the durability and rich finish of the brocade. Although some pure silks are thinner and finer than others, that does not, in and of itself, determine the overall quality of the fabric. Whether the silk comes from Kanchipuram or
Varanasi, one should always inspect the composition of the weave and ensure that the type of raw silk used is best suited for the attire or accessory they desire to purchase.
You cannot go wrong with a beautiful brocade sari, wedding dress, evening gown, shawl, or even a kimono-style wrap, as it is truly a rich fabric that transcends both time and substance. Its strong presence from India to the Middle East to Asia (where it is now being experimented with lace blends) merely substantiates its versatility and sophisticated cross-market appeal. Whatever your style or occasion, try brocade on for size – and be royal for one day.
Christine Preetha Philip, is the Designer of ChuChu
Couture.
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