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Chiffon: a distinctive fabric

Chiffon fabric is an extremely delicate weave and feels like very fine sand. The word chiffon comes from French, although it is originally an Arabic word (šiff means something like transparent fabric). This light, veil-like tissue has a puckered surface, making it an unmistakable material. This fabric is so feather-light that a chiffon scarf measuring approx. 50 x 50 centimeters can even be hidden compressed inside a fist. Due to this special characteristic, chiffon silk is also used for dance performances, as despite the large surface area of the cloth, chiffon has a low weight and thus a high air resistance.

Dancing woman with chiffon cloth
Dancing woman with chiffon cloth[/caption>

Chiffon is usually made from silk or synthetic fibers and features a plain weave. The plain weave – also known as linen or taffeta weave – represents one of the three main types of weaves and is used, among other things, for weaving bed linen. Before the actual processing, however, the threads are tightly twisted, which causes the typical surface to appear. This means that the weft and warp threads are crossed very closely with one another.

Further properties of chiffon fabric made of silk are its absorptive and insulating capacity. Silk thus cools in summer and warms in winter. Additionally, this fabric wrinkles less compared to others and dries quickly.

[caption id="attachment_25721" align="aligncenter" width="187"]Delicate pink Delicate pink

This material brings many special features with it; one square meter of chiffon weighs only approx. 30 grams, making it one of the lightest fabrics. This also explains why many artists use this material for their performances. For a magician, such properties are ideal for making cloths disappear.

Orchid pattern
Orchid pattern
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Care should be taken when cleaning a chiffon foulard made of silk. Since this delicate fabric can easily tear in a machine wash, professional dry cleaning should be preferred for its fine and tender structure. Chiffon scarves made of synthetic fibers, on the other hand, can easily be washed by hand or at a low temperature in the machine.

Multi-colored chiffon scarf
Multi-colored chiffon scarf

This transparent and light material is primarily used for summer clothing. It is very often used for light, flowing dresses and skirts, whereby the chiffon must be lined as it is transparent. However, chiffon fabric is also very popular for elegant scarves.

Abstract patterns
Abstract pattern on chiffon scarf

Author: Melis Karaali

Sources

  • https://sz-magazin.sueddeutsche.de/modeschule/was-ist-chiffon-73787
  • https://www.perfekt-schlafen.de/ratgeber/matratzen-lexikon/chiffon
  • https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiffon
  • https://www.elle.de/modelexikon/chiffon
  • https://seidenwelt.net/lexikon/chiffon/
  • Title image: https://www.decowoerner.com/de/Saison-Deko-10715/Winter-10765/Winter-Stoffe-10770/Chiffonstoff-blau-145cm-556.484.05.html
  • Image 1: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/507499451743506819/
  • Image 2: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/80924124526580807/
  • Image 3: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/4996249557152437/
  • Image 4: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/600667669025932258/
  • Image 5: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/106679084896973761/
  • Image 6: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/607704543445526945/
  • Image 7: https://www.pinterest.ch/pin/783344928911337512/
  • Title image: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7b/51/6c/7b516c75bd910fda773b727d2a45e7fa.jpg

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