There are few fabrics more glamorous than satin. It’s the luscious textile of choice for evening gowns and wedding dresses, but it’s also found in blouses, coats, and bed sheets. It feels silky to the touch, floats when draped, and has a wonderful sheen that reflects light in a way that nothing else can. It was once reserved for royalty and nobility, but today everyone can enjoy its benefits.
Satin is woven using filament fibers such as silk, nylon, or polyester (although purists would say that true satin is only made from silk). The fabric is a type of warp-faced weave in which the threads are floated or allowed to pass over and under a single weft strand. This allows long runs of the weft yarns to reflect more light than would be possible in a fabric woven with short-staple fibers like cotton. The result is a shiny, lustrous front and a duller back side. Some types of satin are double-faced and can be worn with either side out.
In the past, it was extremely expensive to make satin garments. However, the fabric can now be made with synthetic fibers, which are much less expensive to produce. While they don’t breathe as well as natural silk, they do offer the durability and maximum sheen that many people desire. Many satin clothes come with a label that says “Dry Clean Only,” because the smooth surface of the fabric is easily marred by wear and tear and careless washing.