Satin is an elegant fabric with a rich history offering a soft, smooth surface with a luxurious shine. Traditionally made from silk, it is now also available in cotton and polyester. Despite its long association with high fashion and luxury, satin is actually quite a versatile fabric that can be used for clothing, linings, inner lingerie and even hats, bags and handkerchiefs.
While it might sound confusing to have multiple fabrics with similar names and characteristics, they can be differentiated from one another by how they are woven. Satin and sateen are examples of fabrics that have a similar weave structure, but satin is made using longer filament fibers while sateen is created with shorter-staple fibers.
Originally, silk satin was only used by the upper classes as it was very expensive to produce. It was first introduced in Europe in the 12th century as an import from China. Its shiny surface and unique feel quickly became a favorite amongst the aristocracy, church and higher classes of society.
While today satin is often associated with polyester, it can be woven with any type of yarns. Regardless of the fibers, it is important to know how to care for this elegant fabric. When machine washing, satin should only be done on a delicate cycle and in cold water. When it is finished, it should be gently squeezed to get rid of excess water and laid flat on a clean towel to dry. Do not wring or hang dry satin as it can be damaged and lose its lustrous finish.