A smooth, shiny fabric often associated with luxury, satin can be made from either natural or synthetic fibers. It’s not so much what it’s made from, but the way it is woven that gives it its characteristics that make this group of fabrics unique. While satin is often used in lingerie, dresses and outerwear, it can also be found in fashion accessories like purses, hats, and ties.
Satin can be a bit slippery, so it may not be ideal for activewear. Because of this, it’s a good idea to choose a fabric with a higher weight for garments that require support.
Historically, satin has been made of silk, but it can now be made from a wide variety of fibers, such as polyester and cotton. The specific weave of satin is constructed by having warp threads float over and beneath one weft thread, which allows large portions of the warp to shine and give the fabric its characteristic smoothness.
There are many different types of satin, and no one type is better than the other for all purposes; it simply depends on how the fabric will be used. Common satins include charmeuse satin, a light fabric that drapes beautifully and has an attractive luster on the face (but dull on the back side), duchess satin, which is heavy and stiff with low lustre, and crepe back satin, which is reversible and has satin on one side and a crepe finish on the other.