About Organza
Thousands of brides have walked down the aisle in wedding gowns and veils made of sheer, shimmering organza. Dressmakers have used this fabric, woven from tightly twisted silk filaments, since medieval times. Organza is also popular with interior designers. Today, you can purchase organza made of silk or of manmade fibers, such as rayon. Either type is easy to work with and washable.
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Features
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Organza is a lightweight, somewhat transparent fabric made of silk or manmade fibers. Two key features of organza are its thin, flat weave and its stiffness, which comes from the tightly twisted fibers that go into the weave. Organza can be dyed various colors, textured or embroidered.
History
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Organza is related to organzine, a fabric made of strong silk fibers twisted into strands. The word entered French and Italian languages in the Middle Ages as "organsin" and "organzano" after the town of Urgang in Turkestan, which had a famous silk market.
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Function
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Because of its crispness, organza is ideal for wedding and evening wear, especially when designers want to add a bouffant or full effect to a gown or dress. Organza as an underlining gives skirts fullness or adds a layer beneath sheer fabrics. In interior design, organza is a popular fabric for window treatments, including drapery linings, valances and tiebacks. Organza also can be used as a lampshade fabric for low-wattage lamps.
Geography
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Organza mills are found around the world. Key manufacturers are located in China, India, Italy, France and the United States. Chinese organza is usually made from 100 percent silk, while mills in other countries might use either all synthetic fibers or combinations of manmade fiber and silk, for added durability and lower cost.
Considerations
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Organza is a strong, durable fabric that is washable. It also sews easily. It is best to wash organza before cutting and sewing a pattern. A silk organza, rather than a synthetic version, is often easier to work with, because the seams do not pucker. Organza also makes a good pressing cloth because of its sheerness and heat resistance.
Misconceptions
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Organza should not be confused with organdy, which is a stiff, lightweight fabric made from cotton yarn.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons/rmkoske
