What are the Types of Silk Fabrics?

What Are the Types of Silk Fabrics?

Silk fabrics come in a variety of types, each with unique characteristics. Here's a breakdown of the main categories:

Habutai  (Plain Weave)

• • Description: Plain weave silk fabrics generally use non-twisted or lightly twisted warp and weft threads. They are made from mulberry silk, , viscose, or polyester fibers. These fabrics are smooth, lightweight, and durable with a crisp feel. They are the simplest silk fabrics and can undergo processes like dyeing, bleaching, and printing.
  • Main Varieties: silk habutai fabric , Hangzhou silk habotai , ,, Fuchun silk habotai.

Crepe

• • Description: Traditional silk fabrics with a crepe effect made from highly twisted pure mulberry silk yarns. Typically woven in plain or other weaves, these fabrics are light, sparse, softly lustrous, smooth, elastic, and wrinkle-resistant. They are breathable and comfortable, though they tend to shrink.
  • Main Varieties: silk crepe de chine fabric , silk Jianhong Crepe

Chou/silk  (Brocade)

• • Description: Chou fabrics are silk textiles without specific distinguishing features, making them the most diverse category. They are made from various materials and typically woven using plain, twill, or modified weaves. These fabrics are lighter and more durable than satin and brocade, with a smooth, clean, and even surface. They have a crisp feel and a soft sheen but tend to wrinkle easily and do not recover well. Chou fabrics are thin and dense.

Main Varieties: silk Taffe tafabric , silk dupioni fabric, silk twill fabric

Satin

• • Description: Satin fabrics use a satin weave and can be either warp-faced or weft-faced. These high-end fabrics typically have weakly twisted warp threads and untwisted weft threads, resulting in a smooth, soft, tight, and shiny surface. They often feature traditional Chinese patterns.
  • Main Varieties: silk charmuse  satin fabric,silk duchesse satin fabric,silk crepe satin fabric , silk broche satin fabric,

Ling (Damask)

• • Description: Made from mulberry silk and rayon using various twill weaves, damask fabrics have pronounced diagonal lines and a good sheen. They are soft, delicate, and light, often featuring traditional patterns such as auspicious animals, characters, and floral motifs.
• Guangling Damask, Caizhi Damask, Tuchou Damask

Luo (Gauze)

• • Description: Gauze fabrics are made with twisted yarns as warp and weft, creating a fabric with a regular striped mesh. Horizontal-striped gauze is called horizontal gauze, and vertical-striped gauze is called vertical gauze. The fabric is smooth, tight, delicate, soft, crisp, and breathable.
  • Main Varieties: Hangzhou gauze, floral gauze

Jin (Brocade)

• • Description: Brocade fabrics often use silk and rayon, with non-twisted or weakly twisted warp and weft threads. Similar to satin fabrics but more intricate, brocade is a traditional, high-grade, multicolored jacquard silk fabric. It is the most exquisite silk product, characterized by tight, thick texture, smooth feel, and vibrant patterns with elegant, refined designs.
  • Main Varieties: Yun brocade, Zhuang brocade, Song brocade, Shu brocade

Juan (Silk Gauze)

• • Description: Plain or modified plain weave fabrics, yarn-dyed or partially dyed before weaving. These fabrics typically have weakly twisted warp threads and untwisted weft threads, resulting in a smooth, tight, light, crisp, and softly lustrous surface.
  • Main Varieties: Tianxiang silk gauze, carved floral silk gauze

9. Sha (gauze)

• Description: Transparent and lightweight fabrics made with twisted silk and yarn weaves. These fabrics are clear, thin, and breathable with a stable structure and high transparency. They are crisp and firm to the touch.
• Main Varieties: silk Georgette,silk chiffon fabric, Xiangyun Yarn, Lushan Yarn, Summer Night Yarn

10. Xiao (Fine Silk)

• Description: Woven using plain, satin weaves, or other parallel interweaves, Xiao fabrics are made from raw silk that has not been degummed, resulting in a stiffer texture. With a low warp and weft density, these fabrics are lightweight, transparent, cool, and breathable. They have a crisp, smooth, and elastic feel. Organza, which has become popular in recent years, falls into this category.
• Main Varieties: Organza

11. Ge (Ramie)

• Description: Interwoven from mulberry silk and regenerated fibers or entirely from twisted mulberry silk yarns. Predominantly woven in plain or twill weaves with a higher warp density and lower weft density. Ge fabrics are lightweight yet sturdy, with a clear weave pattern. The fabric is smooth on the front and has a satin effect on the back, featuring prominent horizontal ridges, a soft luster, and durability.
• Main Varieties: Premium Ge, Lantian Ge

12. Rong (Velvet)

• Description: Made from interwoven mulberry silk and rayon, these pile fabrics have a surface covered with plush or loops. Velvet fabrics are dense, thick, elastic, shiny, luxurious, and soft to the touch, making them high-end silk products.
• Main Varieties: silk Velvet fabric ,

13. Ti (Twill)

• Description: Coarse fabrics made from viscose or other synthetic filaments as warp threads and cotton yarn or waxed cotton yarn as weft threads. Usually jacquard woven with small patterns on a plain weave ground, Ti fabrics are thick, durable, breathable, and affordable, making them suitable for low-end garments.
• Main Varieties: Various twill fabrics

14. Ni (Woolen)

• Description: Made using basic or modified weaves with coarse warp and weft threads. These fabrics have a plush texture, soft hand feel, soft sheen, durability, and elasticity, resembling wool fabrics in appearance and offering the heaviest weight among silk fabrics.
• Main Varieties: Various woolen silk fabrics

         Each type has unique properties suitable for different applications, from high-end clothing and lingerie to evening gowns, wedding dresses, and bedding.

      If you have more detailed explanations or insights about these fabrics, feel free to leave a comment or contact us for further discussion.