What Is Organza?

In today's fashion world, fabrics play a key role. They determine the comfort, durability, and appearance of products. One of the most interesting and attractive fabrics is organza.

This sheer fabric is an amazing material that combines transparency, airiness, and lightness with durability and practicality. Thin, airy organza is like a symbol of lightness and carefree. It is so different, and yet always dressy, and festive. It can shimmer with a light gloss or have a restrained matte texture, be monochrome, or with an interesting print, it carries the magic of the holiday and the mystery of the fairy tale.

Organza is a translucent fabric made of fine threads. Its main difference is its pronounced texture and crystal transparency. It is traditionally made of silk, although there are synthetic options such as nylon or polyester. It is a beautiful lightweight fabric created with a plain weave. It is woven at an extremely low density, which allows for such a transparent and "fragile" textile.

Its properties make it the material of choice for creating a variety of products, from evening gowns to decorative elements. It makes very stylish interior items, great theater costumes, and outfits for various events. In this article, we will learn what kind of fabric organza is, what kinds it is, what it is sewn from, and how to properly care for it.

The word "organza" itself is closely related to the term "organzine", which refers to a silk thread that uses a simple twist-spinning method to make it. This lightweight fabric is an expensive fabric brought to Europe from the East. This happened at the end of the 18th century.

The appearance of the name "organza" has several versions. The origin may be connected with the North American brand Logranza (1820), which produced different fabrics from silk. Others believe that there is a connection with the ancient Uzbek city of Urgench, where natural silk was made.

Due to its rich appearance, it quickly became popular and spread. In the past, only silk threads were used for production, so organza was expensive and reserved for wealthy gentlemen. The manufacturing process was very labor-intensive and time-consuming. It costs a lot of labor to process and get the highest quality threads. Because of the high price and inaccessibility of the material was used only for elements of decoration. It was used for jewelry, collars, and decorations. The availability and cheapness were facilitated by the emergence of polyester fibers, but the original properties were retained.

To understand what organza is you need to imagine a beautiful, transparent fabric, stiff and elastic at the same time. The thin and airy material is highly durable. It does not wrinkle and perfectly holds its shape. On contact, the fabric is pleasant, smooth, and slightly cool.

Its amazing qualities she took from the fibers from which it is made. It is obtained by a special technology of weaving viscose yarns, silk, and polyester. Now this lightweight fabric contains almost 100% polyester. Strong twisting of fibers makes the material so rigid.

The processing technology determines the appearance of the fabric. It can be matte or shiny. The use of transparent, faceted threads allows the material to sparkle. It is available in monochrome, with iridescent shimmer or patterned. The pattern is obtained by embroidery, perforation, or printed.

Do not confuse organza with veil, although they have very similar mesh structure and lightness. Veil, unlike other lightweight fabric, is soft, delicate, and pliable, forming spectacular, flowing draperies. However, it is not as transparent.

Since it was made from silk, East Asia was considered the main region of organza production. The various cultures of modern India and China produced silk thousands of years ago, and the fabric is still widely produced in these Asian countries. Silk was considered such a valuable commodity that an entire trade route arose due to its existence, and the only organza that could be found in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance was along the Silk Road.

In recent years, silk production has begun in many countries around the world, but China and India remain the largest producers and exporters. In particular, yarn is produced in textile factories in the Yangtze River region and the Chinese province of Zhejiang.

Coarser forms of organza yarn are produced in the Bangalore region of India. It should be noted that in some cases this yarn may be woven into fabric at the same site where it is produced. But in most cases, the raw material is exported to large factories in China, Pakistan, Indonesia or Bangladesh to be sewn into garments that are then bought by consumers around the world.

When this sheer fabric is made from materials other than silk, the manufacturing history changes dramatically. Both polyester and nylon were originally developed in the United States. However it is much more common for synthetic fabrics to be produced in China. Hundreds of textile companies in this Asian country produce the vast majority of the world's polyester. Hence, China is rightly considered the leading exporter of nylon. In addition to production, organza itself is woven from this fabric in the Land of the Rising Sun.

There is no single technology for this material because everything depends on the composition. Although some steps are the same for natural and synthetic fibers.

Production of transparent organza fabric from polyester
Such threads are synthesized in the laboratory, that is, they are created artificially. The raw materials for them are inorganic components. The main task is to process petroleum oil into yarn. For this purpose, chemicals and equipment are used.

Production of dressy fabric from silk
This process does not require the use of chemicals. The raw material is the cocoons of mulberry silkworms. They are immersed in hot water, and they become soft, well amenable to unwinding. Long natural fibers are obtained, from which the fabric is later woven. But first, the yarn is combed. To increase its stiffness, it is treated with acid.

General treatment of different yarns
Synthetic or natural fibers are joined by twisting in different directions. This method ensures the strength of the fabric. A special faceting of yarns is possible, which gives the surface a beautiful gloss, and makes it shimmer in the light.

Canvas is well amenable to coloring. Dyes do not wash out after washing and do not burn out in the sun, for a long time retaining the saturation of the shade. Especially elegant looks decorated organza. Different methods are used for this purpose.

Types of organza are determined by their composition, method of production, and processing. Consider the main types of fabric.

Chameleon
Chameleon advantageously differs from analogues very spectacular play of color and shadow. At a certain angle of illumination, the fabric can acquire different shades of the main color. This effect is achieved by combining threads of different tones.

Rainbow
Such a material can be recognized by clearly defined vertical stripes. One shade flows smoothly into another. The gradation looks so organic that fabrics of this type were named by analogy with a colorful natural phenomenon.

Harvester
This type of organza has an interesting look with creases and wrinkles. Special presses are used to imitate crumpled fabric. In this case, the matter does not look sloppy. On the contrary, it attracts the eye with catchiness and adds individuality, which allows the reaper to remain a fashion trend for several years.

Crash
Another unusual optical effect. Think of cracked glass with spider beams diverging in different directions. This is exactly the kind of pattern on fabrics called crush.

Jacquard
It is called so because of its resemblance to the classic jacquard, which is interesting with massive prints, but not drawn, but woven.

Flock
Undergoes a flocking procedure that involves the application of chemically treated lint to the fabric. They can be the same or different in thickness, length, and color. Organza processed by this method attracts relief patterns. They are soft, as if velvety, to the touch.

As for the options for decorating organza, among the most popular can be distinguished several.

Embroidery. In the process of fabric production, threads of different colors are used, which form a decorative pattern. This type of material is considered the most expensive.

Etching or burning the pattern on the material with the help of chemical technologies. A special mixture is applied to the organza, which eats away the cellulose. It leaves a small layer of mesh, which creates a full-fledged pattern or complements it. This type of design is characteristic of the material, which includes silk and viscose.

Printing is a special method of design when a multicolored ornament is imprinted on the outside of the cloth.

Laser cutting allows you to cut the smallest intricate patterns on the surface of organza.

Perforation by the technique of execution resembles the previous variant. Using vector graphics, a special pattern is created, and then decorative cuts are made on the fabric.

This lightweight fabric has several advantages.

Firstly, it can form the basis for a future outfit or be used as a bright and expressive detail. It holds its shape well, which allows designers to create organza top layers in skirts and bodices. Also in the models, there are puffy sleeves, ruffles, flounces of unusual shapes, and high collars. A new word in the fashion world - decorative elements with 3D effects, which are created exclusively from this sheer fabric.

Secondly, the lightness and transparency, the play of colors, and the spectacular that it possesses make it an ideal material for draperies, numerous folds, and complex creases. Dresses made of this material are characterized by airiness and weightlessness.

Thirdly, appliqués, embroidery, and elements from other fabrics look amazing on organza.

And fourthly, easy care of the material. Products can be washed by hand without twisting and in the machine in a delicate mode. The water temperature should not exceed 40 degrees. In addition, the organza can not be ironed - it and without it will perfectly retain its original shape, will not crumple, and will not form creases.

There are only a few disadvantages of organza:

Due to the strong twisting of the threads, large creases can form, which are difficult to smooth out;

difficulties with cutting, you need to leave at least 3 cm allowance for seams;

low air permeability, when airing the room curtains must be necessarily sliding;

with careless handling can appear puffs, which can not be removed without a trace.

It has found its application in various fields:

Fashion. Dresses, skirts, blouses - this is not a complete list of products for which organza is used.

Decor. Curtains, curtains, capes - all this can be made of the lightweight fabric, giving the interior notes of elegance and lightness.

Accessories. Headbands, brooches, hairpins - small things that can be decorated with elements of organza.

Organza products are hand washable or machine washable on a delicate cycle. Care instructions from the manufacturer should be followed. Care instructions may warn against washing in hot water or using bleach. When washing, avoid mixing organza with other heavy or coarse fabrics to avoid mechanical damage

The material is prone to fading when exposed to sunlight color. Therefore, it is better to store it in a chiffonier, in a dark place. Products made of delicate fabric should be periodically shaken to straighten them and immediately remove accumulated dust. It is allowed to use a soft brush to clean the surface.

If the product requires ironing, use a mode with a low temperature on the iron. Avoid direct contact with the fabric.