What Is Lurex Fabric?

Many girls wear inexpensive clothes with an interesting shine, without thinking about what lurex fabric is. This is the name of any material that has shiny threads, although it is called specifically threads. A thin aluminum fiber is encased in a polyester shell to then diversify fabrics with a festive sheen. It is used in production in the same way as any other fiber. The unpretentious innovation immediately appealed to frugal fabric manufacturers. Shiny fabric looks dressy and presentable. To make the fabric shine, metalized thread is added. Fabrics with metallic shine are called lurex - this is a material that is used in sewing festive clothing. Metal is a finish, but you can meet everyday things with metalized decor, such as clothing and home textiles.

Beautiful material immediately attracts attention, it likes to hold it in your hands and look at the smooth shimmers, but not everyone knows what to do with it. Lurex fabric is a shiny thread that is introduced into fabrics made of different fibers. It is added to wool and cotton, synthetics, and knitwear. From such a material you can make a lot of beautiful things in the form of women's clothing or home textiles. According to the description, the lurex fabric has a smart and presentable appearance in the presence of a special metalized thread. The presented material is well suited for sewing festive and everyday clothes, as well as a variety of home textiles. Metalized decor in such things is most often a trim.

The fabric called "lurex" is familiar to every fashionista. From this affordable material, beautiful things with a delicate shine are obtained. Lurex products require special care. If clothes made of this matter crumble and deform, it means that it is improperly cared for. To diversify their image, many fashionistas choose new materials and fabrics. Yarn or fabric with the addition of lurex fabric is in great demand. Despite its popularity, most people do not know what it is and how to care for the shiny material. What features does Lurex fabric possess? What should be taken into account to preserve the aesthetic and operational properties of a lurex sweater, dress , or skirt?

Many people believe that lurex is a type of fabric. This is a misconception: lurex fabric is only the shiny thread itself, which makes the material shiny. Lurex thread is never used as the sole and main element of the material. Most often, the amount of lurex thread does not exceed 40% in any fabric composition. Lurex is a thin, dense metalized thread with shine, which is used in the process of creating various fabrics as an addition to the main fibers. To the touch, lurex is quite stiff, it holds its shape well and is very tear-resistant. As a rule, lurex weaves come in silver or golden shades.

Lurex fabric of modern production is a material made of foil – aluminum, copper, sometimes – nickel, and brass. The material is characterized by reflective qualities, and the elastic metal used to create it gives it prickliness. Because of these characteristics, lurex threads are not used independently. They are used for finishing fabrics. Particularly popular are fabrics with silver and gold threads, but in the production process it is possible to obtain other colors. The material is created from processed and ground to a diameter of the finest size of metal fibers or special dense film, which is wrapped with strong foil and fixed with a press. In the first case, the threads are characterized by high weight and inelasticity. In the second case, lurex fabric is lighter and more flexible. The whole process today is done with high-tech equipment and with the use of special chemical compositions that make the product especially smooth and even.

Most often lurex fabric is used in sewing clothes. In this case, things have a completely different purpose:
Daily: skirts , turtlenecks, tracksuits, pullovers, etc. look feminine and romantic;
Top: a light shine will look attractive on a drape coat or bologna jacket;
Business: a small addition of metal in such clothes will refresh the image and dilute the strict image;
Dressy: glitter in dresses or blouses attracts attention, looks very effective, bright. Such things are ideal for the holiday;

Metal is relevant not only in clothing but also in accessories. Shimmering hats, gloves, and scarves look beautiful and are very popular.

It is also worth noting that tights and stockings with lurex thread look very spectacular. If a woman wants to act as a seductress, such things are indispensable. However, for everyday wear, they are not suitable.

Materials with the addition of metal are also used for interior decoration. Bedspreads, canopies, curtains with a light shine – all this will make the room smart and cozy.

Lurex fabric is a universal material that can be used in a variety of fields. It is often used to produce clothing for parties, festive events, and performances. Finishing with lurex adds chic and elegance to the product.

Due to its stretching properties, the lurex fabric is also popular in the creation of beachwear. Lurex swimsuits and dresses emphasize the dignity of the figure and give the image a unique shine. On the other hand, lurex is also used in the production of sportswear, as it adapts to the movements and does not constrain the body.

Lurex fabric dates back to ancient Egypt and, over the centuries, has been considered a sign of wealth and luxury. Then shining threads were pulled from gold and woven into the fabric, and since the 13th century - silver threads were covered with gilding and woven with silk. Of course, the fabrics created by such technology were only affordable for wealthy people. Today, however, the sparkling fabric is available to everyone. And all thanks to the American T.E. Dolan, the owner of the company producing cigarette packages. It was he who came up with the idea of putting aluminum thread into synthetic packaging, which made it stronger and more resistant to tearing. Soon after Dolan patented his invention, textile manufacturers took an interest in it - this is how lurex material came to be, the name derived from the word "lure".

The raw material for the production of lurex fabric is foil made of various metals. It can be aluminum, brass, copper, or nickel - all of them have different shades, hence the variety of colors. Also, to get unnatural for metal shades (in the sale you can find, for example, lurex violet color or black), the foil is additionally colored with various pigments. After that, an emulsion is applied to the sheet, which dries and forms a film that gives protection to the foil. Thanks to it, lurex has greater tensile strength, while the foil is easily damaged. A new technology is the production of lurex from foil, and for the appearance of color, it is dyed with glue. Such a material is stronger, and the palette of colors has become much more diverse.

To give lurex fabric strength and softness in the composition of the thread, it began to introduce nylon or polyester fibers. Also, such additives help to achieve a variety of effects of the material: iridescent shimmer, light-absorbing, and light-reflecting action (glow in the dark). Even though lurex is a hardware that has a metal base, it is fragile and very easy to pull and tear. Therefore, it is used in combination with other types of threads to create fabrics.

1. Shine
The lurex fabric on the sweater gives a special shine and sparkle. It attracts attention and makes the product bright and spectacular. This makes a lurex sweater a great choice for special occasions and festive events.

2. Unique look
Lurex fabric creates a unique texture and looks on the sweater. It gives the product a special play of light and shadow, making it more interesting and attractive. Even a simple sweater design can look stylish through the use of lurex.

3. Practicality
A lurex fabric sweater has good practical properties. It keeps its shape for a long time, does not deform, and does not lose color after washing. In addition, a lurex product is easy to launder and dries quickly. This allows you to enjoy its beauty and comfort longer.

4. Variety of styles
Lurex fabric can be combined with different types of fabrics to create a variety of styles and looks. It blends well with soft and transparent fabrics and dense and textured materials. Because of this, a lurex sweater can be suitable for different seasons and design styles.

5. Easy care
Lurex fabric on a sweater does not require any special care. It can be washed in the washing machine at low temperature and ironed at medium iron temperature. This makes it easy and convenient to keep the product in good condition without much expense.

So, lurex fabric on a sweater has many advantages that make it a popular and sought-after material. Shine and shine, unique look, practicality, variety of styles, and easy care - all this makes the lurex sweater a great choice for creating bright and elegant images.

For lurex fabrics to serve you for a long time and bring you joy with their high quality and perfect appearance, it is important to pay attention to proper care. As a rule, recommendations for care of this fabric directly depend on the composition of the material and structure. The main rule will be to study the label on the product, which describes in detail the recommendations for washing, drying, and ironing. However, things made of lurex are better to wash in a delicate mode, the temperature of water for this should be 30 degrees. In addition, it is recommended to use gels for washing. Hand washing is allowed in warm water, using delicate detergents.

It should be remembered that lurex, which includes natural materials is very sensitive to high temperatures, and synthetics are more resistant. The optimal solution will be a delicate washing mode. After washing things should not be pressed, you need to hang them and wait until the excess moisture independently drains from the product. Ironing things made of lurex fabric, as a rule, is not required, this fabric does not wrinkle and perfectly holds its shape. Thus, following the simple rules of care for lurex you can enjoy things made of this fabric and it will reciprocate: comfort, convenience, and beautiful appearance.