What Is Jacquard?
25 Oct 2023
Perhaps no one does not know what jacquard looks like. This fabric is hard to confuse with other types of textiles. It is popular for its variety of colors, intricate patterns, and luxurious appearance. It is often used for interior decoration and creating exquisite holiday clothes. However, few people know what it is and how it is created.
For about two hundred years, it has been difficult to imagine a complete choice of curtains or table textiles without this fabric, but in fact today the production of the same drapes and tablecloths is possible using different technology. However, jacquard has not finally given way to them - it has its own advantages and disadvantages. We will introduce you to this beautiful fabric in our article. Keep reading.
For about two hundred years, it has been difficult to imagine a complete choice of curtains or table textiles without this fabric, but in fact today the production of the same drapes and tablecloths is possible using different technology. However, jacquard has not finally given way to them - it has its own advantages and disadvantages. We will introduce you to this beautiful fabric in our article. Keep reading.
Where Does Jacquard Fabric Come From?
Nowadays, jacquard is used in various fields, such as elegant clothing, home textiles, and furniture production. In each of these sectors, the fabric is extremely popular, largely due to its quality and aesthetic appearance, as well as unconditional respect from monarchs of different countries since the 19th century.
Fabrics such as this were once valued for their weight in gold, as the technology of production was kept in the strictest secrecy, and was known only to a few masters of weaving craft. This continued until the turn of the XVIII and XIX centuries when a certain Joseph Marie Jacquard did not create a unique machine at that time, the mechanism of which allowed the production of woven patterns of high complexity. The machine underwent many modifications and improvements, and its final version was only presented to the public in 1808.
The loom was based on the use of a system of cardboard sheets with holes resembling punch cards. In fact, these were the first punch cards, which were connected in series and automatically changed as the thread passed through. The appearance of intricate mathematically calculated weaves of decorative designs with fruits, leaves, flowers, and emblems led to the rapid spread of this woven fabric.
Thus, becoming the father of the automatic loom system, Jacquard gave the world one of the most famous and revered woven materials. In France, where there is a great demand for everything refined and beautiful, this solution was quickly appreciated, and from there it spread over time to the whole world. Grateful descendants called this fabric - in honor of its inventor.
The machine, which wove amazing patterns like a trained animal, amazed Emperor Napoleon I. From that moment on, Joseph Marie Jacquard had the right to charge for the use of his invention. He granted the inventor a lifetime pension and recognized his copyright. Since then, it has become a constant feature in the interiors of the most noble and wealthy homes in Europe. In Leon, the inventor's hometown, a monument to the outstanding weaver of the twentieth century has been erected.
Since then, intricate weaving has manifested itself in voluminous floral designs, heraldic motifs, foliage patterns, and emblems of kings and courtiers. Most of them were made in a single copy. They were timed to a significant date: coronation, wedding, historical event, in honor of victory in a decisive battle, a church holiday.
Fabrics such as this were once valued for their weight in gold, as the technology of production was kept in the strictest secrecy, and was known only to a few masters of weaving craft. This continued until the turn of the XVIII and XIX centuries when a certain Joseph Marie Jacquard did not create a unique machine at that time, the mechanism of which allowed the production of woven patterns of high complexity. The machine underwent many modifications and improvements, and its final version was only presented to the public in 1808.
The loom was based on the use of a system of cardboard sheets with holes resembling punch cards. In fact, these were the first punch cards, which were connected in series and automatically changed as the thread passed through. The appearance of intricate mathematically calculated weaves of decorative designs with fruits, leaves, flowers, and emblems led to the rapid spread of this woven fabric.
Thus, becoming the father of the automatic loom system, Jacquard gave the world one of the most famous and revered woven materials. In France, where there is a great demand for everything refined and beautiful, this solution was quickly appreciated, and from there it spread over time to the whole world. Grateful descendants called this fabric - in honor of its inventor.
The machine, which wove amazing patterns like a trained animal, amazed Emperor Napoleon I. From that moment on, Joseph Marie Jacquard had the right to charge for the use of his invention. He granted the inventor a lifetime pension and recognized his copyright. Since then, it has become a constant feature in the interiors of the most noble and wealthy homes in Europe. In Leon, the inventor's hometown, a monument to the outstanding weaver of the twentieth century has been erected.
Since then, intricate weaving has manifested itself in voluminous floral designs, heraldic motifs, foliage patterns, and emblems of kings and courtiers. Most of them were made in a single copy. They were timed to a significant date: coronation, wedding, historical event, in honor of victory in a decisive battle, a church holiday.
What Is a Jacquard Fabric?
Jacquard is a revolution in the world of fabrics. Luxurious and innovative, it gave us the beauty of patterns and ornaments on the fabric, many color combinations on one cloth, and, of course, French chic.
However, nowadays it would not be quite right to think that jacquard fabric is one particular material. The name "jacquard" is a collective name for all fabrics, in the pattern of which various types of interlacing threads alternate. The fact is that the Frenchman only proposed a method of weaving threads, but no description of the technology does not contain a precise indication of what they should be made of. Accordingly, in the modern world, both natural and synthetic threads are used for jacquard weave, and the output is different fabrics, each of which has its pros and cons.
If we talk about some common features of these fabrics with complex patterns, then, in addition to the weave, which only specialists understand, the characteristic feature is the weaving pattern, which is not applied by dyes and is formed by a special weave of individual threads.
Not all consumers know what these fabric are, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. This fabric have a number of benefits that are hard to underestimate:
1. The obvious durability of the material is proved by its resistance to damage and abrasion, the strength and complexity of the weave, and the basic fibers in the composition. By the way,they can be made of natural, synthetic, or mixed threads.
2. The fabric is exceptionally beautiful and good, and some multicolor fabrics in the pattern can contain about 24 threads of different shades. Therefore, jacquard is recognized as one of the most decorative woven materials known today. The weave sometimes looks so picturesque and luxurious that its value becomes clear because the reliefs, halftones, and shimmers of color delight true connoisseurs of quality fabric.
3. Some modern types of jacquard with synthetic fiber content and special impregnation that prevents dirt and moisture are very popular in furniture production. The natural composition of the fabric is mainly used in the field of fashion, including high fashion: evening toilets, expensive men's suits, and wedding dresses with jacquard weaves of silk and viscose.
4. The excellent density of the fabric allows it to be used in interior furnishings as well, ensuring a presentable appearance, quality, and sophistication of the items.
Unfortunately, today some enterprising sellers of the same name award other fabrics, on which drawings are applied by printing or padding, which, of course, has nothing to do with the original technology. A real woven fabric resembles a tapestry in some ways but differs from it in a number of features, such as thinner and cheaper threads, as well as its lightness.
However, nowadays it would not be quite right to think that jacquard fabric is one particular material. The name "jacquard" is a collective name for all fabrics, in the pattern of which various types of interlacing threads alternate. The fact is that the Frenchman only proposed a method of weaving threads, but no description of the technology does not contain a precise indication of what they should be made of. Accordingly, in the modern world, both natural and synthetic threads are used for jacquard weave, and the output is different fabrics, each of which has its pros and cons.
If we talk about some common features of these fabrics with complex patterns, then, in addition to the weave, which only specialists understand, the characteristic feature is the weaving pattern, which is not applied by dyes and is formed by a special weave of individual threads.
Not all consumers know what these fabric are, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. This fabric have a number of benefits that are hard to underestimate:
1. The obvious durability of the material is proved by its resistance to damage and abrasion, the strength and complexity of the weave, and the basic fibers in the composition. By the way,they can be made of natural, synthetic, or mixed threads.
2. The fabric is exceptionally beautiful and good, and some multicolor fabrics in the pattern can contain about 24 threads of different shades. Therefore, jacquard is recognized as one of the most decorative woven materials known today. The weave sometimes looks so picturesque and luxurious that its value becomes clear because the reliefs, halftones, and shimmers of color delight true connoisseurs of quality fabric.
3. Some modern types of jacquard with synthetic fiber content and special impregnation that prevents dirt and moisture are very popular in furniture production. The natural composition of the fabric is mainly used in the field of fashion, including high fashion: evening toilets, expensive men's suits, and wedding dresses with jacquard weaves of silk and viscose.
4. The excellent density of the fabric allows it to be used in interior furnishings as well, ensuring a presentable appearance, quality, and sophistication of the items.
Unfortunately, today some enterprising sellers of the same name award other fabrics, on which drawings are applied by printing or padding, which, of course, has nothing to do with the original technology. A real woven fabric resembles a tapestry in some ways but differs from it in a number of features, such as thinner and cheaper threads, as well as its lightness.
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Black
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White
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Black
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White
What Is Jacquard - Types
Always smooth and pleasant to touch, it can be of several types and from different raw materials.
Even the original jacquard loom weaving technology does not impose any restrictions on the thread material, so today such fabrics are produced from almost any existing thread. This situation creates a huge variety in the sewing materials market, and although a good choice helps to achieve ideal results in sewing certain textiles, sometimes this abundance is even a little confusing. To understand, let's try to briefly go through the basic classification of jacquard fabrics.
According to the composition of threads
Perhaps the main differences between the finished product and what the individual threads in the weave are made of. As a rule, the finished fabric largely adopts the main features of the material from which it is made.
It makes no sense to consider absolutely all options, so we will only highlight the most popular and frequently encountered.
Jacquard organza, as well as the usual, is produced from threads of different materials – most often polyester or viscose threads, often combined with silk. An abundance of synthetic material can achieve a particularly accurate transfer of the intended pattern. In addition, the structure of such a fabric is quite easy to weave metal threads.
You can see such material not only in the design of windows but also in many modern wedding dresses. It also often appears in various theatrical clothing, imitating the exquisite decorations of the old days.
Stretch or stretch jacquard is a great success in the knitwear industry because of its ability to stretch and then regain its former shape. In order to achieve the notorious stretch effect, modern stretch materials such as lycra, elastane, and even ultra-modern velcro are used as the main components. However, for better appearance and increased tenderness of the matter, it can add classic solutions like cotton or even poplin. Today, this material is very common. It's all around you, even if you have never thought about it, because it is often used to sew casual and outerwear.
Cotton jacquard is another popular material that is based on natural raw materials and has additional strength and durability. Although modern synthetics in many ways push such solutions to the background, satin jacquard can still be found in everyday clothes and even mattress covers.
Silk jacquard, unlike many other fabrics where silk is included in small quantities, has a significant proportion of silk, although it does not matter whether it is a natural material or a synthetic substitute. Silk fabrics, in turn, can be divided into a large number of individual varieties, among which are especially popular, are considered satin-jacquard and satin-jacquard. The sphere of application of such fabrics is usually called lace underwear and evening dresses, curtains, bedding, and even everyday clothes.
Since it is not even an exact weave pattern, but only a mechanism of how several types of weaves can be combined in one fabric, today this kind of fabrics can use different types, which gives another reason to categorize them. The most primitive variant of jacquard weaving is the so-called simple, when there is only one warp thread system and one more weft thread. Thanks to this technique, relatively cheap fabrics such as crepe de chine, satin, or marshmallows appear. They are usually used to sew table textiles (reusable napkins and tablecloths).
If there are several systems of warp and weft threads, the jacquard weave is called complex, and in turn, is divided into several groups: Double-sided jacquard is used intensively for costumes and the most suitable for tapestry production;
Pile varieties of them are used as upholstery for upholstered furniture.
By color
The peculiarity of woven fabrics is their complex, relief structure, thanks to which they are beautiful in their own way, even without any coloring. That is why many manufacturers produce white jacquard, which is bleached specifically to give it a special solemnity and emphasize the fine work of weavers. Of the monochromatic varieties of such matter, one of the most successful is still a black variety, but in general, both are not among the most popular – they are mainly used to create expensive designer suits.
Another thing is multicolored fabrics, because in combination with a relief pattern, a variety of colors and shades can create a really bright picture. At the same time and here there is a certain space for the classification of fabrics because some types of jacquard fabric are made of multicolored, pre-dyed threads, while in another case, a monochrome piece of ready-made fabric is then dyed.
Even the original jacquard loom weaving technology does not impose any restrictions on the thread material, so today such fabrics are produced from almost any existing thread. This situation creates a huge variety in the sewing materials market, and although a good choice helps to achieve ideal results in sewing certain textiles, sometimes this abundance is even a little confusing. To understand, let's try to briefly go through the basic classification of jacquard fabrics.
According to the composition of threads
Perhaps the main differences between the finished product and what the individual threads in the weave are made of. As a rule, the finished fabric largely adopts the main features of the material from which it is made.
It makes no sense to consider absolutely all options, so we will only highlight the most popular and frequently encountered.
Jacquard organza, as well as the usual, is produced from threads of different materials – most often polyester or viscose threads, often combined with silk. An abundance of synthetic material can achieve a particularly accurate transfer of the intended pattern. In addition, the structure of such a fabric is quite easy to weave metal threads.
You can see such material not only in the design of windows but also in many modern wedding dresses. It also often appears in various theatrical clothing, imitating the exquisite decorations of the old days.
Stretch or stretch jacquard is a great success in the knitwear industry because of its ability to stretch and then regain its former shape. In order to achieve the notorious stretch effect, modern stretch materials such as lycra, elastane, and even ultra-modern velcro are used as the main components. However, for better appearance and increased tenderness of the matter, it can add classic solutions like cotton or even poplin. Today, this material is very common. It's all around you, even if you have never thought about it, because it is often used to sew casual and outerwear.
Cotton jacquard is another popular material that is based on natural raw materials and has additional strength and durability. Although modern synthetics in many ways push such solutions to the background, satin jacquard can still be found in everyday clothes and even mattress covers.
Silk jacquard, unlike many other fabrics where silk is included in small quantities, has a significant proportion of silk, although it does not matter whether it is a natural material or a synthetic substitute. Silk fabrics, in turn, can be divided into a large number of individual varieties, among which are especially popular, are considered satin-jacquard and satin-jacquard. The sphere of application of such fabrics is usually called lace underwear and evening dresses, curtains, bedding, and even everyday clothes.
Since it is not even an exact weave pattern, but only a mechanism of how several types of weaves can be combined in one fabric, today this kind of fabrics can use different types, which gives another reason to categorize them. The most primitive variant of jacquard weaving is the so-called simple, when there is only one warp thread system and one more weft thread. Thanks to this technique, relatively cheap fabrics such as crepe de chine, satin, or marshmallows appear. They are usually used to sew table textiles (reusable napkins and tablecloths).
If there are several systems of warp and weft threads, the jacquard weave is called complex, and in turn, is divided into several groups: Double-sided jacquard is used intensively for costumes and the most suitable for tapestry production;
Pile varieties of them are used as upholstery for upholstered furniture.
By color
The peculiarity of woven fabrics is their complex, relief structure, thanks to which they are beautiful in their own way, even without any coloring. That is why many manufacturers produce white jacquard, which is bleached specifically to give it a special solemnity and emphasize the fine work of weavers. Of the monochromatic varieties of such matter, one of the most successful is still a black variety, but in general, both are not among the most popular – they are mainly used to create expensive designer suits.
Another thing is multicolored fabrics, because in combination with a relief pattern, a variety of colors and shades can create a really bright picture. At the same time and here there is a certain space for the classification of fabrics because some types of jacquard fabric are made of multicolored, pre-dyed threads, while in another case, a monochrome piece of ready-made fabric is then dyed.
How Do Today’s Designers Use Jacquard?
Jacquard dress
More than two hundred years ago, this fabric could afford to have only kings. Jacquard dresses have a luxurious and expensive appearance. Nowadays, almost any woman can easily afford such a dress, which will favorably transform her usual image.
From Jacquard, we sew a variety of styles of dresses. The most in-demand are universal laconic models that suit almost everyone. The beauty of this fabric can emphasize only a simple laconic dress, such as a case. It can be worn at both a formal reception and a party, and if complemented with a monochrome jacket made of suit fabric, comfortable loafers, and modest accessories, it will look great in the office.
Knitted with a jacquard pattern
Cozy dress-sweater, loose, or fitted knitted models with dense and large jacquard patterns of varying degrees of complexity – this is an ideal option for the winter season. Such models are suitable for women of any size and allow you feel comfortable and convenient. In addition, they look very stylish, especially if you properly complement them with accessories. They can be fashionable collars or massive necklaces, a thin belt will allow you to emphasize the waist.
Home decorations
Until a few years ago, it was very much in demand and popular for sewing curtains, as well as plaids and furniture upholstery. Modern industrial looms create a variety of jacquard fabrics that are used depending on their density, composition, and characteristics.
Jacquard is a dense, durable, and wear-resistant fabric widely used in the production of upholstered furniture. Upholstery for home" – this type of fabric is made from mixed yarns. Their surface is quite hard and has a pronounced relief.
Luxury decorative materials for the interior are sometimes created by hand using silver and gold threads for embroidery patterns. They can be used to create a wall tapestry. Tapestries are made from thick colored threads and often have artistic motifs and vintage patterns, making them very popular.
We also produce beautiful draperies, unique tablecloths, napkins, and other exquisite decorative fabrics that can embellish and enliven any interior design.
More than two hundred years ago, this fabric could afford to have only kings. Jacquard dresses have a luxurious and expensive appearance. Nowadays, almost any woman can easily afford such a dress, which will favorably transform her usual image.
From Jacquard, we sew a variety of styles of dresses. The most in-demand are universal laconic models that suit almost everyone. The beauty of this fabric can emphasize only a simple laconic dress, such as a case. It can be worn at both a formal reception and a party, and if complemented with a monochrome jacket made of suit fabric, comfortable loafers, and modest accessories, it will look great in the office.
Knitted with a jacquard pattern
Cozy dress-sweater, loose, or fitted knitted models with dense and large jacquard patterns of varying degrees of complexity – this is an ideal option for the winter season. Such models are suitable for women of any size and allow you feel comfortable and convenient. In addition, they look very stylish, especially if you properly complement them with accessories. They can be fashionable collars or massive necklaces, a thin belt will allow you to emphasize the waist.
Home decorations
Until a few years ago, it was very much in demand and popular for sewing curtains, as well as plaids and furniture upholstery. Modern industrial looms create a variety of jacquard fabrics that are used depending on their density, composition, and characteristics.
Jacquard is a dense, durable, and wear-resistant fabric widely used in the production of upholstered furniture. Upholstery for home" – this type of fabric is made from mixed yarns. Their surface is quite hard and has a pronounced relief.
Luxury decorative materials for the interior are sometimes created by hand using silver and gold threads for embroidery patterns. They can be used to create a wall tapestry. Tapestries are made from thick colored threads and often have artistic motifs and vintage patterns, making them very popular.
We also produce beautiful draperies, unique tablecloths, napkins, and other exquisite decorative fabrics that can embellish and enliven any interior design.
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