Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The Shimmering World of Dupioni Silk

In the world of fabric and textile, Dupioni silk is a name that is pretty well known. This is a silk woven fabric that is also known as douppioni or dupion. Dupioni silk is an excellent fabric to consider if you are looking for a wrinkle-free and crisp fabric for your drapes and tapestry. The fabric is a glistening silk material that is made out of silk threads of dual colors. Silk threads of two colors are interwoven to form a fabric that has a dual toned sheen to it. The interplay of light and dark gives a magical effect to the fabric making it seem to change colors.

Dupioni Silk is made from rough silk fiber threads. Vibrant colors are generally used in Dupioni silk weaving. The merging of bright colored crude fiber gives the finished product a shimmering effect along with a crisp texture. When used as a drapery, Dupioni silk changes the entire ambience of your hall, living room or dining area. The backdrop it creates has an elegant and sophisticated look. The fabric resists creases and is a fully reversible fabric. In this way, you drapery will look perfect no matter which side shows.

Dupioni silks are available in solid colors of the Indian and Italian variety. You will also find them in stripes of contrasted colors and designs. A popular form of Dupioni silk is the embroidered variety. This material is chiefly used for tapestry and drapery. The beaded form of Dupioni silk fabric is also available in the market. Silk as a fabric is considered to be one of the best fabrics among natural and synthetic ones. It is a fabric that keeps warm in winter and cool in summers. Mildew and dampness does not affect silk easily. The luster and strength of the fabric makes it a favorite choice for drapery.

As far as taking care of Dupioni silk drapes is concerned, the best way to clean the fabric is by dry cleaning. If the fabric is washed by hand it might result in loss of sheen and crispness. In any case, washing large drapes by hand is a very cumbersome task. You should also be careful not to attach any pins or other metal fixtures to the drapes. If it rusts, the drape may be permanently stained. The fabric is an expensive one and once it gets tainted, it loses its beauty.