Organza fabric is multifunctional and it has been making the fashion world fascinating, ever since designers used it to associate with fashion or couture. Even though styles and trends change frequently, organza fabric is still so popular and preferred among people especially women, which is due to often being utilized in new and innovative ways. Between wedding attire and uptown evening fashions, organza’s future in the world of fashion is secure. This article is intended to introduce the knowledge of organza fabric so that you are able to have a deep and comprehensive understanding of it.
What is organza?
Organza is a thin, plain weave, sheer fabric traditionally made from silk. Many modern organzas are woven with synthetic filament fibers such as polyester or nylon, these synthetic filament fibers enable fabrics to be more durable and practical than silk. Silk organza is woven by a number of mills along the Yangtze River and in the province of Zhejiang in China. A coarser silk organza is woven in the Bangalore area of India. Deluxe silk organzas are woven in France and Italy. Organza is used for bridalwear and eveningwear. In the interiors market, it is used for effects in bedrooms and between rooms. Double-width organzas in viscose and acetate are used as sheer curtains.
How to distinguish between organza and organdy or organdie?
As a crisp, see-through fabric that is lightweight and thin, organza has a distinctively fine texture and presents with a slight sheen; it has a shimmery quality to it that catches and reflects light. Because of its lightness, it is often used in bridal wear as a veil or as a layer in the dress itself and in cocktail or prom dresses. A stiff fabric, it has a slightly wiry quality to it, but it wrinkles easily.
Organdy or organdie is the sheerest and crispest cotton cloth made which comes from Kounya-Ourguentch in Turkmenistan. Combed yarns contribute to its appearance. Organdy is a balanced plain weave. Because of its stiffness and fiber content, it is very prone to wrinkling.
Organza and organdie are similar, only the fibers are different. Both fabrics are transparent, crisp, and woven with very fine, tightly twisted yarns in an open, plain weave. Organdy is usually cotton or nylon, while organza can be made of silk, polyester, or rayon. Organza is the filament yarn counterpart to organdy.
How many types of organza fabrics are there?
Crystal organza
Lightweight sheer crystal organza with a crisp texture and sparkle sheen. This type of organza is the most common. It is made from either silk, polyester, or nylon. Used for all types of specialty apparel including bridal.
Mirror organza
Lightweight sheer mirror organza adds a hint of shine with a unique texture. It is durable and comfortable. Suitable for a variety of uses including garments and decorative purposes. Most colors are matchable with polyester poplin, taffeta, and satin fabrics.
Sparkly organza
Sparkly Organza brings shimmer to any garment. It is also considered for decorative purposes, such as table toppers, centerpieces, pew swags, and window scarves for parties.
Silk organza
Silk organza is woven by a number of mills, it is the most expensive organza and the most prized. This type of Organza must be dry cleaned. Organza is now made from polyester and nylon to help ease costs.
Embroidered organza
Embroidered organza is a mirror or crystal organza that features embroidery on the material. The embroidery may include many different types of patterns and sequins and rhinestones may also be added when organza is embroidered.
What is the difference between silk organza and silk gauze?
Silk organza is woven by a number of mills, it has a smooth, flat finish, is strong and durable, and gets its stiffness from tightly twisted yarns. This fabric is also used as an interfacing where sheerness is a factor, silk organza pinafores and Peter Pan collars are traditional for little girls. It is used for wedding gowns, curtains, tablecloths, bags, party decor as well as many other applications.
Silk gauze is a sheer, thin fabric made of fine but very strong silk threads. The stability of the fabric is increased by the interlocking weave, also known as a leno structure. This weave, or structure, prevents the threads from shifting, which decreases the risk of tearing, pulling, and fraying of the canvas. Silk gauze is available in several weights and widths. It is also found in many different holes per inch (HPI), which is similar to the thread count of cotton fabric. The higher the HPI number, the smaller the number of holes in the canvas. Silk gauze is lightweight and its sheer qualities make it ideal for use as a facing or lining. It is commonly used in evening wear, dresses, veils, scarves, costumes, or layered over other fabrics.
Silk organza is heavier and crisper than silk gauze, silk gauze is actually much more loosely woven. Silk organza can generally be used in most applications where gauze is appropriate, although it is heavier and stiffer with a closer weave structure. Both fabrics are sheer and delicate and can be difficult to discern to the untrained eye.
Organza dresses
Organza can be used in all types of dresses in every silhouette. Each different style of dress plays to different appealing features of the fabric. Organza is so versatile that it can be used with texture to create a chic, modern dress, or it can be used in flat layers for a romantic, traditional style. Any woman who chooses an organza dress will find endless choices for dress styles.
Ball gowns with organza are more comfortable for the bride although more layers will be necessary to achieve the full shape. Organza can easily catch and tear. On the other hand, since an organza ball gown has so many layers, it will be almost impossible to see any small rips or tears.
A-line or princess wedding dresses have slimmer skirts and sometimes do not have a defined break between the bodice and the skirt materials. For styles without a defined waistline, designers often use woven or ruched organza on the dress's bodice that will transition into the loose layers of the skirt. This texturing on the bodice is especially flattering to every woman's body type because it smooths out the body and hides any bulges. An A-line organza dress has as much drama as a ball gown but will be easier to manage and will have less of a danger of ripping or tearing.
Sheath dresses are designed to be slim and lightly hug the curves of a woman's body. Because of this style, organza is used sparingly in sheath wedding dresses. Often, looser sheath dresses may have an overlay or two of organza that softens the bride's movements but that does not add volume. Brides can also opt for a tighter sheath dress with an overlayer of organza that floats just over the tight dress foundation. This is a great style for brides who want to show off their shape without appearing immodest or too revealing.
Empire dresses are particularly well suited to organza fabric. The elongated skirt line looks great with soft, flowy organza layers. In this style, organza layers keep the volume of the skirt down, but they will also give the dress a soft, downy effect. Empire organza dresses give women a stunning silhouette that emphasizes the bust and gently covers the tummy, hips, and thighs without adding bulk or the appearance of more weight.
Trumpet and mermaid dresses fit close to women over the bust, waist, hips, and sometimes thighs but then flare out to a wider skirt. Textured organza is an especially striking way for a designer to create a large volume in a small amount of space that is the sign of a mermaid silhouette. Layers and ruffles are visually interesting and add the proper amount of volume without being too heavy. Trumpet and mermaid dresses in organza flow and move beautifully when the women moves because the shorter skirt flare falls back into place more quickly than a longer skirt of organza, which will slowly return to place.
Organza is so light and see-through, that it must be used over an opaque underlayer, in multiple layers, or both. This makes it a poor choice for mini skirts although it is beautiful in tea-length skirts and longer skirts. Knee-length skirts with volume are often composed of organza as well as other fabrics for structure. Because of organza's lightweight, shorter skirts are more apt to move more with a light breeze.
Because organza is so thin, it is easy to create multiple textures in one dress. Many dresses use multiple tiers of organza, these tiers of organza can be straight and uniform or uneven. Straight tiers emphasize a woman's shape and are often used in more close-fitting dress styles. These can even cover an entire dress, for a couture effect that shows off women's curves and adds a pattern without adding color. Uneven tiers are usually only used on a dress's skirt section and will give the dress a dreamy, natural effect.
The other uses of organza fabric
How to care for organza?
Wash Gently
You can wash it separately by hand; just don’t wring it out too harshly or you’ll destroy the texture. It is also fine to launder both silk and man-made organza in the washing machine. Use a cool or warm setting and don’t include anything else in the load that might catch on it, like zips on hoodies or hooks on bras.
Dry Delicately
Avoid any drying dangers by either hanging or laying your organza garment out flat to air dry. Keep it away from direct heat, particularly if it is polyester. It is safe to tumble-dry all organza as long as you use a low-heat setting. Organzas tend to create static electricity, so use a dryer sheet to reduce that. If you do tumble-dry, take the item out of the machine while it’s still slightly damp. Hang it and smooth out the creases as much as possible before it’s completely dry to reduce ironing.
Iron Carefully
There’s no going back if you frazzle the fabric on the first touch. Start with the iron on a low setting and gradually turn it up if you need to. If possible, test the iron on a hidden inside spot so any damage won’t show. Add a layer of protection by placing a damp cloth between the iron and the organza. Don’t hold the iron in one spot for too long or you risk burning. Avoid all ironing-related risks by hanging the crinkled garment in the bathroom -- the steam from hot showers and baths should help the creases drop out. We hope that you have enjoyed learning about this introduction of Organza.