When you step into a fabric shop, to shop for any material there are high chances of you coming across a Jacquard fabric without you looking for it. They are that famous and made in plenty these days as it used not only for sarees but also various other purposes in the textile industry. We have seen so many form of fabrics in my blog, such as hand paints, these are all printed or dyed on the base of a fabric, but Jacquard design is incorporated into the weaves through a process called Loom process.
What is a Jacquard Fabric
A Jacquard weave is created through a Loom process, which is programmed to raise each Warp thread independently of the other threads. The loom attached allows a much more versatile weaving process and a higher level of control. The Jacquard weaving process is more time consuming and labour intensive than a basic weave. However, Jacquard fabric is more stable and stretchy than fabrics created through the basic weave technique. Jacquard weaves can be combines with different colours and variety of threads. Thus, giving us a result of beautiful and soft gradations of color tones and bold outlined patterns that are very complex. Unlike prints which are applied to the fabric after its oven, jacquard patterns are created together with the cloth.
History of Jacquard
Although the intricate Jacquard fabric seem commonplace today, that was not always the case. Hundreds of years before, intricately patterned fabrics called “Brocades”, were difficult to create. Only the riches members of the society could afford such finery, usually in the form of clothing or upholsteries or tapestries. These fabrics were symbols of status and wealth, but could only be woven by hand, obviously a tedious and a painstaking process. The labourers who were tasked to create these weaving and make into s beautiful clothing they had to undergo intricate backbreaking work. There was one unique labourer who used to do these back breaking work of art decided to make every labourers pain little less and then came the infamous Jacquard Loom, created by Joseph-Marie Jacquard. The name “Jacquard” derived from his own name. So, Mr. Jacquard wanted to create a device that was more efficient, required less labour and could create artistic designs in fabric. The Jacquard Loom was also called as Jacquard Mechanisms or Jacquard System. What this device did was, it read a long row of punched wooden cards and weave a predesigned pattern into the fabric itself . The beauty of the Jacquard Loom is in its ability to interlace hundred of warp threads to create unique design.
Types of Jacquard fabrics
Moving forward from the main Jacquard fabric woven with the help of Jacquard loom, the Jacquard fabric can be subdivided into three more famously found fabric:
BROCADE FABRIC :
Woven with mukti colour threads producing rich designs , it is a seperate topic to be discussed about . Popularly used i. Fashion clothing , accessories like Clutch and Juttis, Upholstery. The fabric is heavier than most other , but the designs weaved are impeccable.
DAMASK FABRIC :
While the Brocade fabric is heavier, the Damask fabric is more fine and sheer. It is a patterned fabric which is woven mostly with single colour. They are generally used in fibre blends or synthetic fibres.
MATELASSÉ FABRIC
The main materials used are cotton, silk and rayon. This fabric has a quilted effect and a stretchy fabric.
Jacquard Materials
A Jacquard saree with detailed border and stylish pallu can give any classic saree a run for its money. Jacquard has varying finesse as per the quality of fabric being used. The main materials used in making the Jacquard are Cotton, Silk, Wool and Linen. These fabrics are mostly used in making Sarees, lehengas, ties and they are equally widely used for home décor like upholstery, draperies, curtains table and bed linen etc. In terms of design there is no limit to imagination. You can find anything from florals, Paisley, stripes and polka dots to very large, detailed, intricate patterns. So to be precise, they can be available i. A variety of compositions and weights and we’ve various purposes. Lightweight jacquards are often picked for spring and summer apparels like cotton dresses or sarees or linen upholsteries. Whereas heavy clothes have their say in colder seasons like winter jackets in Brocade deisgn, gloves and socks .
Popular Designs
Looking for something Light weight ? Try silk or cotton Jacquard fabrics. Want something more substantial? Channel your energy towards wool or blend jacquard. Whether , you want to dress up for special event wear or low key outfit, Jacquard weave has got potential to cater for every need. The hottest trend in Jacquard are stripes, checks and florals. Fashion designers like to clash various textures and are not afraid to match the unmatching.
Jacquard as Home Decor
Jacquard in the field of home décor plays very important role. The peculiarities of its weave make it lustruous and durable so they are important for curtains, drapery, Upholstery, carpet eye.
*Jacquard curtains neither fade not stretch out
*They dnt absorb water, any contamination can be eliminated with wet cloth so they are easy to care.
*Historically Jacquard curtains or table cloths are used for banquette halls, living rooms of expensive restaurants and hotels. As they make wonders in decoration premises.
