The key difference between georgette and chiffon is that chiffon has a smoother and silkier texture than georgette, which has a somewhat grainy texture.
Both georgette and chiffon are famous among women because they are comfortable and easy to drape. They are often confused with each other because of their lightweight and translucent nature. Overall, both are excellent fabrics that are versatile and have only minor differences.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Georgette
3. What is Chiffon
4. Georgette vs Chiffon in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Georgette vs Chiffon
What is Georgette?
Georgette is a fabric traditionally made from pure silk. It can also be made using materials like rayon, polyester, or viscose. It was introduced by the French dressmaker georgette de la Plante in the early 20th century. This material is sheer, lightweight, and has a matte, dull finish. It is used in making sarees, dresses, and home décor. Silk georgette is almost like silk chiffon, while crêpe georgette is made using tightly twisted yarns. Generally, this material is available in solid colors.
Georgette material is lightweight and breathable. However, georgette material made with synthetic fibers is less breathable than silk georgette. This fabric is also translucent and very flowy, so it can be nicely draped. At the same time, this material holds dye well.
There are various types of georgette materials, including double georgette, which is thicker and somewhat translucent; stretch georgette, which adds elastic components into the weave for added stretch; satin georgette, which has a shinier finish; polyester georgette, which is made from polyester, and Jacquard georgette which is woven on a jacquard loom.
When washing clothes made using this material, you have to use cold water and mild detergent. Moreover, you should not wring, stretch or pull the garment when washing it.
What is Chiffon?
Chiffon is a soft, comfortable, plain-woven, and lightweight fabric. This material is normally used for sarees, dupattas, dresses, salwar suits, scarves, evening gowns, lingerie, skirts, blouses, curtains, and cushion covers. It does not cling to your body, so you can have a nice drape with this material. This material keeps you cool and is suitable for daytime wear. However, the threads of this material may snag and fray easily. Furthermore, it is difficult to work with this material, especially when sewing.
Chiffon is gauze-like, and it is sheer, shimmery, and floating. At present, China is the biggest chiffon-producing country. Clothes made from silk chiffon must be dry cleaned. But, those made from nylon chiffon and polyester chiffon can be hand-washed or machine-washed gently using a mild detergent. You can soak this fabric for a maximum of 30 minutes in cold water; otherwise, the dye will fade away. Remember not to twist or squeeze it because it will easily lose shape. You should not dry it under direct sunlight since the color may fade away.
The name chiffon was derived from the French word chiffe, which means a garment. In the past, this fabric was made in France from silk. Since it was a silk fabric, it was expensive and represented high status. Therefore, this was popular among upper-class European and American women. Nylon chiffon was invented in 1938, and in 1958 polyester chiffon was invented. Polyester chiffon is low-cost and durable. It is also stain-resistant. Since this material is delicate, the textiles are usually woven by hand. Moreover, garments made from this material are not suitable for daily wear; instead, they are for special occasions only.
What is the Difference Between Georgette and Chiffon?
The key difference between georgette and chiffon is that chiffon has a smoother and silkier texture than georgette, which has a somewhat grainy texture. While georgette has a matte and dull look, chiffon has a glossy, thin net-like appearance. In addition, georgette is more heavy and thick than chiffon.
Below is a summary of the difference between georgette and chiffon in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Georgette vs Chiffon
Georgette is a fabric made from pure silk. It has a rough and grainy texture, plus a matte and dull look. It is also strong, semi-transparent and durable. Chiffon is a soft, comfortable, plain-woven, and lightweight fabric. It is smoother and silkier and has a glossy look. It is also thin, light, and less durable. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between georgette and chiffon.
Reference:
1. “Chiffon.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Georgette.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Fashion Style Sari Indien” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “A Purple Chiffon Fabric on White Surface” by Saime Dal (CC0) via Pexels