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The process of satin weaving has been around for centuries, given that people have come to appreciate its qualities. In spite of the fact that it was initially relatively unavailable to the masses as a result of the fact that it was primarily made out of silk and because the technique of satin weaving was not widespread, it gradually came to be found all around the world, as weavers did not hesitate to use less expensive materials in producing such fabrics. Present-day people are known to use satin as the weaving technique for producing a series of things, ranging from apparel to bed sheets. Even with that, some individuals are unsupportive in regard to satin weaving, as satin weaves can be torn very easily, making it difficult for people to look after them.
Society has been used to making cloth for thousands of years and weaving as a whole has experienced great progress over the years, with more and more techniques emerging as a result of the fact that people perfected their methods. In spite of the fact that satin is a very pretentious fabric and that it can even be considered luxurious, people living during the recent centuries have expressed a particular desire for the weave (Textile Fabric Consultants, Inc.).
Most people believe that Satin originates in the Middle East, as the territory is recognized as one of the areas where some of the top-quality weaves come from. However, in spite of the fact that Middle Easterners adopted and probably perfected the custom, they are not the ones responsible for creating it.
The Chinese are apparently the ones who discovered and promoted the weave. As the Western World interacted with the Eastern World, the Europeans came across numerous things that seemed intriguing and that were not available in Europe at the time. Silk was one of the main fabrics that caught their eye, with satin weaves being particularly impressive to Europeans, more than ever considering that the weaves with which they were accustomed to were far less extraordinary.
Although it is difficult and almost impossible to determine when satin first appeared, the first accounts relating to the weave go back to the twelfth century, when it became popular around Europe. Upper class people in Europe immediately adopted the practice, given that it was more refined than the fabrics that they were used to. The place where satin originates from is Zaytoun (present-day Canton), in China, as people there are apparently responsible for creating the cloth (Chinese Clothing - Five Thousand Years' History).
The port city of Zaytoun is recognized as being one of the main points where Europeans could get satin weave mainly because it was one of the principal places where European traders came to do business. Clothes and style in general was very important for people in China, as "the many facets of colour and design that emerged during a dynasty's reign were marvellous and made every aspect of Chinese culture, including their wearing apparel, - highly acclaimed works of art" (Chinese Clothing - Five Thousand Years' History).
The Chinese believed that clothes were one of the most important elements in their culture and that it was essential for them to differentiate themselves from other cultures. Although dress styles depended mainly on the effectiveness of some clothes and on the preferences of the dynasties ruling over the country, satin was recognized by numerous leaders as being one of the characteristic weaves in the country's tradition. Rulers in particular were accustomed to wearing gowns made out of satin. The Ming Dynasty is recognized as one of houses to appreciate satin the most, as its members were supportive in regard to arts and to quality cloths, regardless of their price or of their availability (Chinese Clothing - Five Thousand Years' History).
Some people (Europeans in particular, as they were accustomed to silk satin they took from the Chinese) were unable to tell the difference between silk and satin, as because the latter was creating by using the former, they were inclined to believe that they were one and the same. People in the Middle Ages imported satin from Zaytoun with the purpose of creating various clothes that they would use only when it was a special occasion. It was not until the fifteenth century that satin entered British culture, as the Italians were among the first Europeans to use the...
"It became a favorite of all court life because of its exquisite qualities and feel" (Maitra, 376).
People often find it difficult to understand how satin is different from other weaves, as they consider that all weaves are made from two thread sets, the warp and the weft, with the former running the fabric's length while the latter goes from side to side. When considering satin, at least four weft threads are woven over the warp thread, making it more difficult for light to be scattered over the cloth and creating the reflecting effect. "The order of interlacing may be less even. The face texture is smooth and without a determined pattern (no rib, wale, or woven pattern is discernible)" (Nielson, 76).
As time passed and satin came to be more and more appreciated as one of the most important materials people could use when they came across an extraordinary event, it became the principal fabric individuals used when they wanted to impress. Evening gowns and wedding dresses in particular came to be made exclusively out of satin, as they made people shine, emphasizing some of their most important qualities. Although they acknowledge the fact that the fabric is traditionally meant to be made out of silk, weavers have also used less conventional materials to weave satin.
There are several types of satin used in the contemporary society, and, depending on the style of the clothes that it is meant to create, the fabric is more or less expensive and refined. Wedding dresses made out of satin normally use Duchesse satin, a fabric that uses fine yarns in creating a crisp fabric. By using Duchesse satin on their wedding dresses, brides can add to the fluffy-feel that their dresses have, especially given that this fabric is very light. When considering wedding dresses and their evolution during the recent years, one is likely to observe that some of the most famous designers have concentrated on using satin as the main fabric regardless of dress styles or trends. Satin is also used for making footwear, as slipper satin is used because it is heavier and harder than normal satin fabrics. Ballet dancers are particularly familiar with shoes created from satin (among other products), as this material is resistant to friction and can be particularly important in stressing situations when artists need to give their best and can only do so by wearing the right shoes. There are a series of other satin fabrics, each designed to fit certain apparel and each of them perfect for particular moments in people's lives (Textile Fabric Consultants, Inc.).
To this day, when weavers have used less expensive materials to produce satin, the fabric remains one of the most luxurious and expensive cloths in the world. Rayon and many other artificial fibers are currently used in making satin and many people are actually unable to tell the difference between silk satin and satin made out of other materials. Precisely because of this, satin can be (to a certain degree) considered to be eco-friendly, as recycled materials can be used in producing it.
While some might be inclined to believe that more experimented individuals believe artificial fiber satin to be less qualitative in comparison to traditional silk satin, some of the latest technologies have made it possible for weavers to create high quality fabrics. Satin can also be made using eco-wool, which is recognized for contributing to caring for the environment through a series of ways. "Eco-wool is sensitive to various steps of wool production. It minimizes pesticide use, replaces non-biodegradable detergent with biodegradable detergent for washing wool, and it uses only natural oils (no mineral oils) in spinning" (Brentanofabrics.com).
People engaged in producing satin can be encouraged to adopt green ways of continuing their business through learning more information concerning the environment and their personal gain as a result of producing eco-satin. Ranging from dark black to vibrant pink, contemporary satin clothes are impressive because of the ways they reflect light and because of their texture, which is (in most occasions) pleasing to the eye. In spite of its fame, most people turn away from satin when choosing a fabric that they can use on a daily basis. This is primarily because it is expensive and difficult to care for, particularly considering that the material almost becomes useless once it is stained or snagged. When considering someone interested in having a striking prom dress, satin stands as one of the top choices that the respective person can opt for. However, when considering an individual interested…
