What Is Satin?

How can you not love satin?! Shiny, silky, and glossy, these adjectives are often awarded to satin. Products made of this fabric can be found in almost every home, as the material is characterized by practicality and aesthetic appearance. This smoothness with a gentle coolness in the heat and a sense of warmth in the winter and this fabric gives anything a festive and dressy feeling. This material is very beautiful, so it is often used not only for elite bed linen but also for decorative elements - pillows, tablecloths, and for the manufacture of clothing, including evening attires. It is comfortable to wear and does not lose its properties even after repeated washing and drying.

So what kind of fabric is satin? Not everyone can confidently answer this question. It is a cotton fabric, and some new mysterious material: not cotton or silk, but something else. It has the same noble look, but at the same time it does not slip, and it has a reletively low price. Not without reason the fabric is called cotton silk. It combines the advantages of cotton and the elegance of silk, while the fabric is very wear-resistant and can withstand a large number of washings. In such an abundance of different kinds of information, it is easy to get confused, right?

In this blog, we will see what satin is, where this material is produced, what types of satin are there, and how it affects the quality characteristics of the final product. We will learn how satin was used many centuries ago and why this material was considered a privilege only for the nobility. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the fabric and try to understand why the material is one of the leaders of textile production in sewing home textiles and clothing.

It is a dense and beautiful fabric with a smooth surface, soft and velvety to the touch. Strictly speaking, originally satin is not the name of the fabric, but of the way, the threads in the fabric are woven.

For satin weaving, one thread of the front side is used per four threads of weft or warp. In this case, the warp takes dense threads, and the surface is twisted and thinner. Thanks to this satin has a beautiful luster. The fabric is smooth on the top and matte on the inside. The satin weave lends itself well to coloring, so the variety of shades and ornaments is very large. The term “satin,” referring to the type of weave, eventually took hold as the name of the fabric made in this manner. As source material for the manufacture of threads can be used natural cotton, natural silk, synthetic materials, or their combinations.

A distinctive feature of satin is the high density of the fabric. On 1 square centimeter of fabric, there are from 80 to 300 threads. Due to this, the material becomes durable, and resistant to washing, and a quality satin set can last more than 10 years without losing its original properties.

Satin appeared in the Celestial Empire 800 years ago. It appealed to the Arabs, who bought the material in the Chinese port of Quanzhou. Arab sailors called this port “zaytun”. From this word came the name of the fabric.

In the 12th century, when satin was invented, it was worn only by wealthy people. The material was used to sew expensive, lavish ceremonial garments. For ordinary Chinese people, it was a luxury. However, Europeans - primarily wealthy aristocrats - became interested in the satin fabric. Exports to Europe began already at the end of the 12th century. And the Europeans themselves began to make this fabric only in the 19th century - in 1850 John Mercer patented the method of its production. However, the noble fabric remained the privilege of the rich for quite a long time.

From satin made fashionable clothes for special occasions, which cost very expensive, and sewed lingerie for noble ladies. Only in the early 20th century, the material could already afford all segments of the population, and then began its mass production.

Many centuries after its invention, the popularity of satin remains. It is used to sew clothes, bed linens, and cover furniture. Even after 800 years, the Chinese material still pleases the eye with its exquisite luster.

Are there any characteristics of this fabric? Satin is a beautiful material that has a large number of advantages.

The drapeability of satin. Numerous soft folds falling make it possible to create incredibly feminine, original styles;

Noble appearance is a complex characteristic, which includes luster, shine, and ultra-smooth texture. It is due to these properties that satin became popular in evening fashion;

Long service life. Thanks to a special weave, it is a wear-resistant and durable material;

Hygroscopicity. Cotton and silk fabrics easily absorb moisture, pleasantly cooling the skin;

Lightness and comfort in wearing. Natural fabrics do not irritate and are suitable even for allergy sufferers;

Practicality and wear resistance. Satin products do not lose their glossy shine, or brightness of color even after many washings;

Environmental friendliness and safety. Cotton material decomposes and can be recycled;

The material is virtually wrinkle-free, holds its shape well and drapes beautifully;

Smooth surface. But it's worth noting that the underside of the fabric is usually a little rough, which prevents slipping;

Good breathability. In winter, the material retains heat, but in summer it does not maintain air;

Non-electrifying. Unlike synthetic fabrics, satin does not create an electrostatic charge.

Mercerizing the fabric helps to make the color last and increase durability. The process of mercerization includes treatment with alkali and acid, thanks to which the fibers swell, the threads become smooth and strong, and the material retains the brightness of color for a long time. However, it is worth noting that mercerized satin fabrics are usually priced higher than regular fabrics.

But there are also disadvantages:

The high cost of any kind of satin. This applies to both the fabric and the finished product.

The high density of the material and easy slip require a certain sewing skill. This applies to working with the fabric, and the need to somehow change the finished product.

The finished product (especially bed linen) slides a little.

It is not always easy to distinguish one type of satin from another, but it is worthwhile to understand the existing variations to better understand the properties of this or that material:

Stretch satin. As you can guess from the name, elastane is added to the composition to give the fabric stretchability.

Crepe satin. Combination of cotton with silk, viscose, or synthetic threads of crepe twist.

Maco-satin. The dense fabric is of high-quality thanks to carefully selected raw materials - long-fiber Egyptian cotton.

Silk. Cotton threads are used for the grainy, matte underside, and silk threads are used for the shining satin front.

Jacquard satin. Double-sided, very dense fabric with relief jacquard patterns, obtained by alternating matte and shiny multicolored threads.

Satin velour. It is distinguished by the presence of a small pile on the front side.

Stripe satin. A type of jacquard satin with characteristic stripes.

This is the question, “Is it satin or silk?”, is sometimes asked by buyers looking at shawls. Although it looks and feels very similar to silk. It became interesting, what is the difference between these fabrics?

What is silk? Silk is a natural material derived from the cocoons of the mulberry silkworm, which has a plain or satin weave of threads. Real silk is always completely natural, although now its artificial counterparts are widespread due to the high cost of the original.

Satin is not so much a particular fabric as a special type of thread weave - satin, which creates a completely smooth surface of the material. Satin fabrics can be produced from either silk fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mixture of both.

Silk tends to be more expensive, luxurious, and breathable than satin, while satin is more affordable and can have a similar smooth texture.

Silk is biodegradable and sustainable, while satin's sustainability depends on the fibers used and manufacturing processes.

Silk is more durable than satin due to its natural production with limited raw materials and thus proves to be more expensive than satin.

Even though satin is not considered a “capricious” fabric, before any manipulations, we advise you to familiarize yourself with the composition and care instructions from the manufacturer. Basic advice: wash in water temperature not exceeding 40°C, especially if it is the first washing. If necessary, further washings can be carried out at higher temperatures, e.g. 90°C. Choose a gentle detergent without strong bleaching properties.

Satin does not always need ironing. It is often enough just to straighten it well immediately after washing. If it is still necessary to iron the clothes, we recommend that you first turn the thing inside out and use a steamer. Use the iron should be careful, the maximum temperature should not exceed 200 degrees. Preliminary familiarize yourself with the parameters of ironing in the manufacturer's instructions. Wet cloths should not be ironed, dry things thoroughly beforehand.

We also have some basic recommendations for you to follow when you want to use the washing machine for the satin fabrics:

Do not fill the drum, but only halfway. When swelling, satin increases in volume and becomes heavier.

Do not wash satin clothes at the same time as synthetic ones. This will help avoid the formation of lint on the surface.

Before loading, make sure that the garments are turned inside out. This way helps to thoroughly wash the seams.

After washing, do not dry items in the open sun. Place damp satin items in the shade or a well-ventilated room.