Africa is blessed with many fabrics and damask is one of them. We have seen the evolution of damask in the hands of designers around the world. From suits to native outfits, this fabric has not disappointed in making us look great.
What is a damask?
Damask is a patterned fabric made from either wool, silk, linen, synthetic fiber, or cotton. It is firm, sheeny, and woven on a jacquard loom. The damask is commonly used in exquisite and decorative fabrics.
Now you know what we mean by damask fabric. What can you do with this fabric? If you are wondering what to do with it, we have some amazing designs for you to look at and make your decision.
Unmask Damask
In the past, the damask was known for its importance in the making of heavy garments and jackets. Damask is named after its place of origin which is in Damascus, Syria. Today, we see the fabric in every part of the world. Africa has not stepped down in using damask for many outfits.
The damask can change the look of a room. In a plain room, the fabric can completely transform it to formal, elegant, classy, casual, relaxing, or unique depending on the pattern of damask used. The damask is quite expensive and hence has significant differences from all other types of fabric.
Characteristics of a Damask
I.) Considering a satin and a sateen weave, the Damask is woven alternatively with one warp and one weft. While making the damask, the satin warp and the sateen weft weaves interchange continuously. Other binding weaves or twill may be added in the process. Note that the background is in the warp while the designs are in the weft.
II.) Materials used to make the Damask include silk, cotton, linen, wool, and synthetic fibers with silk being the most common. The modern damasks are woven on computerized Jacquard looms.
III.) Using the computerized Jacquard loom, the damasks are weaved in single coloured threads of silk, linen, and rayon which have geometric or botanical shapes. However, with the use of polychromatic threads, animals and other simple scenes such as landscape can be woven into the fabric.
IV.) When viewed in different positions, the fabric can reflect light as a result of the combination of the warp and weft thread weaves. Reflection of light in the weave structure forms the patterns in the fabric.
V.) Synthetic damask can be made to last longer than damasks made from organic substances.
VI.) The damask is similar to the brocade but has significant differences like its flatness. Also, as a result of using its raw materials (thread and silk), the damask is more expensive because of its dense weaves.
Will you want to rock damask design for your events? Which of these outfits do you think you like most?