Shiny fabric names for dressmaking : Be that star!

Updated on October 1, 2022 by Sarina

We are all of us Stars, And we deserve to Twinkle (Marilyn Monroe)

Every once in a while, if not every day, a lady wants to shine. Stand out in the crowd in nice flashy dresses. If you want to be larger than life and wants the whole world to know, take that shiny fabric and shine away.

And the award for the top shiny fabric goes to – well, a lot of them. You are spoiled for choices in the shine department.

Shiny Fabrics 1 Beaded/sequinned fabric 2. Glitter fabric3. Lame4. Cire5. Silk satin or Silk Charmeuse 6. Metallic Spandex Knit7. Brocade8. Peau de soi silk (Duchess satin)9. Organza10. Polished Leather /faux leather /Latex11. Taffeta12. Satin & Sateen13. Poly cotton fabric 14. Polished cotton15. Shiny Polyester Velvet

Metallic sequins and beads are synonyms for shine.

When they are stitched on to a plain base fabric, you transfer all those shininess en masse.

You cannot get shinier than this. Glitter fabric has glitter incorporated into it – you get fine glitter fabric with a subtle shimmer which can be used to make garments. The ones with a chunky rough surface is used for home decorating and other craft uses.

A shiny metallic looking synthetic fabric which is woven or knit with metallic threads – it could be in a solid metallic color or have a decorative pattern.It is usually gold or silver in color but copped colored lame fabric is also available. Popularly used to make evening wear.

This is a Nylon fabric polished to a very shiny surface by waxing and heating. It has a highly glazed finish that makes it look like it is wet.

This is the shiny typical silk – high luster, fluid and beautiful. You get all the shimmery look you want from this fabric – it has a satin weave on the front of the fabric. The backside of this fabric has a matt / crepe look and feel.

Crepe silk (crepe de chine) – This is another shiny silk.

This is the stretchy very shiny material that you see being used to make dance costumes. Because of the spandex blend it has a 4 way stretch which makes it ideal for form fitting clothes.

This is a very shiny fabric with beautiful patterns woven in it with shiny thread. It is especially shiny and iridescent with metallic thread woven through it.

Duchess Satin is a shiny silk which is heavier.

If you want a transparent fabric with good shine, look no further than organza.

Silk Organza and polyester organza are the common varieties used in dressmaking and they are very lustrous. Organza fabric is used for making all those shimmery bridal veils.

All of them can give that highly glossy leather look. Latex can look super shiny and very stretchy. It is a favorite for making glossy bodycon dresses.

Patent leather is leather that is finished to have a very polished surface. You also get fake leather finished to have a shining or metallic color.

11. Taffeta

Taffeta is a thin, crisp and shiny material made of silk or polyester. It is usually used as a lining (polyester taffeta) as well as to make dresses/gowns (Silk taffeta). 

Satin (Polyester) has a super shiny look – but it can look cheap if it is too shimmery. Cotton backed satinhas a very lustrous rayon surface with a polished shiny look and cotton back; Baronet satin is a very lustrous satin made with rayon fibers.

Sateen is the cotton version of satin, with a more subtle shine.

A blend of polyester and cotton with qualities of both fibers – this fabric can have quite a sheen depending on its make. The fabric can even mimic the look of silk, along with slubs.

14. Polished cotton

In this type, the cotton is finished chemically (calendering process) to appear shiny. It is a nice fabric to make dresses.

Velvet is naturally shiny because of the cut pile of short fibers on its surface. Crushed velvet has a very crinkly shiny appearance

Almost all of these fabrics need to be maintained carefully for them to last. You should preferably dry clean them and take extra care when ironing. Use a warm iron on wrong side using a pressing cloth.

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