Introduction
A woven fabric with a pattern is called brocade. In contrast to embroidered fabrics, brocade has patterns that are woven right into the fabric. The use of brocade spans many cultures and dates back to ancient times. Brocade fabric, which was formerly only used for decorative clothing, is now more widely used.
For most of the brocade's history, silk has been the fabric of choice for clothing, but today, wool, cotton, and even synthetic fibers can be used to create brocade. Brocade has a special aura of beauty and sophistication, even when it is manufactured from cheap materials and used to make casual clothing.
The complexity of brocade weaves varies greatly, and the simplest brocade patterns are as basic as one additional color. On the other hand, intricate brocade designs often feature a genuine kaleidoscope of multicolored threads.
How Is A Fabric Produced Into Brocade?
Three strands are woven together to form the fabric known as brocade. Brocade includes an additional weft yarn in addition to the required warp and weft yarns, which make up the fundamental framework of every woven textile. This additional weft yarn produces the patterns that distinguish this beautiful fabric.
On conventional looms, weavers historically created brocade cloth, a labor-intensive process requiring meticulous work and attention to detail. However, the development of the Jacquard loom greatly eased the production of brocade fabric, and nowadays, practically all textile producers of brocade use computerized Jacquard looms.
A vast range of base materials is possible for brocade dress. Although wool was occasionally substituted for silk when silk imports were low, brocade fabrics are traditionally fashioned of silk. During the Age of Enlightenment, cotton imports from India increased, and brocade weavers in Europe began to use this adaptable and affordable fabric as well.
Due to their low cost and resemblance to diverse natural fibers, synthetic fibers have emerged as the global textile industry's sweetheart in the modern period. As a result, some brocade fabrics now contain synthetic components like polyester and rayon, but purists still cling to the belief that brocade should only be produced from silk.
The strands used to create brocade fabric are invariably dyed prior to weaving, regardless of the material that brocade weavers select. A piece of brocade fabric's lovely, colorful pattern would be hidden if dyed after the weaving process.
The Uses Of Brocade
Today, brocade is used less for clothing and more for accessories and home goods. For instance, heavy, silk drapes are almost usually brocaded, and curtains and drapes frequently have brocade designs.
Another popular material for upholstery on furniture is a brocade dress. Elegant, ornate chairs typically have brocaded cushions, and it's not unusual to see sofas with brocade designs all over them.
Brocade is a popular fabric choice for tossing pillows in addition to entire furniture covers. No matter what kind of fabric you used to make your bed covers or the upholstery on your couch, a few brocaded decorative pillows instantly elevate any space.
Where Is The Brocade Fabric Made Of?
The world's leading producer and exporter of textile goods are China. This East Asian country is the most prolific manufacturer of brocade fabric, with the rare exception of wool brocade. Although Australia is the world's leading producer of wool, many Australian fashion designers even get their yarn or raw materials to Chinese facilities for completion.
What Is The Price Of Brocade Fabric?
The brocade cost is typically much higher than other woven fabrics created from comparable materials. Brocade manufacture is considerably more difficult than producing virtually any other sort of cloth, despite the fact that computerized Jacquard looms have made it significantly more efficient.
The complexity of the designs that must be created and executed by brocade producers, along with its aesthetic appeal, more than justifies the high price that this fabric fetches on the global textile market.
What Variations Of Brocade Cloth Exist?
The global textile market has seen the emergence of many distinct varieties of brocade fabric throughout the years. Here are a few illustrations.
1. Silk brocade
Silk brocade, the oldest style of brocade fabric, continues to make up a sizable percentage of the global brocade market. Simply said, silk fiber is one of the world's smoothest and most glossy textile materials. It is also one of the strongest and most resilient fibers.
2. Cotton brocade
Cotton brocade is far easier to make than silk brocade, although looking significantly less attractive. Cotton fiber brocade is frequently used by textile producers to create casual clothing since its patterning is typically less intricate than that found in silk brocades.
3. Himru brocade
A combination of silk and cotton is used to make this kind of brocade fabric. It has the toughness and appealing sheen of silk while still being soft, breathable, and moderately stretchable. India is where himru (himroo) brocade is primarily made and utilized.
4. Synthetic brocade
Synthetic brocade is one of the most affordable varieties of brocade to create, although being less prevalent than cotton and silk brocade. The environment and employees may be harmed by brocade materials made of polyester or other synthetic fibers, which are also less pleasant.
5. Continuous brocade
Continuous brocade is a form of brocade weave in which slack threads are either cut off or left hanging on the fabric's reverse side.
6. Discontinuous brocade
Textile producers use surplus threads to weave additional designs into brocade fabric using discontinuous brocade.
7. Zari brocade
Zari brocade has historically included real copper, silver, or gold threads. Today, however, this kind of brocade is more frequently made of synthetic materials that closely resemble these precious metals.
How Does Wearing Brocade Affect The Environment?
Depending on the kinds of textile materials it contains, brocade fabric's environmental impact varies greatly. Silk is the most environmentally friendly fabric on the earth, and brocade traditionally contains silk strands.
Pesticides and fertilizers are not necessary for the production of silk; just the presence of mulberry plants is required. Silk workers pick these cocoons, boil them, and unreel them without using any agro toxins or chemicals. Silkworms naturally build cocoons on the branches of mulberry trees.
Cotton can be environmentally benign and sustainable depending on how it is grown, yet many cotton farmers use toxic pesticides and fertilizers to grow this crop. Similar problems exist with wool production, albeit it is possible to do so without harming animals or the environment.
Polyester and other synthetic textiles are by far the worst for the environment of all the fibers used to manufacture brocade. While synthetic textile fibers do not naturally disintegrate when discharged into the environment, natural fibers like silk, cotton, and wool do.
Even worse, the production of synthetic textiles uses highly toxic chemicals that can harm both workers and the environment. These chemicals release tiny fibers into the wash water that contribute to global plastic pollution.
Summing It Up
Brocade fabrics are usually used for upholstery and draperies. They are also used for costumes, vestments, evening wear, and formal attire. In India, sarees, dress materials, and dupattas are frequently made from banarasi brocade fabrics.
Areas of it are weaved in patterns. Because of its smoothness, richness, and longevity, this shape is the most widely used. Compared to silk and brocade, synthetic brocade is less expensive. The synthetic one is cheap to produce.
