The crinkle fabric, also known as cotton gauze, crinkle gauze, or simply double gauze, is a type of fabric that has either been woven or assembled into soft pleats. The pleats are created by treating the fabric with different methods, including chemical processes to shrink the size of the fabric using caustic soda in different patterns. Another more organic and eco-friendly method of pleating is to soak the fabric in water and tightly crunch it and tie it in a position to press out the water. The fabric automatically gets embossed with smooth pleats upon drying. Then comes machine-created pleats that are sturdier and immaculate and don’t give the unintentional look and feel of the crinkled pleats.
Variations of Crinkle Fabric
There are many variations of crinkle fabric that are typically used to make clothes. The most common ones include plisse, silk crinkle, seersucker, and a very light crinkle crepe. Plisse has more regular and uniform ridges and stripes that resemble the surface of cardboard but feels far softer and gentle to the skin. It is likely to wrinkle, but it can go a long way if used with good care. Silk crinkle or crinkle silk has a really distinct and soft texture with dispersed loose crinkles that create the look of ripples in a body of water. It is extremely lightweight and drapes really well.
Whereas seersucker has a more bubble texture, and it is woven in natural fibers that are more sturdy than flowy. It usually comes in more minimalistic and simple prints and patterns like stripes or polka dots, but you can find it in florals too. It is the best fabric when it comes to getting summer shirts for men that don’t crease easily and are lightweight and breezy. And finally, the crinkle crepe, which has a very crisp and lightweight texture and has perfect pleats. It drapes effortlessly, which is why this fabric is considered to be timeless and used extensively in the fashion/cloth manufacturing industry.
Uses of Crinkle Fabric in Fashion
Crinkle fabric is a prime choice for craft fabrics to give them a natural rhythm and flow. It is widely used to make a variety of clothing articles depending on its type.
Plisse:
Plisse is probably the most versatile of the types since it serves as both a top-weight and bottom-weight fabric. Now a day, Co-Ord and lounge sets made of plisse are ubiquitous and are part of the wardrobe of almost every Parisian girl. The recent trend of plisse was propelled by TikTok, but the fabric is now rightfully loved by people of all ages and sizes. But that’s not all, the range of plisse pleated products is so wide that you can’t even begin to count them. From blazers to scrunches and plisse knotted mules, almost anything can be molded into it.
Silk crinkle:
Next comes silk crinkle, and as the name suggests, it is mainly used in making flowy dresses, gowns, kimonos, skirts, capes, or even trims and details like dramatic batwing sleeves in a dress. Silk crinkle looks extremely posh and elegant, and its drape really well as it gives a silhouette that wraps the body effortlessly. One of the most famous and vintage creations that came out of this fabric was the Delphos gowns. They were inspired by the statues of Greek goddesses and soon became high-priced collectible items. However, the pleats on silk can be very delicate and need to be properly taken care of. Therefore, it is better to steam this fabric rather than press it.
Seersucker:
The seersucker is usually pinstriped as men mainly wore it as business casual, but now it is becoming more common among women too and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. It is usually woven from cotton and has a characteristic puckered surface. It is the ultimate summer staple because of its lightweight and breathable texture and can be crafted into tunics, skirts, tote bags, blouses, and wide-legged trousers: in short, anything and everything. The best thing about this fabric is that it doesn’t require ironing because it doesn’t crease, and you can always slip into it if you are running late.
Crinkle crepe:
Crinkle crepe is considered to be the best friend of women who wear hijab, and crinkle crimps hijabs are sold worldwide. The lightweight and comfortable fabric give leeway to the airflow, and the soft pleats give it a subtle charm. It comes in a variety of scales of thickness and transparency and drapes really well in all its variations. You can find a variety of products made of crinkle crepe, like midi skirts, gowns, blouses, and scarves. It can also be used to create ruffle details and sheer clothing extensions.
Crinkle Fabric Care:
Like all other fabrics, the crinkle fabric needs to be taken care of in order to preserve its pleats and luster. Seersucker and crinkle crepe can be pressed after washing as it doesn’t affect the texture or size of the finished garment. However, it is better to hand-wash them because a machine wash can damage the fabric immensely. When it comes to plisse, depending on the thickness and opacity of the fabric, it can be ironed but not machine-washed. In comparison, silk crinkle is advised against ironing because its pleats are very delicate and may come off easily. Out of all four types of crinkle fabric, the silk crinkle is the one that requires utmost care and protection.
