Everything to Know About Liberty Silk: Crepe de Chine
You asked, we answered – find out everything you need to know about Liberty’s Silk Crepe de Chine
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Everything to Know About Liberty Silk: Crepe de Chine
You asked, we answered – find out everything you need to know about Liberty’s Silk Crepe de Chine
By: Team LibertyOtherwise known as the Queen of Fabrics, silk has long been prized for its extraordinary softness, luminous finish and graceful drape. A mainstay of dressmaking for centuries, its inherent beauty has made it one of the world’s most coveted textiles. For your next sewing project, Liberty’s Silk Crepe de Chine offers all the hallmarks of this enduring fabric favourite, with a lustrous surface and fluid drape that bring an elegant sense of movement to every creation. Read on to uncover the craft and character behind this timeless silk hero…
What Is the History of Crepe de Chine?
As its name suggests, Crêpe de Chine translates from the French as “crêpe from China” - a fitting nod to the fabric’s rich history. Favoured by the Chinese imperial court during the Middle Ages for its lustrous appearance and fluid handle, the fabric later found a glamorous new audience in 1960s Hollywood, where it was used to create elegant red-carpet gowns.
Silk is woven into the very fabric of Liberty’s own history. In the late 1800s, the first products created for the Liberty Regent Street store were a collection of dyed silks, soon celebrated as Liberty Art Colours. More than a century later, our silk collection continues to evolve, with Liberty Crepe de Chine bringing together an ever-changing cast of prints - from reimagined classics from the archive to newly painted designs created by our in-house studio.
Where and How Is Crepe de Chine Made?
Like many of Liberty’s most celebrated fabrics, our Crepe de Chine begins its journey in the Liberty studio before travelling to our own Italian mill, nestled close to Lake Como. Here, skilled technicians bring hundreds of designs to life, marrying time-honoured artisanal techniques with advanced digital printing processes. The result is an exceptional standard of colour, detail and finish, faithfully translating each artwork onto silk.
Fluid yet subtly tactile, Crepe de Chine is distinguished by its delicate ribbed weave and finely twisted filament yarns. A considered interplay of tightly spun S and Z-twist yarns with untwisted warp yarns gives the fabric its characteristic texture, graceful drape and beautifully fluid handle.
What Is Crepe de Chine’s Thread Count, Feel and Finish?
When it comes to versatility, Crepe de Chine is a true silk all-rounder. Woven in 16-momme silk, it combines a soft, fluid handle with a gentle lustre, creating an elegant finish that moves beautifully with the body. Its twisted yarns lend the fabric impressive durability and natural resistance to creasing, while the degumming process reveals a subtle sheen.
A softly textured surface tempers its lustre with a hint of matte character, making Crepe de Chine not only beautiful to wear, but remarkably approachable to sew. It’s a silk that brings both refinement and ease to every creation.
Thread count: 16-momme
Warp: 3x20/20 Den
Weft: silk crepe 4x 20/22 Den
What Can Crepe de Chine Be Used for?
Crepe de Chine lends itself beautifully to every hour of the day. Its lightweight drape and subtly crinkled, dry handle give it an effortless elegance, while its natural-fibre construction helps it retain its shape and beauty over time. Fluid without feeling fragile, it makes an exquisite foundation for considered everyday pieces.
Its appeal extends well beyond daylight hours, too. A gentle sheen and graceful drape make it equally suited to eveningwear and nightwear - think fluid dresses, romantic blouses and softly tailored pyjamas. For smaller projects, it brings the same sense of refinement to scarves, bows, hair accessories and neckties.
Liberty Fabrics
Anthea Hibiscus Crepe de Chine
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Liberty Fabrics
Mr Hunt Crepe de Chine
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Liberty Fabrics
Archive Lilac Crepe de Chine
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Liberty Fabrics
Etched Acanthus Blossom Metallics Crepe de Chine
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Liberty Fabrics
Arcadia Trail Spot Metallics Crepe de Chine
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Liberty Fabrics
Kanazawa Flowers Crepe de Chine
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Liberty Fabrics
Myria Blooms Crepe de Chine
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Liberty Fabrics
Levens Terrace Crepe de Chine
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
Purchase qualifies for free express shipping. *Duties and taxes will be added at checkout. Subject to FX rate fluctuations
How Do You Look After Silk Crepe de Chine?
Due to its incredibly soft texture and lightweight drape, our Silk Crepe de Chine is dry clean only, meaning that for best results and longevity, the washing machine is best avoided.
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