190T polyester taffeta printing

How Is Taffeta Used?

Taffeta is a red carpet staple, but it’s also used often in costumes and home decor.

1. Home decor. The heavier, stiffer forms of taffeta create beautiful, flowing window curtains. Taffeta is also sometimes used for wallpaper.
2. Evening gowns. Taffeta shines when used for dressmaking. From evening dresses to wedding dresses to prom dresses, taffeta is a staple of fashion thanks to its lustrous appearance and the beautiful shapes the texture creates.
3. Corsets. Taffeta is also frequently used for undergarments like corsets, where stiff fabric is needed to hold in the waistline and create a silhouette.
4. Linings. Piece-dyed silk taffeta is great for lining jackets, as the fabric is both decorative and soft to the touch.
5. Parachutes. Piece-dyed silk taffeta was used for creating parachutes in World War II.

6 Different Types of Taffeta

1. Shot silk taffeta. This is a type of silk taffeta where the warp and the weft threads are different colors, which creates a beautiful iridescent effect.
2. Warp-printed taffeta. This type of silk taffeta has warp threads printed before weaving, which creates a pastel pattern of varied colors. It was very popular in France in the eighteenth century.
3. Paper taffeta. Paper taffeta is an extremely thin, lightweight form of taffeta that has a paper-like consistency.
4. Antique taffeta. Antique taffeta is woven from unevenly spun yarns, which leads to slight bumps in the material from the inconsistencies.
5. Faille taffeta. This type of made from staple fibers, which are short-length fibers like cotton or wool.
6. Stretch-taffeta. Stretch taffeta is a type of fabric that incorporates spandex into the weave for added stretch and flexibility.

How Do You Care for Taffeta?

Taffeta should be dry-cleaned or hand-washed with cold water. Silk taffeta always needs to be dry-cleaned; however, taffeta made from synthetic fibers can be washed at home. Here are some guidelines for washing synthetic taffeta:

1. Wash with cold water. Hot water can cause dyes to bleed.
2. Use gentle detergent.
3. Do not wring or twist the garment to avoid damaging the fabric and ruining the shape.
4. Hang to dry in a well-ventilated area, not in direct sunlight.
5. Use a low-heat iron if needed.