Seersucker is not a type of fabric. Seersucker refers to a style that produces a puckering effect on the surface of the fabric. If you look more closely, this can be seen as a pattern of alternating textures of smooth and coarse.
Common Applications
Suits, Shorts, Dresses, Shirts, Sportswear, Pillowcases, Curtains
Description
A breathable puckered fabric that is ideal for making summer garments
Seersucker fabric originated in India. The name comes from the phrase “shir o shakar” in Hindi, which means milk and sugar, and refers to the two textures in the fabric. Seersucker fabric was later brought to the Western world by Muslim traders. It became popular in British colonies as a material worn in warm climates. In the United States, the fabric was originally thought of as a cheap material worn by lower class citizens. When college students began to wear the fabric to make an ironic statement, it became popular among the higher classes. Seersucker suits became popular in the southern United States, as the lightweight pants and shirts made seersucker an ideal fabric for the hot Southern climate.
Background
Story
From the 1800s to the early 20th century, seersucker fabric began being used in mattresses, bedding and night clothes particularly during the summertime in Britain and the United States. Since it is a more inexpensive, durable fabric, it was also used during the Civil War in America to make sacks and pants that would hold up during the fight.
During the cowboy Old West days, a heavier weight dark blue seersucker began being used to make classic overalls, jackets, and caps of train and railroad workers.
Manufacturing
To weave fabric on a loom, two sets of yarn are needed. One set of yarn, called the “warp” yarn, is held in tension vertically on the loom. To weave fabric, a second set of yarn, called the “weft” yarn, is woven through the warp horizontally. In the past, fabric was hand-woven or made on a manual loom. Today, most fabrics are produced on computer-controlled looms.
To make most fabrics, one set of warp yarn is used, held in uniform tension. To created the crinkled stripes characteristic of seersucker fabric, a slack-tension weaving process involving two warps must be used. One warp is held under regular tension, producing a plain stripe. A second warp is held at a higher tension and produces and crinkled stripe. By weaving one warp threat slack and the other tight, the result is a puckered effect. The yarns are wound onto the warp beams in groups of 10 or 16 to create a narrow stripe. Sometimes a larger yarn may be used for the stripe to produce a more noticeable crinkle.
Expertises
Characteristic
Now that we’ve gone over some of its history, we can talk about what makes seersucker the way that it is! Seersucker fabric is light, durable, and incredibly breathable. It is woven in a way that makes the threads bunch together, giving the fabric a wrinkled appearance with it distinctive stripes as you can see below.
FABRIC USES
Nowadays, seersucker fabric is most commonly the blue-and-white stripe pattern. However, with it’s reemerging popularity it now comes in a variety of colors. Seersucker fabric can be used to make all sorts of clothing including activewear. It is commonly used to make suits, dresses, shorts, and shirts, even robes. It is versatile enough to be used in home decor for curtains and bedding. This is because of its ability to give some much-needed air circulation during warmer weather. Overall, seersucker fabric is making a comeback, especially in activewear. With the fabric giving some air circulation during an activity, it is a great fabric to keep cool in!
BENEFITS
- It is great for travel because it will not show signs of wrinkling from being packed in your bag.
- Its puckering allows ample airflow and keeps you feeling cool and fresh even on hot days.
- It is absolutely versatile and can be used for a wide range of events and purposes.
- It is more affordable than other types of fabric that are great for summer and spring.
IN CONCLUSION
Now, when someone asks you, “what is seersucker,” you know exactly how to answer! Seersucker is an amazing twist to a summer fabric classic: cotton. The advantages of using Seersucker far outweigh the minimal disadvantages. There are many ways you can utilize your seersucker garments. Since this type of fabric weave is so affordable compared with other fabric types, it will be no surprise if this soon becomes the next big trend in fashion everywhere!
Social
12k followers
30k likes
Youtube
22k subscribers
8k followers
Have a project in mind?
If you have a great idea, reach out to me. Whether it is a small or big project, I will listen first and get back to you with a plan.