Traditional Upholstery Fabrics: Classic Brocatelle Fabrics Online

Brocatelle fabrics are classic heavy silk traditional upholstery fabrics that is similar to damask textiles in several ways. Traditionally woven using silk strengthened with linen, brocatelle fabrics seldom came in more than two colours.

It has a satin or twill weave on a plain( or satin) back ground and is distinguished from damask fabrics by raised embossed areas of pattern formed a double warp.

A medium to heavyweight traditional home décor fabric, brocatelle materials are recognised by their smooth raised warp effects on a filling effect background. Its construction involves a twill background woven against a plain satin weave. This is what may sometimes make people confuse it with damask, but while damask fabrics feels smooth to the touch, brocatelle textiles are raised with an embossed effect.

Brocatelle is woven with fibre threads such as:

• Silk
• Rayon
• Cotton
• Lisle
• Silver or gold threads
• Man made synthetic fibres

This textile comes in a woven mix of silk, cotton, or even wool, and sometimes with silver or gold or threads.

Brocatelle material is non reversible (unlike damask or brocade fabrics) because the filler background threads that produces its reverse side is quite unattractive and somewhat 'untidy' .

Brocatelle, Damask Or Brocade Fabrics?

Many may describe brocatelle as a heavy brocade material, they are not too far from the truth because it does look 'brocadey', but with much more elaborate and grandly raised patterns on it’s face side,. However, brocatelle fabrics can be aptly described as variants of damask textiles with raised patterned areas making it a seemingly double cloth.

These raised embossed patterning is often padded with loose yarn stuffing (pattern is warp faced and the background is filling faced), making it fit its description of a double cloth.

Authentic brocatelle fabrics of the 13th and 14th centuries were double weave textiles made of linen and silk warp with a silk and linen filling.

However, today's brocatelle materials have changed from those traditional woven fabrics, but still have raised embossed details in the tightly woven warp effect.

While many wrongly classify brocatelle textiles as flat upholstery fabrics, the fabrics' patterns still stand out conspicuously in high relief.

See: Home Decor Fabrics

It is woven with two sets of warp and fillers. Brocatelle fabrics have similar uses as brocade and make wonderful upholstery coverings.

Brocatelle is medium to heavy weight Jacquard fabric that utilises four or more sets of threads, generally with two sets of warp and two sets of weft.

Finely woven and constructed brocatelle is beautiful, refined and sophisticated and always appears as an embroidered and puffy' fabric with slight relief variations according to the patterns. It does not drape well and so is a fantastic choice for upholstery fabrics. During the 17th century, brocatelle's use as a home décor fabric was mainly for decorative wall hangings.

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The main uses of brocatelle materials is for interior furnishings such as:

• Drapery
• Upholstery fabrics
• Occasional furniture coverings
• Other general decorating purposes

Brocatelle materials are luxury fabrics that also make great couture wear, as well as 'after five' wear. It's a fabric that's woven finely and can be used for formal wear, chic refined apparel, and sophisticated tailored clothing.

Brocatelle fabrics are found on-line, in many varieties and colours, and unlike in the past, where brocatelle had only two colours, there are now brocatelle upholstery and clothing fabrics that come in more than two colours with very modern patterns.

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