Bombazine Fabric: History, Properties, Uses, Care, Where to Buy
Wearing a black dress at the funeral of a dead one had become a custom in the mid-19th century when Queen Victoria wore it after the death of her husband, Prince Albert. Mourning dresses are typically made of Crape, Silk, Wool, Cashmere, and Bombazine.
While most of the other fabrics are widely known and worn by people, the bombazine has been out of fashion now, and people hardly know it. Bombazine is a cheaper replacement for Crape. It is made with a combination of filling or worsted weft and twilled silk. It is mostly available in navy-blue and black colors.
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| History | Bombazine originated in the 18th century and became popular in the United Kingdom. |
| Properties | Bombazine is made through a twilling process, making it sturdy and resistant to wear. |
| Uses | Bombazine is primarily used for mourning dresses and as a lining material for jewelry boxes and caskets. |
| Care | Wash bombazine gently, avoiding bleach to preserve its color. |
| Where to buy | Recommended retailer: Fabric.com |
| Recommended Reading | Chapters on sewing essentials, sewing machines, setting up a sewing room, and fabric basics. |
Table of Contents
History of Bombazine Fabric
The word bombazine has been derived from a historical French word “Bombasin”. Bombazine has its origin back in the 18th century and was first introduced in the United Kingdom. Afterward, it spread very quickly in other parts of Europe.
In the “Widow of the South” novel which was based on real events, the author talks about the 1864’s Civil War battle and how the plantation owner’s widow wore black bombazine as a sign of mourning until she died. It was an ideal cloth for mourning until it was used for other purposes in the fashion industry, which then increased the horizon of its usage.
Properties of Bombazine Fabric
High Price:
Bombazine, in the olden times, was made with silk which ultimately had a higher price and most people could not afford to buy it. Therefore, to make it more affordable, the manufacturers transferred it from silk to wool and cotton.
Twilling Process:
Bombazine has just one recognized method of manufacturing known as cording or twilling. In the twilling process, the two strands of clothes (one in a lengthwise position) are pushed through each other on a weaving machine.
Denim fabric mostly used for jeans production is the present embodiment of fabric made through twilling.
Resistant to Wear and Tear:
Due to the twilling process, the bombazine is highly sturdy to normal wear and tear and can be worn for a more extended time.
Black Color:
The bombazine can mostly be found in dark colors like black and navy blue.
Color Resilient:
Other fabrics like linen, if colored in darker colors like black, release color especially when soaked in the water, it drips out the color, but bombazine is resilient to any color.
Uses of Bombazine Fabric
Mourning Dress:
As cultural values tell us, the bombazine is majorly known as a mourning dress due to the color and nature of its fabric. Although so many other fabrics have been introduced for mourning dresses, people with the old school of thought still wear it.
Black Robe:
Bombazine fabric can also be used for making black robes which are worn by judges.
Lining Material:
Unlike the old days, bombazine no longer has the same status. The use of Bombazine fabric has drastically decreased in the modern world. It can hardly be seen in shops due to lesser demand by customers and people wearing Bombazine dresses are rare now. Instead, companies are using it as a material for lining jewelry boxes and caskets.
Caring for Bombazine Fabric
It does not matter if this fabric has been out of fashion and people rarely wear sewed dresses of this fabric, you should still know how to take proper care of it because the fashion industry takes no time in reentering old fashion.
Since denim and bombazine are made using the same twilling method, bombazine will also be washed the way you wash your denim jeans. Wash it gently and avoid using bleach; it will destroy the color of your fabric.
Where to buy Bombazine Fabric
We recommend buying Bombazine fabric at Fabric.com.
