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    • 1. Essential Gear
    • 2. Sewing Machines
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    • 5. Sewing Fabric
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Bombazine Fabric: History, Properties, Uses, Care, Where to Buy

Table of Contents

  • History of Bombazine Fabric
  • Properties of Bombazine Fabric
    • High Price:
    • Twilling Process:
    • Resistant to Wear and Tear:
    • Black Color:
    • Color Resilient:
  • Uses of Bombazine Fabric
    • Mourning Dress:
    • Black Robe:
    • Lining Material:
  • Caring for Bombazine Fabric
  • Where to buy Bombazine Fabric
  • Sources:
  • Recommended Reading:

Bombazine Fabric: History, Properties, Uses, Care, Where to BuyWearing a black dress on 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 Harry. 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 the combination of filling or worsted weft and twilled silk. It is mostly available in navy-blue and black colours.

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. Afterwards, 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 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 usages.

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 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 the normal wear and tear and can be worn for a more extended time.

Black Color:

The bombazine can mostly be found in dark colours like black and navy blue.

Color Resilient:

Other fabrics like linen, if coloured in darker colours like black, release colour especially when soaked in the water, it drips out the colour, but bombazine is resilient to any colour.

Uses of Bombazine Fabric

Mourning Dress:

As what cultural values tell us, the bombazine is majorly known as a mourning dress due to the colour 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 in 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 colour of your fabric.

Where to buy Bombazine Fabric

We recommend buying Bombazine fabric at Fabric.com.

Sources:

  • Bombazine and 19th-century widow
  • Britannica
  • Lilac and Bombazine

Recommended Reading:

  • Chapter 1: The 7 Sewing Essentials for Beginners
  • Chapter 2: The Beginner’s Guide to Sewing Machines
  • Chapter 3: The Ultimate Guide to Setting up your Sewing Room
  • Chapter 4: Everything You Need To Know About Sewing
  • Chapter 5: Sewing Fabric 101: A Virtual Tour of the Fabric Store

Primary Sidebar

Chapter 5: All About Sewing Fabric

  • Batik Quilting Fabric
  • Barkcloth Fabric
  • Upholstery Fabric
  • Embroidery Fabric
  • Quilting Fabric
  • Burlap Fabric
  • Canvas Fabric
  • Denim and Chambray Fabric
  • Chenille Fabric
  • Drapery Fabric
  • Faux Fur Fabric
  • Felt Fabric
  • Fleece Fabric
  • Flannel Fabric
  • Jacquard Fabric
  • Knit Fabric
  • Lace Fabric
  • Linen Fabric
  • Minky Fabric
  • Suede Fabric
  • Flexible Foam Interfacing

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