It was the summer of 2019 when Zara introduced a polka-dotted organza fabric blouse to the fashion world and broke the internet. Even before the fail-safe florals and whites could take cognizance of the situation, that blouse was in everybody’s collection… organza finally got the much-needed attention it deserved. And why wouldn’t it? Soft, sheer, and irresistibly pretty, Organza fabric gives a structured look without adding any extra weight to your body. Indian fashion designers had already served the conversation-starter with their bridal collection featuring Organza Silk lehengas in the Lakmé Fashion Week summer/resort 2019.

Come 2020 and the Organza fever is yet to settle down. With the festive and wedding season coming up next, markets are ready to bestow upon its customers the soft allure of the fabric’s ruffle seems. It is often confused with Chiffon fabric for its sheerness, but the crisp texture, stiff drape, gorgeous sheen, and easy susceptibility to creases become the differentiating factors. A visually pleasing comfort fabric, Organza has an amazing ability to boost volume. It also makes for an outstanding drape with a crisp hand, which is why Knotty Knitters has curated a collection of Organza Sarees that will see you through the autumn and beyond!

One of the biggest producers of Organza fabric is India and China, but neither of them is the place where its fabric story started. The word “Organza” itself is derived from “Urgang” which happened to be the name of a town in Turkestan, and this is where the first of this fabric has been recorded to be produced. The famous silk-route of the ancient world introduced their sheer drapes to the rest of the world.

In fact, Organza has less to do with being a certain type of material and more to do with its weaving pattern; It is closely related to the word “Organzine” in which strands of a silk thread are twisted together in opposite directions to that of each individual strand. Traditionally, silk has been used to produce the yarn in its production, which is why for a long time Organza was limited to the indulgence of the royals. It has come a long way since then and weavers have made it possible to be produced with synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon, or viscose.

Depending on the material which is being used for the production of an Organza fabric, we may see two different setups, up until the final yarn creation. The material can be a synthetic one like polyester which will require a non-organic production or the material can be silk, in which case the process is purely organic. Then the fibers are twisted in the Organzine way and finally combed and treated with acid, which gives it the characteristic stiffness. Since a lot of consideration and pattern thought is put into its weaving (keeping in mind the appearance of the seams, puckers, etc), weaving by hand is preferred over machine weaving.

Depending upon the materials and weaving techniques, we have different types of Organza fabrics available in the market:

1. Sparkle Organza Fabric: As the name suggests, has sparkles that are weaved with the fabric in the making process, adding a distinct glitter to an already shining lightweight fabric.
2. Crushed Organza Fabric: Sporting a unique texture on its fabric body embellished with crush pressed technique they go best with, you guessed it right, metallic tones.
3. Crystal Organza Fabric: Easy-breezy fabric with a noticeable sheen, it is perfect for creating a gown for the classiest of your affairs.
4. Embroidered Organza Fabric: It’s really very difficult to decorate a light-as-air fabric as Organza without damaging it, which is why these sell at higher prices.
5. Material Variations: Traditionally Organzas were produced from pure silk, which naturally set a high cost to its selling price. They are now also created from synthetic fiber, which makes the stylish fabric an economical buy.

Like the quality of the cotton fabric is measured in thread counts, the quality of an Organza is measured in HPI (Holes Per Inch); higher the HPI rating, the better the quality. Some care and wash actions to observe from one’s own side ensures the longevity of the product and keeps its color intact. Avoid machine washing Organza ! A hand wash or dry cleaning is advised since it is a very light fabric. Dry away from sunlight or heat. Iron only using a steam iron and a press cloth. Keep these small recommendations in mind and expect a long-lasting product value.

Away from Zara and its blouse, Bollywood has embraced this fabric to the fullest and how! The best part about the current celebrity approval to the fabric is that it brings to your collection the best of both worlds- from high street fashion to an haute couture. Organza fabric’s lightweight, shimmery shiny, crisp drapes are finally breathing a second life in their second year of being a hot trend. So what does this mean for us? That it’s time to get along this bandwagon 😀