What the Heck Is Brocade? And Why Is It Gaining Popularity in Formal Dresses?

If you don't have a vision of what brocade fabric might be, you could think back to your grandmother's or maybe your great-grandmother's house, and those heavy but soft to the touch drapes.
When floral prints became popular in prom dresses a few years back, designers took notice and realized they could create an even richer experience by turning to brocade fabrics.

What Is Brocade?

Brocade fabric actually has been around for centuries, but originally was worn only by royalty and the wealthy because it was expensive to make.
The original brocade was woven by hand, primarily from silk, both factors in driving up the cost. But the invention of the jacquard loom made the process simpler and improving fabrics expanded options, all bringing the price in line with more common consumer styles.
The good news in all of these changes is that brocade did not lose the rich colors and texture that made it look like only royalty could afford it, meaning you can wear brocade and look like the queen you want to be.

Features of Brocade

The shuttle weave used to create brocade gives it an embossed or embroidered look, but with a smooth, soft finish. Floating yarns appear on the back side of the cloth, meaning the fabric cannot be reversible.
Metallic fibers frequently are woven into the pattern, adding to the luxuriousness of the look. Beading can be added, but the fabric normally has its own glow, so it's not really necessary to create a stunning look.
Tissura fabric company describes the two categories brocade normally falls in:
• Continuous Brocade: This is where weft threads (the horizontal threads that weave in and out of the straight vertical threads, aka warp threads) are left floating on the back or cut off.
• Discontinuous Brocade: In this style, extra yarns are woven into the fabric to create a distinctive pattern.
All of this may be more information than you want to know about your prom or formal dress, but what's important to know is that if you choose a brocade dress for your event, you'll be following in the footsteps of royalty and wowing those around you.