Changeant

Fabrics

Changing reflections
By the 1840s, changeant silk fabrics were very fashionable. Changeant silk is a plain weave fabric in which the warp and weft threads each have their own color. The combination of two different shades, for example blue and pink, creates a fabric that shows both a light blue and a pink reflection, depending on how the light hits it. This iridescent effect gives the precious fabric a luxurious look. The weaving technique can also be used for cotton, linen, wool and synthetic fabrics. A document written about 1170 describes a 698 mass robe of purple and yellow cheangeant. Proof that the technique has been around since at least the seventh century.

 

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