Lame fabric is an exotic and luxurious fabric ( the original one). It was coated with real gold, silver, and other luxury materials that were used to make it. Kings and aristocrats were the only people who could use it. But was the fabric worth it? How does a fabric feel when it’s coated with gold? That’s a funny question to answer!

Meet Team Muslin Dhaka, we are a group of fabric researchers, fashion designers, and marketers. For the last few years, we have been working with various luxury fabrics in the world. Lame fabric is a bit unfamiliar fabric to us as it’s not that common. 

The luxury fabrics we work with are commonly ultra-soft, fine, and rare. It come with extreme comfort and utility features. But the lame is pretty different. Its appeal depends on the material and look. It’s less about how you feel wearing, more about how people feel looking at it. 

In this article, we cover all aspects of lame both original & replica lame. The first one is actual lame fabric which is very uncommon. On the other hand, there is a replica lame made with synthetic material or cheaper metal. We will discuss the history, features, types, uses, and other facts in this article.

Let’s start.

What is Lame Fabric?

Lame fabric is a unique construction of fabric that is made with metal-coated yarns and fibers. Silk, viscose, cotton, or wool was often used to make lame. But nowadays synthetic yarn like polyester and nylon. Lame fabric is naturally a bit stiff and heavy. To reduce this, the finest quality silk is used. Gold and silver-coated lame clothes were mostly used by kings and queens. Those are still possible to make today, but there is not enough information on how much original lame is produced today. Aluminum and other light metal lame are somewhat seen now, but artificial replica lame are quite available and cheap. 

However, both real and replica lame could not become a staple fabric for people. You would see them in theaters, ramp shoes, and celebrity shows every now and then. But not something you can see in the streets. 

At a Glance

Industrial Name	Lame Fabric
Origin	Assyrian
Other Names	Cloth of gold
Construction	Made with metal-coated yarn.
Weight	Usually heavy.
Color	Golden, silver, or comes with a metallic color.
Airflow	Low.
Moisture Absorbance	Low.
Weaving	Satin and other weaving techniques.
Stretch	No.
Heat Insulation	Low.
Shrinkage Ratio	Depends on the material.
Usage	Costumes, dresses, and decorations.

 

History of Lame Fabric

Golden or silver fabric has been around for quite a long time. In the past, kings and rulers had a lot of precious metals. And they loved to make creative and beautiful things made of gold or silver. Maybe that tendency leads us to lame fabric.

The fabric is ancient, but not prehistoric. It took some time to learn to coat yarn with gold or silver. The first trace of lame textile is found in the ancient Assyrian civilization. The civilization was present around 2500 BC and 600 AD. Some of the oldest Assyrian archaeological notes have mentioned lame clothes. Those writings confirm that Assyrian kings and aristocrats used to wear them.

Throughout history, lame fabric was exclusively worn and celebrated by the royal people. It was mentioned in the Bible and Roman headstones. It was also widely used in literature to describe stories about kings and aristocrats. An important story in Greek mythology is centered on the “Golden Fleece.”

In all time in history, gold clothes were worn by kings, queens, and sometimes royal dancing women. Kings used to gift it to allied kings. With the abolition of kings, the usage of lame  dropped.

In the 1900s, the invention of polyester was a notable event for lame fashion industry. It became possible to make glittering yarn with polyester. Those fabrics can be any color, and the characteristics are also relatively comfortable. Polyester lame fabric made it available for everyone. But a fabric like this was never meant for everyone and daily usage. So, the use of lame clothes remained for a special purpose even after it became available to the masses.

Even today, lame fabric has great appeal in different clothing niches. It’s not only too fancy to wear on regular occasions, but also its characters do not allow frequent use. We will learn more about the characteristics in the following part.

How Lame is fabric made?

Lame fabrics are traditionally produced by coating gold over silk or other natural fibers. Often, gold was mixed with silver or copper to make it more durable. But no matter what you use, those fabrics’ shininess fades with time. Nowadays, gold or other metals are coated over synthetic plastic to make it more durable. There are different techniques for making lame fabric. For the sake of simplicity, let’s discuss the basic process shortly.

Coating: First, the fiber is coated with a transparent plastic. The primary role of the coating is to hold the metallic substance. The coat also increases the durability and strength of the fabric.

Warping: After the coat is applied, the metallic substance is wrapped around the coat. It allows the coat to stick with the fiber smoothly.

Weaving: After the yarn is produced, it is either woven or knitted to make fabric.

Note that there are machines that create artificial polyester lame yarn automatically without much effort. Those machines are capable of making lame yarn of any color. In those fabrics, metallic glitter is achieved artificially without any use of metal. However, those lame fabrics are also not as convenient as regular artificial fabrics.

Types of Lame Textile

Check out the main types of lame fabric—

Precious metal lamé

Precious metal lame fabrics are actual luxury lame. It is made with precious metal gold, silver, or platinum. Nowadays very small amount of those fabrics is produced. Real lame fabrics are sold as antiques and are often found in museums.

Pearl lamé

Pearl lame comes with a pearl-like color. It comes with an iridescent sheen. It can be made with real metal or artificially.

Spandex lamé

Spandex lamé fabric is made with Spandex fibers, providing stretchability to the fabric. It is one of the most comfortable lame fabrics to wear. Most time, Spandex lamé fabrics are made artificially.

Aluminum or imitation lamé

Aluminum lame fabrics are made with aluminum instead of precious metal. It is shiny and lightweight. To make this fabric, polyester or rayon fiber is woven with aluminum. It comes with a nice shine but lacks some of the luxurious characteristics of precious leather.

Tissue lamé

Tissue lame resembles tissue. It can be made with real metal or imitation yarns.

Guipé

In guide lame, metal ribbons are wrapped around the yarn to provide a metallic and shimmering effect. It is very rare.

Liquid lamé

Liquid lame is a high-fashion lame fabric made artificially. It comes with a liquid, glossy look. It is quite popular in today’s fancy fashion.

Hologram lamé

Hologram lame is made specifically to achieve a hologram-like 3D look. It can be made with original metal or artificially.

Characteristics of Lame fabric

The characteristics of lame fabrics  differ based on type and textile materials. Original and imitation lame also have some major differences. In this part, we will discuss the original lame and also mention how imitation lame is different from the original ones. For the convenience of the readers, we will discuss each characteristic with different points. Those points are more or less similar in every fabric content of lame. 

Appearance

Lame fabric is gorgeous, shiny, and reflective. Its appearance depends on which metal is used to coat the fiber or how it is coated. Anything we can see is actually the light that the object reflects. Metallic coat of lame  enhances the reflection and creates a visual sheen. So, this type of fabric is often used to attract attention. If someone wears lame cloth, other people almost become invisible for some time. Gold, silver, platinum, and aluminum all play differently with light. Imitation lame fabrics can imitate the reflection, but they can never replace the original appeal and nature of real lame fabric. Imitation lame is becoming a different type of fabric that no one compares with the real ones.

Softness

These fabrics are not meant to be soft, but it would certainly be better if it was softer. But that’s actually hard. Metal coating over the fibers makes it structured and rough. There is no way to make it soft in an effective way. Silk yarn lame fabrics have a subtle softness underneath, but still very far from the real silk fabric. Imitation polyester lame fabrics are softer, but those are also not super comfortable. To achieve the sheen, the texture and comfort are reduced. However, lame fabrics are for special events only. So it does what it’s made for— attracting attention.

Yarn quality

The yarn used in the lame fabric influences the overall quality and look of the fabric. Traditionally, natural fabrics like wool and silk were often used by coating with gold, silver, copper, etc. In contemporary lame, plastic fiber with a metal coat is used more often. Those metallic yarns are made with meticulous patience and skill. How the yarns are woven also affects the overall look of the fabric.

Breathability

This fabric is also not breathable. Due to its metallic coat, it loses most of its breathability. That means the fabric will not allow enough air to feel comfortable. That’s why lame fabric is best suited for cold environments. In a warm environment, it will produce sweat and feel stiffer over extended wear. However, the fabric is usually used for short-term wear for fashion shows, drama, etc. Modern lame fabrics made of polyester have better breathability, but are not comparable to other fabrics.

Heat absorption

Lame fabrics absorb a lot of heat from the sunlight, and it’s a big NO-NO to wear them in the sunlight. It is not only uncomfortable but can also damage the fabric. Metal is the finest transporter of heat. Wearing it in the sun will absorb a lot of heat and create discomfort. It should only be worn in cold and less humid conditions. 

Stretch

Lame fabrics are not usually stretchy. Due to the metallic coat, these fabrics are stiff and not stretchy. No original lame can have any stretch. But there are certain kinds of artificial lame  made of stretchy materials called spandex lamé. That type of lame is used by dancers and performers.

Water absorption

Lame fabrics do not have any water absorption properties. Due to its metallic coat, it does not absorb any moisture. The moisture sits on the surface of the fabric. That means sweating while wearing lame will be quite uncomfortable. Some artificial lame fabrics have better absorbability. Exposure to water can damage the real lame cloth.

Transparency

This fabrics are not designed to be transparent. It is designed to reflect light. Due to the metallic coat of lame fabric, it blocks almost all the light from getting in. However, some loosely woven lame may allow some light to pass.

Shrinkage

Lame fabrics are not prone to shrinkage, especially when they’re made with authentic natural silk or wool. Lame fabric’s metallic coat does not allow it to shrink or stretch. Also, it is not washable like regular fabrics. Dry cleaning and spot cleaning are used for washing the fabric and also protect the fabric and coat from damage. Imitation lame fabrics are also quite shrinkage-proof as it is made of polyester.

Durability

Lame fabrics are not meant to be super durable. It must be used with extra care. The metal coat is prone to damage from different elements. It is worn for a short time and stored properly until the next event. With time, the metal coating gets discolored. Special treatment is required to bring back the original shine. Artificial lame fabrics are usually a lot more durable than original lame fabrics.

Color retention

Lame fabrics are not good at retaining their original color. It often gets discolored due to oxidation or weathering. Proper storage and treatment slow down the process. Artificial lame fabrics do a better job of retaining color.

Lame fabric and Sustainability

Lame fabrics overall are not the most sustainable fabric. For traditional lame, precious metals like gold, silver, or platinum are used. Mining those metals is almost never very sustainable. Metal mining takes a lot of water and releases a lot of carbon into the environment. Plus, some types of mining also release harmful chemicals like cyanide into the environment. Those chemicals can leach into the ground and surface water and harm the ecosystem. However, traditional lame fabrics are almost never produced in large quantities. So, it alone can not harm the environment. In this context, artificial polyester lame fabric is less sustainable for the environment. Polyester is non-biodegradable. And producing it releases a lot of carbon. Imitation lame is cheaper and usually brought for certain events. Once the event is over, the fabric is often disposed of. This type of fabric is very hard to recycle. Artificial fabrics are one of the leading causes of microplastic pollution that is ruining our oceans, soil, and environment.

Given its environmental impact, we must use it consciously and try to minimize its bad effects. It may not be that popular to become a major problem alone, but fabrics like this are causing real issues.

Uses of Lame Fabric

Lame fabrics are used for very specific sectors.

Here are the uses of lame textile:

Evening wear: The fabric is used for stunning and eye-catching evening wear. This is more of an Eastern culture.

Dance and performance costume: Lame is also ideal for attracting eyes by reflecting dancing costumes.

Modeling and fashion shows: These fabrics are often seen in fashion shows. Models wear them and create bold appeals.

Theater and film: These fabrics are often used in theaters, usually in theaters with kings and queens. In modern films, space suits are also made of lame fabric. It is also used in cosplay.

Decoration: Some lame fabrics are often used for decoration and exotic upholstery purposes.

Accessories: The fabric is used for making different accessories like shoes, bags, hairbands, etc.

The advantages and disadvantages of Lame

Let’s concise & share  the advantage and disadvantage of lame –

Advantages

• Metallic sheen
• Aesthetically appealing
• Gorgeous look
• Plays with light
• Visually pleasing 
• Attracts a lot of attention
• Provides a sense of luxury
• Best where drawing attention is needed.

Disadvantages

• Harsh and rough
• Not breathable
• Prone to damage
• Suitable for short-term wear
• Requires a cold environment 
• Easily fades
• Too rare 
• Too expensive

How to care for Lame fabric?

Most of the lame fabrics need a dry wash. But some may also be washed with the gentle cycle of the washing machine. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s guidelines before choosing a maintenance method. But in general following steps will work just fine.

• Dry clean your lame with professionals. Make sure they have experience working with metallic fabrics.
• Do not iron this fabric. If it is wrinkled, you can sometimes iron it in low settings after wrapping the iron with another cloth. Using steam is also a better way to get rid of wrinkles.
• Lame must be stored in a dry and low-humidity place. Make sure the fabric is completely dry and clean before storing.
• Clean the lame fabric and accessories with a soft cloth gently after use.

Lame fabric by the yard

Original luxury lame fabric is hard to find by the yard. But lower-priced metallic and imitation lame is common. Traditional lames may cost $300-$400 or above. Other metal lame such as aluminum lame can be found within $30 to $100. Imitation lame is naturally cheaper and costs around $10-$50, depending on brand and quality.

Where can you buy Lame textiles?

Lame fabric can be found in luxury fabric boutiques and brands. If you are willing to buy by the yard, the marketplaces contain some great options. But it is hard to find quality products there.

Here are some suggestions from our experts.

• FabricsDaily
• Fabulessfabrics
• FabricLA Store
• Entelare

FAQ

What is the difference between lame fabric and tissue fabric?

Tissue fabric is a type of lame, while lame fabric is a general term for metallic fabric. Lame and tissue lame both can be original or imitation.

Can lame fabric be ironed?

It’s usually a bad idea to iron the lame clothes. It can damage the coating or fiber of the fabric. But with special precautions, it can be ironed. Such as, with a low setting and warping the iron with another fabric. 

Conclusion

Lame is the synonym of luster and royalty. It is one of the most stunning-looking fabrics human civilization has ever produced. We tried to provide the best possible insights on lame cloth. If you read this far, you should have a really good idea of the types and characteristics of lame fabric.

Interested in more exotic fabrics? Check out most expensive fabrics – A tale of luxury.