By the title, you already know what we’re talking about. Yes, we’re telling you about Organza fabric, a luxury fabric that’s been part of several cultures for centuries. 

We are Team Muslin Dhaka, consisting of several fashion marketers, fabric researchers, and fashion designers. With our 37 years of cumulative experience, we research and experiment with different luxury fabrics across the globe. 

Recently, we purchased some pure and synthetic organza fabric from our local market. We tested the samples in various ways to tell you our real-life experience. 

So, let’s begin. 

What is Organza Fabric

Organza is a type of sheer fabric. It has several characteristics that match with other silk fabrics like georgette and chiffon. 

The core of organza fabrics is plain weaving. No other method is used to make this translucent textile. In every yarn line (whether warp or weft), only one thread is used to perform the plain weave. That’s why the fabric is so thin and airy. 

In textile industries, original (silk) organza is called firm or crisp hand fabric. This means the feel and construction of the organza are slightly stiff and not completely smooth. But that doesn’t mean this fabric is uncomfortable. 

No matter what the material is, organza textile remains soft enough to wear on any occasion. Crispiness is a benefit of structured dresses. 

Organza is not a new name in luxury fashion and bridal wear. The trend of using silk organza fabric is more than 5 centuries old. Nowadays, you can find organza in home decor items and accessories too. Some even consider this fabric good for window treatment. 

Another good thing about this fabric is mills can modify and change the characteristics of this fabric, except for the hallmarks. 

So, you can find different types of silk or synthetic organza fabric in the market. But as we said, the main characteristics like crispness, breathability, or weaving remain the same. 

AT A GLANCE

What is Organza Made Of

Organza fabrics can be made of both natural and synthetic fibers. 

From the beginning, the primary material for making organza is silk. It is understandable as the birthplace of this place is considered to be China and the Silk Road. 

Another natural fiber for making organza is cotton. Although cotton organza has another popular name. People call it organdy fabric. You can know more about it in our article where we talked about different types of cotton fabric. 

Obviously, silk fabrics are not affordable by any means. Recently, nylon and polyester have become two common materials used to make this textile. 

However, using synthetic fibers omits some key features of organza, such as softness and appearance. Using them is still reasonable because of their cost-effectiveness. 

Organza History

There are some debates about the exact history of organza fabric. Some say the name originated from a local European word referring to silk-like fabrics. Others say it was inspired by the main place where it was traded most. 

So, we tried to figure out the most authentic timeline. After going through some history papers and references, we found this information. 

The Silk Road was a path connecting Asia and Europe. The path consisted of some major trading countries of Europe with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and China. A few Middle Eastern countries were also involved in this route. 

Urganch was a city on the famous grand Silk Road. The region is now under Turkmenistan. This place was a hub of expert silk artisans and sellers. Before the 14th century, stiff yet sheer silk from China was sold. It was famous for creating artistic fashion as well. 

Many European traders named the production process or material of the fabric “Organzine”. Probably this word was changed into organza in the modern time period. 

Recently, Bangladesh and India have also become a big competitor of China for making organza fabric. Italy and France are also big names in making luxury organza. 

What Type of Fabric is Organza: Is It a Luxury Fabric

Organza is a luxury fabric when the material is pure silk. Synthetic organza isn’t a luxury item as it’s 10 to 15 times cheaper than the real deal. 

While researching, we found some peculiar facts about luxury organza fabric. 

The price of silk organza fabric made in European mills is way higher than that of the ones made in Asian regions. Maybe France and Italy have the most luxury fashion houses. Price also differ based on economy, cost & many other factors. That’s why people consider silk organza from these places to be more luxurious. 

Even so, 100% silk organza from China, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are no less from the European-made. You can find some handmade silk organza fabric in those Asian Regions. 

You’ll be surprised to know that an exclusive silk organza saree can cost you more than a silk organza dress from the Bridal Fabrics store. 

How is Organza Made

Organza is a plain weave fabric with a simple production process. Let’s show you. 

Spinning

The process of making yarns differs depending on the materials. For silk, you need to go through several steps like sericulture, breaking cocoons into staples, cutting staples into fibers, etc. 

But in the case of polyester, you only need to extract raw fibers from poly filaments. 

After collecting the fibers, you need to put them in the spinning machine to make usable yarns. 

Twisting

Then, two yarns are twisted to make threads for weaving. They are twisted moderately. Not much like Georgette fabric. 

Stiffening

Factories put the silk threads in acid to reduce softness. Otherwise, the fabric won’t be able to retain its shape. 

Weaving

The weaving can be done using handloom or automated machines. Hand weaving requires some time and effort. 

Dyeing

Traditionally, organza fabrics get dyed after weaving. But nowadays, yarn-dyed organza is also on trend. Dyeing before weaving allows us to make different types of organza fabric. 

Types of Organza Fabric

Organza fabrics have more variants than luxury fabrics like charmeuse or chiffon. It’s because the fabric has gone through various modifications till now. Below, we are mentioning the major ones. 

Crystal Organza

This type of organza is used to give a shimmer look to the dress. It can be used either as a wedding dress overlay or clothing sheet. 

Mirror Organza

The Organza mirror is very reflective. It reflects light more than other silk fabrics. Mirror Organza mostly has synthetic fibers or blends. 

Spark Organza

Spark organza fibers look like glitter pen inks. This type is also famous for making exclusive designer dresses. 

Satin Organza

It is a unique type that has a satin finish on one side. 

Pearl Organza

The fibers in this type create a drama like pearls when reflecting or shining. 

Shot Organza

Recently, shot organza has become a popular name. Different colors of threads are used to make the fabric. The finished product creates a different look and sheen. 

Embroidered Organza

In Asia, embroidered organza fabric is very famous. This variant is used mostly to make traditional attires and curtains. 

Organza Fabric Characteristics

Now comes the main attraction of our discussion. We are breaking down the nature of organza fabric. 

Construction

We were lucky enough to have both silk and polyester organza sheets on our hands. They almost felt similar. But a few minor things made the difference. 

Come to the main topic, organza feels similar to many other sheer fabrics. It’s hard to identify organza if you don’t know the key traits. 

While purchasing organza fabrics, we learned that the EPIxPPI formula doesn’t work here. You need to judge the quality based on Holes Per Inch or HPI count. The more the HPI is the better the quality. Unfortunately, we don’t have the tools to measure HPI at our lab. 

However, we could understand the sheets we bought had plain weave construction with mid-range hole counts. 

Finish

Organza is a shimmery fabric. The amount of sheen is decent to high depending on the material and production process. 

Silk organza would have a very soft and vibrant sheen. On the other hand, polyester variants would provide inconsistent iridescence. 

Texture

The texture is very smooth. Sometimes, the texture or finish is named wiry texture. 

This sort of outlook is the result of acid or heat-press treatment after weaving. The whole construction won’t crinkle or make puckers even severe use. 

You can understand the smoothness in this example. When you rub two organza fabrics, you’ll hear a sound that you can also create by rubbing two smooth marble balls. The sound feels like an ASMR option. 

Softness

Because of the special stiffening treatment, the fabric has become a structured textile material. It tends to hold its shape. But this behavior won’t sting your skin. 

As the texture is smooth, the fabric can feel good in direct contact. But polyester organza might feel less comfortable. You can compare the softness with crisp denim fabric. They’re stiff but they don’t hurt. 

However, some organza fabrics are intentionally softened for special uses. 

Comfortability

No doubt that silk organza fabric is a comfortable niche fabric. Despite being a crisp hand version, the fabric touches your skin well. No matter what the density or HPI is. 

You can also comfortably handle an organza saree or veil. They are not as slippery as taffeta or georgette. 

It seems that sewing the fabric is a soft nutshell to crack. 

Breathability

Organza is one of the most breathable luxury fabrics. It even surpasses luxury muslin fabric sometimes. But some of us won’t consider it breathable because it doesn’t act flowy like other sheer textiles. 

People who use organza curtains would understand it better. Organza, as a window treatment, will only dampen the direct sunlight. The airflow from outside will remain natural with zero blocking. 

Heat Insulation

Having a heat-insulating facility from any type of organza fabric is impossible. The numerous holes created by open-plain weaves allow body temperature to be regulated constantly. 

Stretch

Whether it’s silk or synthetic, organza fabric won’t stretch a bit. Unless used a small amount of spandex or elasten with it. You can blame the acid treatment again for this behavior. 

Moisture Absorption

Here’s how you can differentiate silk organza from other sheer silk fabrics. We found that organza takes time to absorb moisture. 

1 yard of silk organza takes a few extra seconds to completely get soaked under water. Surprisingly, the absorbance rate is somewhat less or equal to natural wool fibers. 

It means the chance of getting wet or stained by liquid is lower than other silk fabrics in the case of organze. 

Transparency

This fabric has high sheerness. But it’s a bit less than tulle fabric. 

Some rich organza is so transparent that you can get a detailed view of anything behind it. 

Generally, organza doesn’t cling to your body because of its crispness. It creates drama by reflecting, absorbing, and letting the light pass through at the same time. A catchy silhouette is born from this drama. 

Thickness

Both silk and poly organza are very thin. They are thinner than other fabrics for exclusive bold tops. 

Shrinkage

Organza fabrics won’t shrink much. The shrinkage ratio is below 4% in most cases. Still, it’s better to dry-wash them for shape retention. 

Drape

Like said earlier, the textile provides a structured drape. It’s not soft or flowy like other silk fabrics. 

Durability 

We found a noticeable amount of strength in the yarns and weaving. The fabric’s slightly more tear-resistant than georgette. Even so, you need to be careful using this expensive item. 

Weight

The highest ideal weight for a luxury organza sheet is 60 GSM or below. Usually, you’d find 25-50 GSM as the normal weight range of silk organza. 

The range feels nothing compared to other clothing fabrics. That’s why organza is an ideal choice for overlaying. 

Color Retention

Synthetic organza can retain color better than silk ones. Yet, natural organza fabrics can hold the color and shape for several years. 

Maintenance

It depends on what type of organza you’re using. Designer organza dress or saree should be dry cleaned. 

You need to wash them separately if needed. 

Luxurious Organza: Benefits & Drawbacks

If you fail to figure out the good and bad of organza from characteristics, then follow this part. We’re telling you the major pros and cons here. 

Benefits

• Globally appreciated construction
• Mostly available
• Lighter than feather
• Strong construction
• Several variants with unique features
• Good shape retention
• Best fabric for overlaying
• Easy to sew than other silk clothes

Drawbacks

• Less moisture absorbing; difficulty in washing
• Hard to define the original one
• Not for regular use

Uses of Organza fabric in Fashion Industry

Organza fabrics are used in a few specific areas. Which are: 

Bridal Wear

Luxury silk fabrics like organza are used mostly on special occasions. At the wedding, you’d see the bride wearing white or bright gowns that have organza fabrics infused to enhance the richness of the attire. 

Along with the gown, using an organza veil or scarf is also a popular choice. 

Traditional Dress

Organza saree is a symbol of high-standard taste. Women of any age can handle lightweight organza sarees. 

You can find unique embroidered organza lehenga or saree in exclusive showrooms. Most of them are crafted manually by expert artisans. They are great to pair with expensive jewelry and blouses. 

Evening Wear

When you’re behind closed doors, you can wear organza gowns to relax your body. Organza gowns are good for enjoying some fresh air on your balcony or bedroom. You can also express your appeal through exotic organza maxis. 

Bold Fashion

Bold fashion and sheer fabrics are both connected to each other. By only using a single layer of organza, designers create tops to put some statement. The fabric is very exposing while creating a drama or reflection and silhouette altogether. 

Designer Fashion Overlay

Using costly fabrics like organza only to layer over another fabric makes sense when you’re making a designer dress. Exclusive collections have traditional organza paired up with cotton or silk fabrics to add more beauty to them. 

Accessories

Pouches and hairbands made of organza fabrics look pretty and fashionable. Most of those stuff are made of synthetic organza fabric. Organza bags have fancy prints that you can match with your attire while on an outing. 

Home Decor

We’ve already talked about organza curtains. Sunlight gets dimmed after passing through organza sheets. Then, they create a twilight environment, good for sleeping or resting. 

Organza table runners are also a good choice for redecorating your dining space during holidays. Some even use this fabric to make table lamps. –

How to Clean Organza Fabric: Care Guide

Whenever you buy a new luxury fabric or dress, you must know the right way to care for them. So, after discussing everything about organza fabric, here’s how you should maintain the fabric. 

How to Wash Organza Fabric at Home

• Always check the care labels before washing
• If possible, dry clean your organza dress 
• Instead of machine wash, use a bowl and your hands
• Don’t forget to wash the cloth separately
• Only use mild detergent and lukewarm water
• Don’t squeeze or wring the fabric
• If there’s a stain, rub detergent gently; then rub with your hands
• Never think of using a scrubber or brush
• Leave the washed organza under a shed hanging straight
• Use hangers rather than clips to dry

How to Iron Organza Fabric

• Place your organza cloth on a flat surface
• Sprinkle some water
• Put a thin towel over the dress
• Then press the organza dress with an iron in low heat

How to Soften Organza

Organza is made crips intentionally. It’s rare to demand an organza sheet to be soft. If you also want your organza fabric soft, watch the video above, or follow this 5-step guide:

• Soak the organza sheet in a lukewarm soap mixture for about15 minutes
• Then, rinse it in fresh water
• Put some fabric softener in another bowl of fresh water and soak the fabric in it again
• After that, let it dry under a shed
• Next, sprinkle some water and start ironing the sheet in low heat

Organza Alternatives 

You might feel some facts about organza not good for your. Or, the stock of organza might run out in your neighborhood. In those cases, we prefer these fabrics for you: 

• Chiffon
• Voile
• Tulle
• Georgette
• Lawn
• Muslin
• Taffeta
• Crepe

Organza Vs Tulle

Tulle and organza are two common names in the overlaying process. However, these fabrics have some major differences. 

We told you that organza is made of plain weave. Whereas tulle comes with an open weave construction. The weaving in tulle is very loose. That’s why it feels softer than organza. 

Among these two, organza has a decent amount of crispness for making structured dresses. 

One thing you should know is tulle feels like a net fabric rather than traditional sheer fabrics. 

Most importantly, tulle can be used mainly for overlaying while organza has several other uses that we mentioned earlier. 

Organza Vs Chiffon

We’ve compared organza with chiffon a number of occasions today. The reason is, both serve almost the same type of features. Yet, there are some key differences between these luxury fabrics. 

First of all, organza is a stiff hand fabric while chiffon is a soft hand type. 

The chiffon has a soft and flowy drape, while the organza is crisp. 

The texture of chiffon can be puckered or smooth. But the organza is mainly smooth. 

Last but not least, organza fabric is more durable than chiffon because of additional treatments and tighter weaves. 

Organza Fabric by the Yard

Pure silk organza fabrics can cost you more than 15 dollars for a yard. But if you are intending to buy high-quality luxury organza fabrics from a reputed brand, your cost would be more than 30 dollars for each yard. 

However, polyester or synthetic organza fabrics are priced 3-10$ per yard. 

Note that, the price of any type of organza doesn’t depend on the material only. it also depends on where it’s been made, the type of print, and the seller’s reputation. 

Where to Buy Silk Organza Fabric

You don’t have to search for a good organza fabric store elsewhere. We’re giving you the list based on our shopping experience. 

• Bridal Fabrics: for wedding dress fabrics
• Fabric Mart Fabrics: for premium silk and polyester organza
• NY Designer Fabrics: for high-quality plain organza
• Etsy: for a large variety
• Amazon: For cost-effective deals

(maybe 2-3 product links for affiliates?)

FAQ

What does organza mean? 

Organza originated from the European word “Organzine”. It meant a plain-woven silk fabric with twisted yarns. 

What to put in organza bags? 

You can carry your essentials like a purse and phone in an organza pouch. In large organza bags, you can store gift items, jewelry, etc. to attend a party or event. 

What is a mirror organza? 

Mirror organza fabric is more reflective to light than traditional silk organza. Apart from the enhanced reflection, other features remain the same. 

How to style organza sarees?

To style your organza saree, you can wear a plain yet catchy blouse. You should also match your ornaments and bags with the color of your saree. If possible, wear a high heel with the saree to make the drape more effective. 

Which country is the biggest exporter/producer of organza?

China is the biggest exporter of silk organza. After China, you can put India and Bangladesh in the top three. 

Final Thoughts

It was hard for us to define the exact properties, benefits, and drawbacks of organza fabric. We tried to be specific in each info we provided. 

However, our efforts are worth it by every means if you get to know everything about silk organza and its uses. 

You know, organza is not only the luxury fabric we’ve talked about. Recently, we found some interesting facts about vicuna wool. Read all about Vicuna wool. 

Shariful Alam

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Shariful Alam Pavel, A fashion lover, passionate marketer. Love to share wisdom based on real life experience to enrich knowledge.
Founder of Muslin Dhaka, a brand, speaks the truth about royal muslin and fashion. Explore the digital fashion universe with organic cotton muslin and much more!

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