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Hi and welcome…a quick word about this blog…
I'm a mad fabric collector but I've gone a bit overboard, so I've started this blog to re-home some gorgeous, top-quality fabrics at really great prices. Mostly ex-designer fabrics from places like New York's garment district and Milan's fabric mills, and mostly single pieces. Please see the 'About' and 'FAQ' at the top of this page for more info. (Australia only)Archives
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Tag Archives: silk
Petite flower silk crepe de chine
So sweet. Really. A lovely, delicate print of little cream flowers cascading over a deep lavender background.
Flowerburst Silk Charmeuse Lycra
This piece really is a veritable bursting profusion of stylised flowers in outline and in eggplant, caramel and kiwi over black. This is a beautiful silk charmeuse with lycra, giving the fabric wonderful stretch and give.
Little French Jacket Anyone?
Here’s the first of a few fabric pairings I will have to make the most perfect French jackets. These are, of course, styled on the famous Ch@nel couture jackets, which feature a tweed (mostly) outer fabric and a quilted lining…all hand-tailored and moulded beautifully to the individual. That’s the version that many sewists have gone to couture classes to learn about. It’s a wonderful goal for enthusiasts. Of course, there’s a simpler version to be had with a great pattern, and machine instead of hand-stitches, because…time.
I have collected authentic fabrics for just this purpose and have made a couple of French jackets which I have adored. But my sewing days are over I think. So I am letting these fabrics go. This is a length of Ch@anel wool blend tweed boucle, paired with a stunning ellipses silk for the jacket lining, quilted or otherwise.
Roar silk
I was going to say you can’t be too shy, wearing this fabric, but then I don’t know that’s true. Obviously this is an animal print, leopard, but it’s got a fuzzy abstraction to it and also muted shades are used so while the print has real presence, you could still cut and wear it in a regular way. But if you wanted to make this a stand-out print, you could of course go to town.
This is a designer piece and is a silk double crepe/viscose blend.
A burst of spheriforms cotton voile
This fabric was an Australian or New Zealand designer. It might have been Trel1se C0oper, but a bit of time has past since I rustled through my (enormous) collection of fabrics and I just can’t remember. If it wasn’t them, it was a designer in that milieu. I so love the colours here: persimmon, wheat, duck egg blue and manila against a warm brown background.
GONE NOW THANKS Anemone silk georgette
Can you spot the anemone? I used to plant them for spring and they are the most beautiful flower. I’m sure that they must have been at least some of the inspiration for this beguiling print, those glorious shades of raspberry, musk, violet and magenta positively singing across the fabric.
The view above is of the fabric doubled. Being a silk georgette (with a gentle crinkle) the fabric is semi-sheer. When given a base under the fabric the colour has a chance to explode and really show off. That doesn’t have to be a lining or a second layer. You could wear a top underneath and drape a top in this beautiful silk over it and achieve the same effect. But if you did want to put a second layer to this fabric for a dress, top or skirt, you can see the effect it has.
(more…)GONE THANK YOU Into the garden designer silk
Oh this piece is divine. It came from the New York City and I can’t exactly remember which high-end designer had this silk, either Pr0enza Sch0uler or JW Anders0n. I spotted this bolt in a whole tangle of fabrics and fell in love. Even when we had a lot of fabric stores in Australia we didn’t really see designer pieces like this.
Miu meets Sui
Thinking of tapping into the paisley-inspired prints dominating the catwalks and stores? This Anna Sui silk ticks all the boxes…
Roberto Cavalli green leaves silk
This fabric is the product of a hunt. I had seen a woman looking fab in this sensational green leaves top while she was at the stop light next to me. I could see the “Just Cavalli” signature in the fabric. Hence the hunt began.
I trawled the silk sections of a number of stores and asked widely. (more…)
M!lly silk twill – from Rococo to Baroque
I have to check whether I still have this piece. I suspect I have sold it. Hold off on emails for the moment thanks.
The M!lly designers certainly do a great job of mining classic design styles but giving them a twist to bring them completely up-to-date.
This silk twill epitomises that I think with its modern colouration and bold rendition of the graphics.
Cheetah print silk/lycra charmeuse
Hold off on emails until I locate this piece. It is in the stash, just have to put my hands on it. Thanks.
It’s a designer one, from M!lly.
Animal prints can be as bold or understated as you wish. With this silk piece, I envisaged a classic shirt or simple top to be worn underneath a black jacket, or more casually, a cardigan.
Deep burgundy, teal and magenta silk georgette
Please hold off on emails – I need to check whether or not I still have this piece. Thanks.
I’m rather partial to silk georgettes and especially like them when there are a couple of layers, especially a heavier plain colour georgette underneath. This seems to give the fabric a weight and swishy-ness that it a little bit irresistible and totally great to wear.
Autumn flowers silk
Hold off on emails please until I check whether or not I still have this piece. Thanks.
This gorgeous piece of silk is perfect for dressing up or down. Featuring a palette of autumn blooms in colours from auburn to cinnamon on a deep roast background, this will work for any number of dress designs, or tops and skirts…see the collage below.
I’ll call it a silk taffeta because it has a slightly stiff hand, but it is not quite as heavy and stiff as the true taffetas. (more…)
Rococo string of pearls M!lly silk crepe de chine SOLD
GONE NOW THANKS
Perhaps some of you may share the M!lly fabric infatuation that I’ve had? This one is a charm too.
This print is full of the whimsy that I love so much…
Designer duchess silk satin – black with embroidered flowers
I had fantasies for this fabric, absolutely harboured it…and with the delicate white and yellow centred embroidered daisies strewn across the fabric face, I knew that I would choose some white and yellow contrast silks and work them all into some lovely dress crafted from this great, great fabric.
I’m not even sure that it is possible to wander into a store and hope to see a designer duchess satin anymore?
Truly elegant grey & black double crepe de chine silk SOLD
GONE NOW THANK YOU
I bought this beautiful and very high-quality silk…
…with a dedicated project in mind…
Japanese embroidered kimono silk roll SOLD
GONE THANKS
Here’s something a bit different. Are there any lovers of vintage Japanese kimono silks out there?
If you are not familiar with the world of the kimono silks here’s another fabric avenue to become infatuated with :))
Silk/lycra georgette with swirling aqua & blue graphics SOLD
GONE NOW THANKS
No surprises that I have a fondness for lovely little silks and here’s another one. Again, it’s a silk georgette/lycra straight from the garment district in the city that never sleeps.
Silk for afternoon tea at Miss Havishams SOLD
GONE NOW THANKS
Hmmm, what is that with the title…maybe this is the by-product of doing a lot of listings in a very short time. But I look at this beautiful silk and I see the antique, fading and slightly shabby looking paisley print and imagine afternoon tea at Miss Havisham’s dilapidated mansion.
Designer flowers silk/lycra georgette SOLD
SOLD NOW THANK YOU
Softer shades of maize, sand, nutmeg, willow green and lagoon blue blend beautifully in this silk georgette.
They are actually very Australian colours, even though I snapped up this lovely fabric in the NYC garment district.
Ebony and ivory flowers silk lycra SOLD
GONE THANKS
Silk perfection, that’s the only way to describe this piece…
The perfect weight and drape, the perfect length and a great print and price…
Soft burnished gold silk organza SOLD
GONE NOW THANKS
Now here is an understated beauty of a silk, perfect if you want something a little bit dressier or ‘special occasion’ but want to keep things not too formal.
That is to say, you could do a relaxed top or shift in this fabric, nothing too elaborate, and the lovely luminous glow to this silk organza makes it that bit more special. See some of the tops below. (more…)
Jewel tones super-soft silk SOLD
GONE NOW THANKS
This fabric is seriously the softest silk I have ever come across in my lifetime of scouring for fabrics. I have no idea how such soft silk came to be and why I haven’t seen more of it. I’d love to know the provenance of this piece, that’s for sure.
When doves cry Milly silk SOLD
GONE, THANK YOU
Milly does THE best prints and this tri-colour (off-white, grey and deep navy) doves silk is right up there as one of my favourites. I went searching for this fabric and was very happy when I found it.
I have had a number of people ask about decent dress-lengths of good silks and this one fits that bill. (more…)
Jewel in the crown designer silk satin SOLD
NOW GONE, THANKS
The most exceptional digital prints have emerged in the last few years hot on the heels of the works of designers like Mary Katrantzou – the absolute star of digital design – and Peter Pilotto. I can’t attribute this fabric to a particular designer but I understand that this print is from the Italian mills.
Rubik’s cube silk/lycra charmeuse SOLD
FABRIC IS GONE, THANKS
I have many, many pieces of lovely silk in just the right length for floaty tops or perky blouses. This silk fits both the fun and classic mould at the same time.
And, it will match everything… (more…)
Grey with black etched ellipses silk SOLD
GONE NOW, MANY THANKS
Just because I am offering up a lot of fabrics it doesn’t mean that I don’t love them. This is one of the very loved one – it is a superb quality silk, the print design is perfect, classic but modern, the colours are versatile. It is a great piece.
Brilliant designer wool/silk gazar SOLD
GONE NOW, THANKS VERY MUCH
There is a story to this fabric, and a few people can probably tell the same tale. 
(more…)
Flowers on fire hammered silk panel SOLD
GONE NOW THANK YOU
This is an amazing fabric. First, it is a hammered silk, and you don’t see this type of silk often at all.
Second, it is superb quality. The weight and drape is sublime. Third, the print itself is gorgeously intense with shades of deep cobalt, fire engine red and poinsettia submerged in shadows.
Milly spirograph daisies suede silk/lycra SOLD
GONE NOW THANKS
Ok, I really love this Milly print. I spotted it sitting high up on the top row of a wall full of fabrics in a tiny NYC garment district shop. Couldn’t touch it, couldn’t even see closely, but something about it called out to me.
When they finally got the bolt down for me, I swooned.
Millefiori silk crepe de chine SOLD
GONE, MANY THANKS
There is such an enchanting level of detail in this lovely little silk and I’m absolutely positive the print was inspired by millefiori glass work.
Milly orange & white graphic silk cotton voile SOLD
GONE THANKS
I’ve made a point of collecting Milly fabrics where I can. The prints are always engaging, the quality is fantastic, and if you can located the original garment then there’s good inspiration for your own ideas.
Big bright butterflies Roberto C@valli silk GONE NOW
The time has come, finally, to relinquish this Roberto C@valli silk beauty that has had a prized place in my fabric stash for quite a while now.
Nothing I say, and none of the images, will be adequate enough to really communicate how stunning this fabric is. I can but try. (more…)
Navy & indigo silk crepe de chine SOLD
I’ve looked and looked at this silk and still remain entirely unsure whether I should describe the pattern as a woodgrain or marbled effect. Maybe it can be both…
Milly spider mums silk charmeuse SOLD
NOW GONE, THANK YOU
This was a Milly favourite from a few years back, a fabulous silk that sort of suggests an oriental influence with the print pattern, hence the spider mums reference, but that could be just a rorchach test thing going on.
Chinese new year fireworks silk crepe de chine SOLD
GONE NOW, THANKS
Moving quite a few more silks along now, including this very excellent silk crepe de chine.
Foil & foliage silk/lycra SOLD
This is a New York designer fabric, not sure which designer though. It is a substantial silk/lycra fabric.
The fabric is fluid and completely malleable. It has the texture of a crepe de chine, but it is much closer to a 4ply weight silk, though it falls just a little bit short of that classification. It is a really top quality silk; just wonderful.
Th@koon 4ply silk crepe yellow paisley catwalk fabric SOLD
AND IT IS NOW GONE, THANK YOU!
Ok, so this one is special. It will probably go very quickly, if the interest expressed behind the scenes is any indication, but it is worthy of a longer post.
First, it was a big-time catwalk design for Th@koon from a couple of summer seasons ago. (more…)
Tokyo gardens silk charmeuse SOLD
GONE, THANKS
Now that I’m looking at this silk it really presents as a sampler of symbols and motifs from traditional Japanese textiles, especially kimonos and haori, but presented in a completely modern way.
The Mums are one of the most dominant features in Japanese designs and they are exploding all over this fabric, but you also see the bamboo leaves, the background hexagons and may other traditional symbols. (more…)
Big green embroidered blooms silk SOLD
GONE NOW, THANKS
A profusion of embroidered green blooms adorns this high-quality dupion silk. 
This fabric was an exclusive fabric from one of the mills that used to produce some of the best embroidered textiles out of Rajasthan. (more…)
Moschino neon flowers silk crepe de chine remnant SOLD
GONE, THANK YOU
Moschino designed the right garments for this sunny silk – lovely, swishy caftans.
Unfortunately there is only a remnant here, but it is still a sunny silk, no matter it’s a small piece! (more…)
NY designer white and green chrysanthamums silk SOLD
THIS FABRIC IS NOW SOLD, MANY THANKS
In Phi!!ip L!m’s hands this captivating silk became stunning, embellished skater dresses that were snapped up at lightening speed.
I was very lucky to get this piece. It arrived the afternoon I visited a particular garment city shop. There was only this one length, and I understand that was all that ended coming out of the studio. (more…)
Paintball silk crepe de chine SOLD
GONE, THANK YOU
Take one quick flick through the latest fashion mags and gorgeous prints are everywhere.
This silk is the best of both worlds…a versatile black background with splashes of colour, as if you’ve walked out of an artist’s studio…or a paintball game? (more…)
Designer cosmos silk GONE
GONE NOW THANKS
Here is a Phillip L!m silk and this is a new type of silk for me too.
Apart from the great good luck to have visited the NYC garment district many times, one advantage is to be exposed to so many different fabrics types that you ordinarily don’t encounter in the stores. It makes me realise that I have to expand my fabric knowledge when I have no idea what to name the types of silk.
Spice market silk GONE
GONE NOW THANKS
The colours in this silk are glorious…pomegranate, aqua, saffron, lime, persimmon, amber, on an off-white base, with dark scrolls linking the medallion patterns.
Pink psychadelic flowers silk goergette SOLD
THIS FABRIC IS SOLD – MANY THANKS
Oh how I love this gorgeous piece of silk! The pattern and colours are just captivating.
(Image credit Sunday Times magazine)
This silk georgette is a stunning quality, fine and light and airy, but not too transparent. (more…)
M@rc Jacobs exotic birds silk crepe de chine SOLD
ALL GONE, MANY THANKS
Here is a beauty, straight from a M@rc Jacobs resort collection from just a couple of years ago. This is such a colourful and happy print and the fabric quality is fabulous.
Cynthia Steff blues ikat crinkle silk SOLD
SOLD – MANY THANKS
I’ve called this an ikat print because I thought it had some of the ikat features, but maybe it is actually more like a tie-dye effect? Either way, it is a contemporary fabric from the New York design studio of Cynthia Steffe, who made the most adorable dresses in this fabric.
Fuchsia, mushroom and teal art nouveau silk SOLD
GONE NOW THANKS
Sigh. I’m letting go of a very favourite.
This is a much loved fabric that I bought in NYC a few years ago from one of my favourite shops on West 35th Street…way up high. The best shops in the garment district are not on street level, just remember that if you ever intend to visit.
Thakoon to come…
Sneak peak at a 4ply silk crepe Thakoon runway fabric coming up. Stumbled on the image of Daria Werbowy from W Magazine and I just had to put it together with this silk.
(Still have to measure and properly photograph this fabric…not too far away)
Stunning Osc@r de la Rent@ silk twill SOLD
GONE NOW THANK YOU
Next up, a superb silk twill from the late great designer Osc@r de la Rent@.
Red blue flower graphics double silk georgette SOLD
GONE NOW THANKS
This piece is a little beauty. It is not all that often that you see the silk double georgettes around, and with such a gorgeous print design too.
