Bengaline

What is bengaline most suitable for?

Since it was introduced to Europe, the popularity of bengaline has had its ups and downs, but the fabric has always remained available. People always found this crease-free fabric too beautiful to give up completely, and it's easy to understand why. Initially, the fabric was used as an alternative to silk, which it resembles due to its subtle sheen. However, because of its fine ribbed weave pattern, bengaline has a more robust appearance. In terms of texture, the fabric is somewhat reminiscent of denim. And like denim, bengaline is often used today to make pants.

The exact composition of bengaline has changed regularly over the years. Originally, only the highest quality silk was used, which caused the material to be known as a noble fabric. However, after silk prices rose so much that many fabric makers could no longer afford it, they switched to other materials, such as wool and cotton. The bengaline in our collection is a combination of various synthetic fabrics, including viscose, polyamide, and the elastic Spandex. This creates a supple, stretchy bengaline that is sturdier and more comfortable than the original, but still has the same luxurious look.

In the fashion industry, bengaline has experienced a resurgence in recent decades. This is partly due to the fact that the fabric is easy to dye and therefore can be offered in many different colors. In our collection, bengaline is available in more than twenty beautiful colors. For clothing, the fabric is ideal because it is supple and stretchy. Being active in clothing made of bengaline is therefore particularly comfortable. That is mainly why we see the fabric today in clothes that look elegant but also need to move flexibly with the wearer, such as dresses, jackets and, of course, pants.

A fabric that keeps up with the times

As its name suggests, bengaline originally came from India and Bangladesh. The fabric was developed there centuries ago, but it took a long time for Europeans to discover the quality of the material. This eventually happened when French traders brought the fabric to their homeland at the end of the nineteenth century. Paris was already the centre of the European fashion world at that time. When fashion lovers in the city discovered the beauty of the lightly lustrous fabric, bengaline quickly became popular in our part of the world as well. The fabric was loved, among other things, because it was harder-wearing than most other shiny fabrics.

In the 1880s, bengaline was a particularly fashionable fabric for women's and children's clothing. The fabric that women and children wore at that time was a combination of cotton and rayon. It is known that the material also became popular on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. After some time, however, bengaline fell out of fashion because people preferred fabrics that looked smoother, such as piqué and satin. However, the fabric experienced revivals after that. In the twentieth century, bengaline dresses were still regularly made that could attract a lot of appreciation among connoisseurs.

The qualities that make bengaline so beloved are now enhanced by the fact that the fabric is mainly made of synthetic fibers. Due to the stretch, the fabric is more supple when the wearer is active and clothing made from bengaline does not lose its shape easily. Because the stretch occurs only in one direction, the fabric is also used to give certain garments extra volume. Furthermore, the fabric still offers the sheen that most people find so beautiful in silk, for example, but at a fraction of the cost.

Sewing and Washing Clothing Made of Bengaline

The synthetic fibers in bengaline do not react well to high temperatures. Fibers can work loose or shrink significantly. Therefore, it is possible to machine wash the fabric, but it should always be washed in as cold water as possible. Because of the risk of shrinkage, we strongly recommend washing the fabric before making clothing from it. Tumble dryers should be avoided altogether. Instead, air dry the fabric. Due to the stretchy, crease-resistant nature of bengaline, it is unlikely that the fabric needs to be ironed. If it is necessary, iron at the lowest possible temperature or use the wool setting with a slightly damp cloth on the fabric.

When sewing bengaline, it is important to pay attention to the direction in which the fabric stretches. Normally, the fabric only stretches in one direction, namely lengthwise. It is definitely possible to make clothing from bengaline that stretches widthwise by simply turning the fabric a quarter turn. Sew with a subtle zigzag pattern to prevent the thread from breaking when the fabric stretches. Due to the stretch, it is also advisable to use an anti-slip mat to keep the fabric in place. A universal needle is suitable for processing most fabric.

Buying Bengaline Online

There really is no better choice than bengaline for clothing that is hard-wearing but looks luxurious.  Quality Textiles offers various types of bengaline with varying degrees of stretchiness via the webshop. In addition, we have a wide range of haberdashery items that you can buy online for sewing clothing made of bengaline. As well as bengaline, we have a wide range of beautiful children's fabrics and clothing fabrics for adults.