Silk Chiffon
5–8mm momme
Chiffon is often the lightest and most diaphanous of the silks — the most see-through, and the one that creates soft billows of fabric. Under magnification it resembles a fine net, which gives chiffon its airy transparency. It is a beautiful choice for flowing, featherweight scarves that add dimension without weight.
Chiffon for Airy, Sheer Styling
Silk chiffon is chosen for featherweight movement, transparency and a soft billowing effect. It is a good fit for bridal, evening, resort and fashion styling where the scarf should add colour and dimension without visual weight. The open, sheer character makes fine text and dense dark artwork less forgiving, so buyers should test the design at final size and view it over the intended garment colour. Confirm the edge construction early because a narrow or rolled hem can change the perceived shape of the scarf. Packaging should protect the fabric from snagging and excessive compression during transit.
Chiffon on a printed scarf
Chiffon is the lightest and most diaphanous of the silks we work in. Under magnification it resembles a fine net, and that open structure is what gives it the airy transparency that chiffon is chosen for: a chiffon scarf adds colour and movement without adding weight.
That transparency is also the constraint. Artwork on chiffon is never seen on its own — it is always seen against whatever is behind the scarf. A dense dark motif reads clearly; fine light-toned line work and small type can disappear entirely, because there is not enough cloth in those areas to hold the ink against a background.
Chiffon is usually chosen for bridal, evening, resort and layered styling, where the piece is meant to move. If the design has to be legible at close range, it should be tested at final size over the garment colours it will be worn with before bulk is approved.
Specification
The table below is what a quotation is built from. Fixing these lines before you compare supplier quotes is what makes two quotes comparable.
| Specification | This fabric | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Momme | 5–8mm | Momme is weight. More weight means more raw silk in the same scarf, so it moves the unit cost more than any other single line. |
| Printing | Digital printing · screen printing | Chiffon carries print but the open weave limits density. Bold motifs and solid areas read clearly; very fine light lines and small type may not hold. Test the artwork at final size over the intended background colours. |
| Edge finish | Hand rolled and hand stitched · machine hem | A narrow hand-rolled hem suits chiffon best — it adds a little weight to the edge without stiffening the cloth. A wide hem on this weight distorts the drape. |
| Format | 90×90cm · 53×53cm · 36×36cm · neck scarf · bandana · pocket square | The smaller formats work best: 53×53cm, 36×36cm and bandana. A 90×90cm chiffon square is very light and is chosen for effect rather than for everyday wear. |
| Packing | Individual bag · branded box · carton mark | Packing is quoted as its own line so that it does not disappear inside the unit price. |
How chiffon compares
| Weave | Momme | Transparency | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiffon | 5–8 | The most sheer of the silks | The scarf should billow and layer, and transparency is part of the design. |
| Georgette | 8–12 | Sheer, but with a springier hand | You want the lightness of chiffon with more body and a raised, crepe surface. |
| Habotai | 5–12 | Translucent rather than sheer | A light printed scarf is wanted, but the print has to hold more clearly. |
Buyer questions
What is the difference between chiffon and georgette?
Georgette is the springier of the two — it is a crepe, so the surface is slightly raised and the cloth has more body. Chiffon is finer, softer and more transparent. Designers often test both before deciding, because the difference is easier to feel than to describe.
Can you print detailed artwork on chiffon?
Digital printing reproduces the artwork, but the open weave limits how much ink the cloth holds in fine light areas. Bold motifs and solid shapes read clearly. Fine light lines and small type should be checked at final size over the colours the scarf will be worn with.
Which hem suits chiffon?
A narrow hand-rolled hem. It adds a line of weight to the edge, which helps a very light cloth hang, without stiffening it the way a wide hem would.
Is chiffon suitable for everyday wear?
It is the most delicate of the silks in the range and is usually chosen for occasion and layered styling rather than daily wear. If the scarf is going to be worn often, georgette or crepe de chine holds up better in use.
Minimum order, artwork and lead times
Minimum order is 100 pieces per design. A programme using several designs is quoted as several minimums, because each one is printed and finished separately.
You send whatever you have — artwork, a logo file, a reference, a brand guide, or an idea. We set the repeat, the layout and the hem allowance for your chosen format in chiffon, and send a digital proof. Nothing is printed until you approve it. Artwork development is part of the project rather than a separate charge.
A physical sample is then printed and finished on the fabric you have chosen, and bulk production follows the approved sample. Bulk runs about 3 weeks after approval.
- What to send us: artwork or a logo file, the format, the quantity, and the fabric weight you want.
- What we send back: a digital proof, then a physical sample on your chosen fabric and edge finish.
- What we need before bulk: artwork approval, sample approval, and the packing method.
- What travels with the order: photographs of the finished scarves before they ship.