Silk georgette is the resort wear silk of choice

Natural breathable fabrics are a must for warm holidays and silk georgette fabric is a perfect choice for our silk kaftans. Silk georgette can be recognised with it’s smooth matt feel which ensures a durable strong fabric and when hand tie dyed or dyed in vibrant shades it drapes beautifully and feels fabulous to wear. Our resort wear designer Lindsey Brown answers the top ten frequently asked questions about this fabric and why its her first choice when making silk kaftans.

1. What is silk georgette?

Silk georgette is a lightweight, semi sheer matt silk fabric made from 100% silk fibres. It can have a slightly crinkled texture, which gives it a flowing and airy feel. The fabric is known for its soft drape, making it perfect for creating elegant yet relaxed resort wear.

2. Why is silk georgette a popular choice for resort wear?

Silk georgette in my opinion is a perfect choice for resort wear because of its luxurious feel, breathable nature, and ability to keep you cool in warm climates. When you compare this to some shiny silks, some shiny silk fabric can feel sticky to wear where silk georgette has a lightweight breathable feel making it ideal for warm destinations or tropical beach resorts.

3. How does matt silk georgette feel on the skin?

Silk georgette feels incredibly soft and smooth on the skin; it really does have a luxurious touch. Despite its semi-sheer matt appearance, when dyed in vibrant colours and the hand tie dye techniques we use at Lindsey Brown resort wear, it is not overly sheer or transparent. You may be able to see the silhouette of a bikini underneath. Our clever use of vertical tie dye patterns and vibrant colours will provide just the right balance of modesty and elegance. The silk fabric’s light breathable nature makes it so comfortable to wear in hot and humid weather. You will feel so comfortable when wandering around your resort in the mid-day sun or when wearing silk kaftans for sunset cocktails at the beach bar. 

4. Is silk georgette durable enough?

Yes. While silk is a delicate fabric, silk georgette's texture gives it extra durability compared to other pure silks. For years, your Lindsey Brown silk kaftan will maintain their shape and stay resistant to wrinkles. Creases will drop out when steamed. You can also iron silk georgette on a low temperature. It has a beautiful flow to the fabric that helps any garment to drape beautifully. Of course it’s important to care for your garments, if you get your silk kaftan wet on holiday by the pool, it is important to rinse by dipping in and out of cold water to remove any chemicals which could harm the fabric. Always remember to dry silk kaftans out of direct sunlight.

5. How does silk georgette handle humidity and heat? 

This is why we love silk georgette as this type of silk excels in humid and hot conditions due to its breathability and moisture-wicking properties. From daytime beach strolls in Barbados wearing a silk kaftan or wearing a silk kaftan in Bali, silk georgette absorbs perspiration, allowing not only for your skin to stay cool and dry but air can breathe and pass through the fabric. You will not feel sticky or hot when wearing silk georgette compared to shiny silk fabrics.

6. Does silk georgette come in a variety of designs and colours?

Yes, we dye silk georgette in a colour palette ranging from soft pastels to vibrant oranges. We prefer to use hand dyed techniques such as tie dye, dip dye and ombre on silk georgette, to keep he beautiful and luxurious element to our silk kaftans.

7. Is silk georgette easy to care for while traveling?

While silk georgette requires a bit more care than other fabrics, it is still relatively low maintenance. When packing, we always suggest packing your silk kaftan within a pillowcase, to protect and pressure onto sequins and beads and this also stops any zips or catches on bags or accessories from touching the silk kaftan fabric directly. On holding once unpacked, hang your silk kaftan and the creases should drop out. Of course, with the very cold temperature in the hold of a plane, every item of clothing will be creased. Another way to remove creases is to turn the shower on to a high temperature until the room is full of steam. Once the taps are switched off, hang the silk kaftan in the shower or bathroom and the steam will help the creases to fall out. You can also borrow a hotel iron. Double check the iron plate is clean and use a white towel to iron onto underneath your kaftan. If you have a plain t-shirt in your items of clothing, use this to iron onto so you do not touch the fabric. You can safely iron silk georgette, but you don’t know how temperamental a hotel iron maybe.

8. What makes silk georgette more eco-friendly than other fabrics?

Silk georgette, being made from natural silk and will degrade over time. Fabrics that claim to be biodegradable and can be considered more eco-friendly than synthetic alternatives but would only biodegrade with the use of chemicals to enhance the process.

9. What makes silk georgette better fabric than recycled polyester?

Not only does silk has a smaller environmental footprint compared to many man-made fabrics such as polyester and recycled polyester which cannot be broken down, recycled or re used.  It’s also durable, meaning pieces can last for years if properly cared for, which I can vouch for as I have pieces from each collection since 2012 in my wardrobe that are still as good as new. When compared to recycled fabrics, which have been remade from other materials, this recycled polyester stops the chain of recycling as you then have made a product that will end up in land fill that cannot be broken down. Silk fabric will naturally break down over time.

10. Can silk georgette be worn not just on holiday?

Absolutely! Silk georgette’s versatility is endless, it looks beautiful when worn with lightweight cardigans, or the latest short, boxed jacket which allows you to adjust your outfit to cooler evenings or slightly formal resort events without compromising on style or comfort. We style many of our silk kaftans with a half slip underneath, to transform your silk kaftan into a dress. 

In conclusion silk georgette is the ideal fabric for Lindsey Brown resort wear due to its lightweight, breathable nature, luxurious feel.  Whether you’re wearing a silk kaftan down to breakfast in Barbados or wearing a bloused silk kaftan dress for a night out enjoying a tropical evening in Bali, our beautifully made silk georgette ensures that you stay comfortable and stylish on holiday.