A lightweight, sheer fabric with a slightly grainy surface and a flowing drape.
Chiffon is a sheer, lightweight plain weave of fine, tightly twisted yarn. It was originally silk and is now also made from nylon and other synthetic fibers, and it is dyed or printed. The Getty vocabulary lists its uses as scarves, dresses, blouses, underwear and veils.
The name describes a construction and a weight rather than a fiber; the SILKNOW silk thesaurus notes that chiffon is sometimes used simply to mean light in weight. The fabric it is most often confused with is georgette, also sheer and hard-twisted. Georgette is a crepe: the Getty vocabulary defines it as semi-transparent, with yarns twisted alternately two to the right and two to the left in both warp and weft, with a dull, crinkled finish.
In job listings
Chiffon appears by name in production tailoring and boutique alterations roles. Their listings place it beside silk, georgette, voile and lace among the fabrics a candidate must handle, whether making samples and small production runs or fitting and altering clients’ eveningwear and bridal pieces. See current chiffon roles.
