ummm...well it's not pre 1600 but I think someone once told me that it was around in the 1880s or a little bit old. :)
A few things I learned recently about it from a online site: Dupioni Silk (also spelled Duppioni) is produced by reeling silk fibers from two silk worms that have spun one cocoon together and usually produces a rough yarn. Therefore, irregularity in sheerness or weight, sometimes referred to as bands or shadings, is characteristic of dupioni silk fabric. Black specks which occasionally appear in dupioni silk fabric are part of the original cocoon of the silk worm. Removing them would not only weaken the fabric but destroy part of its beauty and character. These characteristics are inherent to dupioni silk fabric and should not be considered as defects in weaving. Dupioni is often marked 'Dry Clean Only,' but it can be washed if you wash it before you cut it out. Dupioni silk fabric loses much of its stiffness when washed, and just a bit of its sheen, but it still looks great. It will shrink up to 14% - 5 inches (13 cm) per yard - when washed, but it is very difficult to wrinkle after that. And no dry cleaning bills!. -----Original Message----- I know its not a period fabric, but does anyone know when silk dupion was first produced/used? Thanks Serena _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
