The appetite for beautiful things is difficult to resist, especially when designer houses are indulging in jacquardJacquardA richly patterned fabric woven on a special loom that creates intricate designs, such as florals or brocades, directly into the cloth rather than printing them on top. Textured andGo to Jacquard Glossary’s elaborate possibilities again. With brocade and damask appearing in contemporary collections, we are so back to rediscovering the appeal of richly woven patterns and the vintage-like charm they bring to a wardrobe.
RELATED: The Best Thing About Caprice Cayetano’s Debut Gown Is the Confidence Behind Her Choices
Understanding Jacquard, Brocade, and Damask
Those beautiful woven patterns come with their own vocabulary. JacquardJacquardA richly patterned fabric woven on a special loom that creates intricate designs, such as florals or brocades, directly into the cloth rather than printing them on top. Textured andGo to Jacquard Glossary refers to a weaving technique that produces intricate designs directly within the fabric, with a history that takes us to the early 19th century. Its namesake, Joseph Marie Jacquard, developed a loom mechanism that used punched cards to control complex patterns. The same principle would eventually help usher in the first computers. Imagine that!
But back to the fabrics. From the jacquardJacquardA richly patterned fabric woven on a special loom that creates intricate designs, such as florals or brocades, directly into the cloth rather than printing them on top. Textured andGo to Jacquard Glossary mechanism comes brocade, which is all about extravagance, with additional decorative threads creating elaborate, often raised motifs. Metallic yarns can make the effect even richer. It’s easy to understand why royals were once so fond of it.
On the other hand, damask, the flatter sibling of brocade, achieves its patterns through contrasting weave structures. Watch how its designs emerge as the light changes, revealing details that weren’t immediately apparent.
How to Style Jacquard, Courtesy of Runway Collections
If you’re wondering how to wear all this finery without looking as though you’re headed to a banquet, look to Jonathan Anderson. For Dior’s F/W26 collection, he pairs ornate jackets with denim. Let a brocade outerwear be the centrepiece, then reach for your staples to complete your look.
There’s Tory Burch’s S/S27 lineup for inspiration, too. We’re very fond of the fact that they used damask as a supplement, particularly the aubergine skirt matched with the textured top.
If you enjoy mixing patterns, go ahead and experiment. Jacquard already gives you an interesting starting point, whether you choose to pick up a color from its woven motifs or introduce another print altogether. You might find yourself reaching for these fabrics more often than you expected.
Photos: ROSÉ (via Instagram), LISA (via Instagram), XG OFFICIAL (via Instagram), DIOR (via Instagram), and TORY BURCH (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacquard is a weaving technique that produces intricate designs directly within the fabric. It is named after Joseph Marie Jacquard, who developed a loom mechanism in the early 19th century that used punched cards to control complex patterns. Brocade and damask are fabrics that come from the jacquard mechanism.
Brocade is an extravagant fabric where additional decorative threads create elaborate, often raised motifs, sometimes enriched with metallic yarns. Damask is its flatter sibling, achieving patterns through contrasting weave structures, with designs that emerge as the light changes, revealing details that weren’t immediately apparent.
Joseph Marie Jacquard developed the jacquard loom mechanism, which used punched cards to control complex patterns, in the early 19th century. The same principle would eventually help usher in the first computers. The mechanism is the origin of fabrics such as brocade, which come from jacquard weaving.
Pair ornate pieces with staples, as Jonathan Anderson does at Dior for F/W26, where ornate jackets are styled with denim. Let a brocade outerwear piece be the centerpiece, then reach for everyday basics to complete the look, rather than dressing as though you’re headed to a banquet.
Designer houses are returning to jacquard’s elaborate possibilities. Dior’s F/W26 collection, by Jonathan Anderson, pairs ornate jackets with denim, while Tory Burch’s S/S27 lineup uses damask as a supplement, such as an aubergine skirt matched with a textured top, with brocade and damask appearing in contemporary collections.
Recommended Video
Latest Posts
Latest Issue
