Watching the Great British Sewing Bee, I've just found out that seersucker comes from an old Hindustani word meaning milk and sugar, because of its distinctive texture, smooth and bumped all at once. It's a fabric that makes you long for the summer, puckered cotton, so never needing ironing, oh joy, and cool because it is of necessity loose fitting. Often white and blue, it can be checked or striped, usually in summer colours obviously. I used to have a brilliant dress in this kind, forgiving, fabric, but foolishly got rid of it when it didn't fit me- which I think it would again now, that'll teach me!
Originally popular with British colonials, especially for men's jackets, then later for uniforms as so easy to wash. However one reason it's not so popular now is that it tends to be expensive because of the slow weaving speed. Shame, I'm sure with a few more imaginative uses of colour it could make a big comeback!
No comments:
Post a Comment