Tissue (cloth) facts for kids
Tissue is a special kind of fabric that is very thin, see-through, and light. It's often used to make beautiful clothes, like traditional saris. What makes tissue fabric unique is that it often has shiny, metallic threads woven into it for decoration. A tissue sari, for example, is usually made with silk threads going one way (called the warp) and shiny gold or silver threads (called zari) going the other way (the weft).
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Where the Name "Tissue" Comes From
The word tissue comes from an old French word, tissu. This French word simply means "fabric" or "woven material."
What Makes Tissue Fabric Special?
Tissue fabrics are known for being very delicate, light, and a bit see-through. Imagine a very fine, almost transparent cloth – that's tissue! This type of fabric can be woven, knitted, or even made without weaving (nonwoven), and it often has a film-like layer.
Different Kinds of Tissue Fabric
- Tissue Gingham: This is a lightweight fabric made with a simple plain weave. Its threads are dyed before weaving, creating patterns.
- Tissue Faille: This type of light dress material was once popular for blouses. It's made using different kinds of threads, like acetate and rayon.
- Figured Tissue Cloths: These are muslins (a type of cotton fabric) with fancy patterns. They are made using a special weaving technique called jacquard weaving. The base fabric uses thin threads, while thicker threads create the designs.
- Tissue Taffeta: This is a very light and delicate version of taffeta, which is a crisp, smooth fabric. It also has a sheer, or see-through, quality.
- Gold or Silver Tissue: These are truly special fabrics woven with very fine threads of real silver or gold. They look transparent and shimmery, like a fine gauze.
- Tissue Matalassé: Introduced in 1839, this tissue fabric had a surface with small squares, almost like quilting. It was often used for men's overcoats.
How Tissue Fabric is Used
Tissue fabric has been used for making clothes for a long time. Records from the early 1700s show that fancy court dresses and gowns were made from it. Today, it's still used for many types of clothing, including saris, turbans, and veils.
Famous Examples in History
- In 1851, Queen Victoria wore a beautiful pink dress made with shimmering silk and silver tissue. She wore it for the opening of the Great Exhibition.
- In 1816, Princess Charlotte of England wore a special wedding dress. It was made of silk net and decorated with silver threads. The underskirt of her dress was crafted from silver tissue.
- During the 1920s, very light fabrics like tissue satins were very popular in women's high fashion. Other light fabrics like satin-backed crepes and crepes de Chine were also popular.
The Beautiful Tissue Sari
A tissue saree (or tar-bana) is a traditional Indian garment known for its elegance. It usually has a body made of pure silk threads (the warp). The edges and the threads woven across (the weft) are often made with shiny gold thread. Sometimes, the weft also includes gold lace. The silk warp threads are often doubled, making the fabric feel a bit heavier and richer. Brocades on Tissue sarees are woven using silk yarn for the body and feature exquisite zari patterns on the pallu, which is the border of the sari.
Where Tissue Saris are Made
- Kanchipuram: This place in India is famous for making tissue sarees. Weavers skillfully combine silk and lace to create these beautiful garments. Kanchipuram sarees come in many sizes, colors, and designs, often with attractive borders. They can range from 0.61 to 1.32 meters in width and 5.49 to 9.14 meters in length.
- Banaras: The city of Banaras has a long history of weaving. It's known for many types of sarees, including special varieties like jangla, tanchoi, vaskat, cutwork, tissue, and butidar.
Tissue Fabric in Modern Fashion
Indian fashion designers still love to use tissue fabric as a decorative element in their collections. For example, designer Sabyasachi created an embroidered handwoven tissue veil for Alia Bhatt's wedding ceremony. Another designer, Manish Malhotra, designed a sari with large tissue ruffles, which was worn by Mira Rajput Kapoor.
