Vintage embossed "seersucker" - can it be washed?

S

szmaine

Registered Guest
Hi all. I joined to ask some questions about a fabric I just bought on ebay. It was posted as seersucker but when it arrived I could see it looked "not quite right and had a strange somewhat glossy coating on it. I have determined with the help of the interwebs that it is actually embossed and the coating some resin or other substance meant to retain the pattern.
The buyer will take it back if I want and didn't know about embossed fabrics either. But I wanted to ask if it can be washed or will it loose the embossed pattern. I bought it to make a shirt but if it can't be washed will send it back. Thanks for any assistance. Local fabric store staff did not know.

Here is a link to the finished listing, let me know if you cant see the pictures. Thanks!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154416595939?ul_noapp=true
 
Hi. Thanks for answering so soon :)
Yes, I looked at plisse as a candidate and it seemed not to fit. Here is another ebay listing where the buyer knows it is embossed and the pattern looks exactly the same.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Se...ries-Textured-Fabric-160-x-112w-/203150100030

Yes, shiney and a vaguely plasticky too. I think you may be right!! But since I have never encountered such material I thought it must be some kind of treatment that would wash out. If it is woven nylon as you say that's not coming out in the wash lol!
 
So after getting the suggestion of nylon, an internet search turns up a whole assortment of 1950’s crinkle, “seersucker” or otherwise textured nylon fabrics and apparel. The one I have does indeed fit the bill of slick feeling like nylon. Mystery solved I think. Thank you.

http://braille-house.com/556775-Embossed-Diamond-Nylon-Fabric-BTY-Girl&039;s-Fabric.html
http://seersuckerblouse.blogspot.com/2010/10/5-vintage-1950s-nylon-seersucker-undies.html
https://poshmark.com/listing/Vintag...ucker-Swing-Dress-XL-5b6213e10cb5aa7f0ed4fcde
 
I need to add a photo of nylon plissé to our Fabric Resource!

Never mind—there is one. Nylon plisse can come in a lot of different patterns, all with that crinkled bit.
 
Here’s one for you.
 

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I am a bit confused also by the term plisse regarding this fabric because to me it looks too uniform with it's rows and little corn kernal shapes not to have been pressed in by heat rather than chemical means - alot of the plisses I looking at online seem to have a more irregular appearance - tho perhaps the process has more control than I can imagine....

Would the following also be considered plisse (although, once again with the "seersucker"). Yes, I am completely nerding out over of this fabric :)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/889657157/vintage-1960s-synthetic-seersucker?ref=cart

TIA, Suzanne
 
Nerd away Suzanne! We love fabric—always learning.

So you're asking about the difference between an embossed fabric and a plissé? Embossed can be very similar in that it can be an even pattern, but it can also be in a crepe-like pattern—plus lots of variations. Plissé is puckered, and in my experience the puckering is either in stripes or in a check/plaid pattern. I believe the fabric you linked to is embossed.

These are all nylon plissés:

rednylonplissedress4.jpg

peachplisse50ssmock4.jpg

brownwideplissedress4.jpg

blueflowernylonplisse50s3.jpg
 
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