Satin Fabric is always a popular material to use for special occasion outfits and will probably continue to be popular for this use for years to come. There are a number of different satins available on the market including duchess satin and stretch satin for structured dresses that need a bit of body to them; to silk touch satin which is a lightweight, drapey satin more suitable for long, elegant dresses. Satin Fabric can be used to create bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, outfits for the races, smart jackets and prom dresses. Although it is loved by a lot of people, not everybody likes Satin Fabric due the the 'shine' that the fabric has.  For those who do not always want to use a shiny fabric for their special occasion wear, reversible satin fabrics are ideal. At Calico Laine, we stock two types of reversible satin fabric; satin back crepe and satin back dupion. These fabrics have a satin finish on one side of the fabric and on the other side, a matte finish. This gives the opportunity to use either the satin side or the matte side for a garment or if you would like a mixture, you can use both to create a unique look or a pattern on your garment. Satin back dupion is a plain weave fabric that has a slight irregular surface on both sides of the fabric, similar to a 'slub' that you would find on a silk dupion fabric. This fabric is 100% polyester however it has a similar texture and look to genuine silk. Many customers choose to use this fabric as an alternative to silk as it is more cost effective. The matte side of this fabric is ideal for bridal wear and would also look great made into a child's christening gown. The main gown could be created using the matte side of the fabric and edging or the collars could be made using the shiny side of the material to create a bit of interest. Unlike silk, the satin back dupion can be washed in the washing machine making it more practical than a lot of special occasion wear you can buy in shops which tend to be dry clean only. The second reversible Satin Fabric that we stock is satin back crepe which as the name would suggest, has satin on one side of the fabric and a matte crepe finish on the other side. As with the satin back dupion, this material is great for occasion wear. This fabric has a good drape to it making it ideal for dresses that need a bit of movement to them and also for long prom dresses. Again, the fabric can be used on either side with a different aesthetic to each side.