ARTIFICIAL SILK

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 13

ARTIFICIAL SILK

WONDERFUL EXHIBITION

GREAT RANGE-OF USEFULNESS

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, Oth April

A visit to the British Artificial Silk Exhibition, the second arranged by the "Drapers' Organiser," gives one the impression that one might very easily dress entirely in artificial silk, and furnish one's homo as well. Dainty underclothing, dress suitable for all occasions, evening wraps, mackintoshes, winter "furs," stockings, scarves, smoking suits, are all shown in amazing variety. Furnishings include rich brocaded fabrics for upholstery, mercerised tapestries, and nets for curtains, satin-fin-ished surfaces for sumptuous-looking cushions and bedspreads. All known dyes are to be seen, the fabric taking on each tone to perfection, and in the majority of cases, the dyes are guaranteed to be fadeless. The "Madras" mesh in artificial silk instead of in the ordinary cotton, is embroidered with small floral sprays in pretty colours, and nothing more attractive could be wished for for.ordinary window curtains. Again, the effect of the heavier-looking patterns in large tapestry designs and in more solid weave might be of the Holiest silk material so far as the effect is concerned.

There has been such a dcniiuul for the curtain fabrics that it will take weeks to execute the orders which were booked in the first few hours o£ the exhibition. Most of the curtain designs are borrowed from .China, and include dragons, mandarins, scrolls, and so on. The classification of the exhibits covers yarns, fabrics both woven, knitted, and warp, for garments of all kinds from the most intimate lingerie to frocks for all occasions, velvets, plushes, and imitation furs, furnishing fabrics, curtains, and window draperies, hosiery, millinery, linings, dye stuffs and dyeing, and finishing. RANGE OF NOVELTIES. The many novelties which are shown iucludo a complete range of entire artificial silk cloths in all the classical silk weaves: crepe de chine, marocaiii 1, foulard, jap, taffeta, satin, and surah; the latest examples of cross-dyeing; m;iny novelties in printed fabrics, imitntion fur fabrics, reproducing the effects of gazelle, leopard, mole, calf, and other skins; the latest developments in velvets and plushes; the application of artificial glass beads to artificial silk nets; and the latest achievements towards the abolition of that high brightness which is peculiar to some kinds "of artificial silk, and, where it exists, a hindrance to its widespread acceptance by the creators of fashion. There is little doubt that the latest developments iv non-lustrous and resilient artificial silk fabrics will be studied with interest by visitors to the exhibition, which is primarily for the trade. A little more than twelve months ago it was possible for a leading artificial silk expert to say that the new filament was not likely to lend itself very freely to the production of entire artificial silk cloths. . This statement has now been dofinitely disproved, and it remains true only of certain of the harder and brighter filaments. What may be described as the sensation of the exhibition last year was an entire artificial silk marocain of 'great beauty. This cloth was a product of the acetate process and further experimentation has resulted in the use of the same filament for a vareity of cloths in other weaves, silk with cotton and wool. The progress of the cotton unions during the past year has been very marked, particularly in the crepe classes. The interesting process of cross-dyeing has produced.many novelties in coloured effects; and the printed fabrics mark once again definite progress. m the design of fabrics for fashion purposes. ATTRACTIVE PARADES. At intervals during each day wonderful mannequin parades take place, the clothes worn, sometimes by popular actresses, being made on the latest lines and designed for .every possible occasion, including, of course, the bridal gown with its accompanying procession of charmingly dressed bridesmaids and guests. Colours as.varied.as an artist's palette greet the '.eye. all round the large hall. Thousands of soft and shimmering fabrics of every hue, grouped on decorative stands,, give at ouce an impression of beauty ami r>icturcs<iuencßß, which is further enhanced by the parades, of mannequins. A herald's call on a trumpet announces the appearance of the mannequins, fifty of (he prettiest in London, whom it took three months to select. They pirouette on the fine black velvet-carpeted platform in sonic of the 500 British designed and made models. Two of the new dress fabrics from which the metallic lustre has been eliminated are belachine and durochine. (jossamcr velvets, satins, crepe do chines and chenilles are indistinguishable from the real thing, and look lovely when made up into models for every conceivable occasion.

A medical man, lecturing in London recently stilted that artificial silk was the only labnc yet produced through which the much-sought ultra-violet-ray was known to penetrate. Therefore, its properties were highly beneficial to the health Capital amounting to £100,000,000 is represented at the exhibition. In 3il years the worlds output of artificial s il|. : ] ms j u . creased CTiOO times, ami Sir Burton Chadwick (I'ai-lminonlnry Secretary ti> the Board of .Trade), who took part in the opening ceremony, said tin- development of (lie industry was "the brightest constellation in our industrial firmament." Orders oi the value oi over £100,000 were booked during the first day.

"IMITATION" GLASS. Tliis year's exhibition noes the inclusion •n "m, tn.l;lon," ?laf>s-printiug on artificial tulk,_but m tho iorra of mished gluss, embossing, apd bending.. The secret of "imiUtion glass, belongs to Dr. Pollnk, of Czechoslovakia, who is now (ho director ot nn English company turning out tho glass-printed fabrics. Another secret o£ the artificial Bilk temple! One of tho mannequins in tho dress parade wore a mackintosh of proofed artificial silk embessed in crushed JfT' i T lls "doling example of wliat can be done with a "mac" and how the gloom of a wet day may be bright-

lCverybody was attracted to the .stand where wer« shown copies of the angora HttV Up- ml «]k Rfrmente supplied to little Princess Elizabeth. .Recently the inn of Furida has combined fu-tificml silk with Angola rabbit's wool with very excellent results and the Koyal baby was one of the first to wear n set of garments made from the new yarn. Xv addini; urti hcial silk to the Angora, fho vani ror &'?«?" ''P- 60!'' llt hi puce ot the original pure Angora. There were hUle. coats ot snow-white ami l \ngpra wool; wee fluffy caps and bonnets gloves, and tiny t.lue- -ibboncd X

The number of firms with stands is Hli, oi twice as many as at last year's ovllii bition. In 1891 the world output of artficial silk was 30,0001b; i,, lV>5 it «-,„ ID7 000,0001b, of which' 28,000 0001b was contributed by Great Britain, whose out §? n t,! S 8T?" d °nly t0 tllilt of the United btatcs. The consumption of artificial silk in this country exceeds that of any other nation in the world. J 85, Fleet street.