A lightweight, sheer fabric with a silk warp and worsted wool weft, popular in the 19th century for dresses and decorative garments.
Named after Honoré de Balzac, the famous French author, though the exact reason for this naming is unclear—possibly because the fabric was fashionable during his lifetime (1799-1850) or as a fashion tribute to French elegance.
Balzarine was the ultimate 19th-century status fabric—it required expensive silk and wool combined in a special weave, which is why only wealthy people could afford it, making it a perfect example of how textile names can tell you about class and economics in historical fashion!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.