A fabric with a distinctive watered or rippled appearance created by pressing ribbed fabric under heavy rollers. The process creates an optical effect of flowing patterns that shift with light and movement.
From French 'moiré,' meaning 'watered,' derived from 'moire' (mohair). The technique was originally applied to mohair fabrics, then extended to silk and other ribbed textiles to create this distinctive lustrous effect.
Moiré was the Instagram filter of the 18th century—it transformed ordinary ribbed silk into something magical through pure optical illusion. The unpredictable patterns created by the pressing process meant no two pieces were identical, making each moiré garment truly unique.
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