What´s Buckram Fabric?
What´s Buckram Fabric? Here you will learn everything about buckram fabric.
What´s Buckram Fabric?: Origin & History
The origin of buckram fabric dates back to the Middle Ages, and its name is believed to be derived from the town of **Bukhara** (in present-day Uzbekistan), which was a significant trading center on the Silk Road. Historically, Bukhara was renowned for its production and trade of fine textiles, including stiffened fabrics, which likely influenced the naming of buckram.
Initially, buckram referred to a type of fine, luxurious fabric, often made of linen or cotton. Over time, the term evolved to describe the stiffened, coarse fabric we recognize today. Its transition to a more utilitarian material likely occurred as the need for durable and structured fabrics grew in bookbinding, millinery, and other crafts.
By the 17th and 18th centuries, buckram was widely used across Europe for practical purposes, especially in bookbinding, where its stiffening qualities provided excellent protection for books. The modern buckram fabric, treated with starch or glue for added rigidity, has its roots in these historical uses.
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What´s Buckram Fabric?: Charecteristics & Uses
Buckram is a stiff, coarse fabric made from cotton or linen. It is often coated or impregnated with substances like starch, glue, or other stiffening agents to give it a firm, rigid texture. Buckram fabric is widely used in various applications where a sturdy material is needed. Here are some of its key characteristics and uses:
Characteristics
- Stiffness: The fabric’s rigidity makes it ideal for structural purposes.
- Durability: Buckram is strong and resistant to wear and tear.
- Customizable Stiffness**: It can be made softer or stiffer depending on the treatment it undergoes.
- Breathable: Despite its stiffness, the fabric retains some breathability due to its weave.
Uses
- Bookbinding: Buckram is commonly used as a book cover material for hardcover books, giving them durability and a polished appearance.
- Millinery (Hat Making): It serves as a base material for shaping and stiffening hats.
- Costume Design: It provides structure to parts of costumes, such as collars or other stiffened areas.
- Theatrical Props: Its firmness is ideal for constructing lightweight, durable props.
- Embroidery and Crafts: Buckram is used as a backing fabric to add stiffness to embroidery projects.
- Home Décor: Occasionally used in items like lampshades and fabric panels.
Buckram can be purchased in varying weights and stiffness levels, allowing it to be tailored to the specific needs of a project. Some of our fabrics are suitable with buckram fabric. You can contact us to know more.
