Muslin Cloth for Regency Fashion

Muslin: A Beautiful & Versatile Cloth for
Regency Fashion

We’ve all come to associate Regency women’s fashion with delicate white muslin fabrics sprigged muslin, spotted muslin, checked and striped muslin, and embroidered muslin.

Trade

In the 17th century and until the late 18th century, England imported muslin, a thin
cotton material, from India. The British East India Company traded in Indian cotton, silk
fabrics, and Dacca (Dhaka or modern-day Bangladesh) muslins. Muslins from Bengal,
Bihar and Orissa were also imported. The delicate cloth, which first originated in the
Middle East in the 9th century, was perfect for clothing and curtains in hot, arid
countries. Muslin was imported from the Far East for centuries. Then the weavers in
west Scotland, who were proficient in spinning fine cottons such as linen, cambric, and
lawn, began to pay attention to weaving a finer, more delicate cloth.

Draping

Muslin was a finely woven light cotton fabric in plain weave without a pattern, and had
identical warp and weft threads. The fabric selection is quite flexible, coming in a wide
variety of weights and widths. It accepts dyes and paints so successfully that today it is
often used for theatrical backdrops and photographic portraits. One observation must be
made: muslins of the past were made of much finer, more delicate weave than today’s
muslins.

An important feature of muslin fabrics is its ability to drape. Regency fashions were based on robes and garments from antiquity. The ability to drape and maneuver the fabric on the figure was an important feature of this cloth.
Today, designers use muslin as a test garment for cutting and draping a design before
creating the final dress from more expensive fabrics.
Another excellent feature of muslin is its ability to take dye, paints, and embroidery. The cloth accepted many patterns, motifs and designs that made it versatile and
unique. Plus the white fabric was a mark of gentility. White was difficult to keep
clean or required constant cleaning.

Muslin gown circa 1815, Bath museum

Sheer muslin gown, 1800. Image @Victoria & Albert Museum

Gold embroidered muslin round gown, 1795