What Is Georgette Fabric?

November 8, 2026

Georgette is a sheer, lightweight, dull-finished crepe fabric, named after the French dressmaker Georgette de la Plante. Its crinkled surface comes from highly twisted yarns alternating in S-twist and Z-twist in both warp and weft, which gives it a grainy hand, a springy drape, and more body than chiffon.

The cloth, in one paragraph

Georgette is a type of crepe fabric, and like all crepe, it is defined by its surface: a slightly puckered, grainy texture that comes from tightly twisted yarns. The yarns are twisted very tightly in alternating directions, S-twist and Z-twist, in both the warp and the weft, and when those twisted yarns relax after weaving, they create the fabric's signature crinkled texture. Touch it and you feel a fine, pebbled grain. Hold it up and you see through it a little, but not the way you see through chiffon. It is semi-sheer, with more body and less transparency than its closest cousin.

It was named after Madame Georgette de la Plante, a French dressmaker who introduced it in the early 20th century, because she wanted something with the luxury look of chiffon but with more body and less sheerness, making it more practical for everyday wear. The original was pure silk. Today it is just as often polyester or rayon, and the synthetic versions are more resilient to damage, though they lack the soft hand of the silk original.

Georgette typically weighs between 8 and 12 momme, a unit used to measure silk weight, which makes it heavier than chiffon at 6 to 8 momme, but lighter than crepe de chine at 12 to 18. That weight is the practical difference: georgette drapes and flows, but it has enough body to hold a shape, which is why it works for blouses, dresses, evening gowns, and overlays, and not for anything that needs structure.

Georgette versus chiffon and crepe

Against chiffon, the test is the hand and the sheerness. Chiffon is lighter, sheerer, and smoother, with a soft, almost slippery feel. Georgette is denser, slightly stiffer, grainier to the touch, and less lustrous, because the twisted yarns and the irregular filament cross-section scatter the light instead of reflecting it. If you want a fabric that floats, choose chiffon. If you want a fabric that flows and holds its shape while it does, choose georgette.

Against crepe, the difference is weight and opacity. All georgette is crepe, but not all crepe is georgette. Crepe is the family name for fabrics with a crinkled surface from twisted yarns, and it ranges from light to heavy, from sheer to opaque. Georgette is specifically the lightweight, semi-sheer version. A heavier crepe suits a tailored blazer or a structured blouse. Georgette suits a fluid, romantic silhouette, and it is the wrong choice for anything that needs to stand up on its own.

The confusion is understandable, because the three fabrics share a family and a hand-feel, and because shops use the names loosely. The check is simple: hold the fabric up to the light. If you can see through it slightly, it is georgette or chiffon. If you cannot see through it at all, it is crepe. Then touch it: grainy and springy is georgette, smooth and slippery is chiffon.

What it is good for, and what it is not

Georgette's strengths are drape, movement, and durability for its weight. It is surprisingly strong and tear-resistant for such a lightweight material, it holds up to embroidery, and it dyes well into any color or print. It is the fabric for a dress that moves when you walk, a blouse that skims instead of clinging, and an overlay that adds a layer without adding weight.

Its weaknesses are just as specific. It snags on jewelry and rough surfaces, because the grainy texture catches on anything sharp, and its semi-sheer finish needs a lining for opacity in light colors. It is also a fabric that needs care: silk georgette is relatively delicate, and even the synthetic versions need a gentle wash, because the twisted yarns that give it its texture are also what make it vulnerable to rough handling.

For sewing, georgette is demanding. It slips under the presser foot, it frays, and it needs a sharp needle and a French seam or a serged edge, because a raw edge will unravel. Cut it in a single layer, not folded, because the layers shift, and use pattern weights instead of pins, because pin holes show. The crepe guide covers the wider family, and the voile guide covers the other sheer summer weave, the one that is lighter and more transparent than georgette.

How to care for it

Hand wash silk georgette in cool water with a gentle detergent, and never wring it, because wringing breaks the twisted yarns that give it its texture. Roll it in a towel to remove the water, then lay it flat to dry. Polyester georgette can usually go in the machine on a gentle cycle, in a mesh bag, but check the label first, because a blend with silk in it needs the gentler treatment.

Iron it on low, with a pressing cloth, because direct heat can flatten the crinkle that makes it georgette. And keep it away from rough jewelry and Velcro, because a snag in georgette runs, and a run in a sheer fabric is the end of the garment.

Frequently asked questions

What is georgette fabric?

Georgette is a sheer, lightweight, dull-finished crepe fabric named after the French dressmaker Georgette de la Plante. Its crinkled surface comes from highly twisted yarns alternating in S-twist and Z-twist in both warp and weft. It is traditionally silk, now often polyester or rayon, and it is used for blouses, dresses, evening gowns, and overlays.

What is the difference between georgette and chiffon?

Georgette is denser, slightly stiffer, and grainier than chiffon, with more body and less sheerness. Chiffon is lighter, sheerer, and smoother. Georgette typically weighs 8 to 12 momme, while chiffon weighs 6 to 8. If you want a fabric that floats, choose chiffon. If you want one that flows and holds its shape, choose georgette.

Is georgette the same as crepe?

Not exactly. Georgette is a type of crepe, but not all crepe is georgette. Crepe is the family name for fabrics with a crinkled surface from twisted yarns, and it ranges from light to heavy. Georgette is specifically the lightweight, semi-sheer version, while other crepes can be heavier and fully opaque.

Does georgette wrinkle?

It resists wrinkling better than most sheer fabrics, because the twisted yarns give it a springy texture that bounces back. It is not wrinkle-proof, and it will crease if folded tightly for a long time, but a light press with a cloth on low heat restores it.

How do I wash georgette?

Hand wash silk georgette in cool water with a gentle detergent, never wring it, and lay it flat to dry. Polyester georgette can usually go in the machine on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag. Iron on low with a pressing cloth, because direct heat flattens the crinkle.