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[Zije]

Just wondering, for those Japenese EGL brand, what type of fabric do they usually use? They seem really nice compare to the one in north amercia.

[Temperance]

Depends on the outfit.... in general most of the clothes I see look to be made of cotton.

[penny_dreadful]

Lolita outfitting in the US hasn't reached the same level of couture that it has in Japan. Generally when you find lolita styles it's at Hot Topic or something like that, or made by independent seamstresses. Thus, the fabric quality tends to be lower.

Not being Japanese, not having ever travelled to Japan, and not owning any authentic Japanese lolita brands, I can't tell you what they're made out of. Chances are they're largely cottons or cotton-blends, but of a higher quality than the outfits you find in the West (which are probably cotton-blends or synthetics).

Like Temperance said, it depends on the outfit. I've seen ones in magazines that look like they could be velvet or velveteen, maybe a light wool, silk, etc. If you're trying to recreate the look invest in a good quality fabric.

--PD

[AuroraCeleste]

I, too, have never touched a Loli dress from Japan, but I'd suggest you look into polished cottons or cotton sateen, or a high quality broadcloth. They cost more ($4-$7 range), but they feel so much better than the cheap broadcloths. I think that's the quality cottons you're looking for.

[aoisakura]

When i went to japan I did take a look at some authentic clothes most EGL is made of velvet, dull silk and rich cotton. Other loli clothes are made more of cotton (the thick kind not the thin one)

[penny_dreadful]

A fabric-related question: is velveteen acceptable to use in lolita designs? Also, if anyone has any online resources for cotton sateen I'd be very much obliged if you could share, since I'm having a heck of a time finding it.

--Penny

[Nina Star 9]

Originally Posted by penny_dreadful

A fabric-related question: is velveteen acceptable to use in lolita designs? Also, if anyone has any online resources for cotton sateen I'd be very much obliged if you could share, since I'm having a heck of a time finding it.

--Penny

i would say so, for a more formal and elegant either gothic or classical look. for a cute little amarori, no freaking way would it ever work, but for something with a bit more class and a bit more refined, i say go for it. but this is coming from me, so you might want someone that sticks to the style a bit closer if you want it to be perfectly strict. i tend to be a bit looser than most people. (by the way, i think it would look best in a jumper.)

as for sateen? i have seen it at my local joann fabrics. try looking on their webpage. it seemed to be pretty nice, as well, though i did not inspect it too closely.

[penny_dreadful]

I'm not very strict with my rules, but this particular outfit is supposed to (mostly) play by the book. Velveteen might not work, anyway, but for future reference it's handy to know.

I'll check Jo-Ann's next time I'm there, since their online store tends to not be very helpful. I'll probably wind up having to dye a lot of white fabric, but that's what I get for messing with silly colors.

--Penny

[CienDragon]

Dharma Trading has cotton sateen but only in white. They have a lot of nice dyes though if you wanted other colors.

[ilumiari]

All my brand dresses are 100% cotton of differing weights. The thickest is on an Innocent World skirt which almost feels like a soft denim, the thinnest is on an AP onepiece which is only marginally thicker than poplin (it is however fully lined so it doesn´t make that much difference). Everything that I have that is lined is lined with either a thin cotton or ye olde generic bemsilk-esque lining. If it is bemsilk lined the lining has a built-in petticoat of tulle (pleated not gathered).

I have a pair of bloomers from Meta that says 100% cotton on the label, but it feels more like a polycotton.

Blouses are also 100% cotton, my Btssb cutsew is... tshirt material? I cut off the label cause it was itchy.

But I think the major difference with brand items and other items that are around is the lace. Brand items (except Meta sometimes) use only a tasteful amount of cotton lace. It is decidedly more expensive than polyester raschell, but it looks alot better. Brands also don´t plaster items completely in lace which I often see online sellers doing.

[hide110]

Originally Posted by AuroraCeleste

I, too, have never touched a Loli dress from Japan, but I'd suggest you look into polished cottons or cotton sateen, or a high quality broadcloth. They cost more ($4-$7 range), but they feel so much better than the cheap broadcloths. I think that's the quality cottons you're looking for.

yea,I agree you,most of them made by cotton sateen.some with 5% lycra.

>Zije
if you want, I can help you find some here,seems fabric really expensive in US:P

[Daitenshi]

Originally Posted by penny_dreadful

A fabric-related question: is velveteen acceptable to use in lolita designs? --Penny

Several brands use velveteen for their winter deisgns. I have a Metamorphose skirt in burgundy velveteen (with crowns embroidered above the hem) that I really love. Victorian Maiden, Angelic Pretty, and Btssb use it as well.

[Kiko]

I got BTSSB dress it's a rich cotton. 100% rich cotton.

[jessio]

One dress I have from Innocent World and it's cotton (or a blend) and the weave on it has diagonal lines on it, like bluejeans. I think that kind of weave's called twill. It has more body than just a broadcloth, so it has a nicer look.

[l o l i t a]

I own two Mary Magdalene dresses, a MM coat and two bodyline skirts. They're all made from a thick, treated polycotton blend, and they tend to be a bit stiff until after a few washes with fabric softener.

For a fabric that's easily found (and basically the same in weight and feel), though, I would actually suggest Egyption cotton, and Specialty Quilter fabrics, espeially the florals. I used to work in JoAnn fabric, and I know the JoAnn stores sell both.

Specialty Quilter florals run from $8.99 to $9.99 a yard, but are almost always on sale, and if not, you can sign up for the mailing list and get 40% off coupons every month, and Egyption cotton has actually gone down in cost. I bought some just the other day in JoAnn's for a new dress I'm going to make for about $6.00 or $7.00.