What is tulle fabric?
Tulle is a light fabric, made of silk threads, cotton or synthetic
materials such as nylon, very thin and delicate. It is a fabric that has
a certain elasticity and, depending on its strength, allows delicate
embroidery. Tulle is widely used in party, bridal, and ballet costumes,
but its application in fashion is much more diverse.
There are records of fabrics with effects similar to tulle since Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, but the appearance of this fabric dates back to the 18th century, in the French city of Tulle when it was still made by hand. Initially, it was made of silk, cotton or wool, made in a network that formed small hives. Despite its French origin, it was with the creation of machinery in England that the production of tulle became popular. The goal, with the tulle loom, was to imitate lace and for that, the fabric was embroidered. But it was with the invention of the bobbin loom, in 1808, that the tulle that we know today became possible. The revolution in the production of bobbin tulle also allowed this fabric to become more accessible, with the use of synthetic yarns.
Tulle, then, which was used in finishing hats, skirts, and handbags, became the protagonist in wedding and party dresses, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries. A few years later, tulle would become an even more popular and desirable fabric, this time in bridal attire. The reason? Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom married in white, something unusual for the time. But as the queen was a reference of elegance and customs, the white dress became a tradition, as well as the lightness and transparency of the tulle, used in wedding dresses since then.
