Chiné describes a fabric with a blurred, speckled, or mottled pattern. This effect is traditionally achieved by printing the warp yarns before weaving, which slightly misaligns the colors as the weft is inserted. It can also refer to yarns made by twisting tightly contrasting filaments together to create a heathered look.
Heard on the job
The client wants a chiné silk for the lining to give it that soft, watercolor effect.
Also heard as
- warp-printed
Do not mix it up with
- Heather: Heathered refers to mixed fibers spun together, while chiné usually involves printed warp yarns or twisted contrasting threads.