Radium is a lightweight, plain-woven textile characterized by a smooth, crisp drape and a distinct but muted sheen. Originally woven from fine silk and later from synthetic yarns like rayon, it was favored for lingerie, dresses, and linings because it resisted clinging and static. The fabric balances the fluid drape of crepe with the crispness of taffeta.
Heard on the job
I found a beautiful vintage radium slip that refuses to cling, even under a heavy wool skirt.
Insider tip
Textile manufacturers coined the name to capitalize on the historic craze for the newly discovered radioactive element, marketing the fabric's subtle sheen as a glow, though the cloth never contained actual radioactive material.
Also heard as
- radium silk