A fine, lightweight fabric with a plain weave and a soft, often semi-sheer appearance.
Batiste is a fine, soft cloth made in plain weave, with a sheer or semi-sheer appearance. Plain weave interlaces the lengthwise warp and crosswise weft in a simple over-and-under sequence. The name describes the character of the cloth rather than a particular fibre. Batiste can be made from cotton, linen, rayon, silk or wool, so its composition needs to be specified separately. A useful comparison is organdy, another fine plain-woven fabric. Organdy is crisp, whereas batiste has a soft hand. Similar transparency therefore does not guarantee a similar feel.
In job listings
Fabric names like this are more likely to appear in a development brief than in a listing. A fabric developer or designer would specify it for lightweight shirting or lingerie, and an advisor can use it to explain why a piece feels so fine. Search local jobs for “fabric development”.
