Fabric and Fiber Contrasts

Crisp--soft, shiny-matte, light--dark, wide-narrow, smooth, ragged..... these are the elements of texture and texture is what it's all about!  I thought this piece just about said it all.

This unusual complex fabrication was milled in Italy for Alice & Olivia. A lightweight rayon organza has1 in. wide crosswise stripes in pale gray and mossy gray. Woven on the lenghtwise are strips of rayon/linen ribbon in a deep mossy gray. We think the technique is a bit like the crafters chenille (layers stitched one on top of the other and then slit to create fray).  The ribbon is woven into the base and then only the top layer is slit, leaving raw edges that fray during finishing.

 
 It's an elegant look for a shirt or light jacket.  We have a two way stretch khaki that works well with it for casual or blend it with black for day to evening.  Ragtime