Radzimir
Also known as: Radzimir silk, Radzmir, Priest silk
Heavy, usually deep-black silk rib fabric with a matte surface — classic for mourning dress and clerical vestments.
Description
Radzimir (also spelled radzmir) is a densely woven, rep-like silk fabric that was widely used in the 19th and early 20th centuries mainly for mourning dress and clerical vestments. It is usually dyed deep black, has a matte, barely lustrous hand and drapes heavily thanks to its high grammage.
Structurally radzimir sits between faille and gros de Tours: fine twisted warp, cabled weft and a very subtle horizontal rib that only becomes visible in raking light. From about 1830 it was produced industrially in Lyon and Krefeld and for decades remained the standard fabric for black women's dresses in deep mourning as well as for cassocks and choir vestments.
- Today only produced in small runs and in specialist liturgical workshops
- Pure mulberry silk, sometimes with wool as a back warp
- Very shape-retaining, sensitive to water spots and humidity
- Dry cleaning only, no washing
Properties
| Material | Mulberry silk (pure or with wool) |
|---|---|
| Weave | Rep-like, between faille and gros de Tours |
| Application | Mourning dress, cassocks, choir robes, ceremonial garments |
| Care | Dry-clean only, store dry |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Verband Deutscher Modeschmuck-, Silberwaren- und Uhrenindustrie: Historische Textilien textil-mode.de https://www.textil-mode.de/
- Deutsches Textilmuseum Krefeld krefeld.de https://www.krefeld.de/textilmuseum/
