A Silk by Any Other Name

Most people would say that satin and silk are similar animals. To the touch and in the mind, these materials have similar properties: smooth, cool, strong - not to mention luxurious in a silk or satin bathrobe. However, satin is a fabric and silk is a fiber. Silk can be woven into satin, organza, chiffon, shantung, and velvet. Satin, on the other hand, is a cloth made by a special weaving technique that leaves one side of the fabric dull and the other side shiny. Satin can be made of silk fiber, but is often made of rayon or nylon. When satin cloth is made of "short-staple" yarns like cotton, the fabric is considered sateen.