Henrietta

Henrietta Fabric is a fine, woollen fabric. It was used to make women’s dresses and gowns in the Victorian period before synthetic fibres were introduced and steadily took over. Henrietta fabric is woven in a twill weave so that it has a subtle diagonal pattern running through it, and to be considered true Henrietta fabric it must be made entirely of wool. The fibres are brushed and combed to create a soft fabric, comparable to cashmere. Traditionally Henrietta fabric was dyed black, as it was used mainly for mourning wear, but it can be made in many different colours depending on the end purpose. It has a faint lustre to it which can be enhanced by special finishes.