Where does Voile come from?

Voile comes from France, first documented in the 1800s.

Plate No. 060fabric

First documented: 1800s
Origin: France, France
Fiber: cotton, polyester
Weave: plain weave, high-twist yarns, open sett
Family: plain

Plate No. 060 · fabric

Voile

Voile is a sheer, crisp plain weave of tightly twisted yarns, the curtain-and-veil cloth whose name is simply the French for veil. The high twist gives voile more body than batiste and more softness than organza, a middle position that makes it the standard for sheer curtains, where it filters light while holding a clean drape. In apparel it is a summer cloth for blouses and dresses, cooler than lawn and less fragile than chiffon.

Illustration: tall open windows with sheer white curtains breathing inward on a draft, a garden bright beyond, an empty quiet room — Tall open windows with sheer white curtains breathing inward on a draft, a garden bright beyond, an empty quiet room.

Named for

French for veil, which is exactly what the cloth does.

Common questions

What is Voile made of?: Voile is a sheer, crisp plain weave of tightly twisted yarns, the curtain-and-veil cloth whose name is simply the French for veil. It is traditionally made of cotton or polyester.
Where does Voile come from?: Voile comes from France, first documented in the 1800s.
What is Voile named after?: French for veil, which is exactly what the cloth does.