There are many different satin ribbons for decorating clothes. One of them is the rep ribbon. It is a fairly old ribbon that was in great demand back in the 16th century. This article talks about what rep ribbon is and where it is used.
What is this?
Rep is a cotton or silky fabric, the weave of which is similar to linen. Rep was very common during the reign of Catherine II - it was the main knitwear for decorating furniture and rooms, and was in first place among popular fabrics for creating outfits. Smooth and textured, rep was popular in decorating headwear - for example, rep ribbon was well-known. This name comes from the German rippe, which means "rib" in Russian. Due to the rare weave of the fibers, when the warp thread wraps around two weft threads, the material becomes embossed, with an original texture.
The longitudinal edges of such a ribbon have a border.
Attention! The grosgrain ribbon, made in a traditional style, is dense and holds its appearance for a very long time.
Nowadays, it is quite fashionable to make products with your own hands, and manufacturers of rep tape have created a variety of styles for it. Today, they produce single-color and printed patterns. The patterns on the tape are always different, differing in design. Many manufacturers sell services for applying an individual pattern. The tape sometimes contained twisted silk threads.
It was quite an expensive fabric, only noble people could buy it. This type of material was called "rips", and festive outfits were made from lighter dress reps.
The gradual addition of wool and cotton to the composition reduced the price of this material, and it became cheaper. At first, it was smooth and shiny, sometimes it was bleached, and various patterns could be drawn on it. The newest rep is made mainly of wool, silk, and cotton. With the advent of synthetics, it became possible to add such a thread to the material and make it more durable, while reducing the price.
Features of rep tape
The following features of rep fabric are distinguished:
- The width of the tape varies from 5 to 55 mm. There is a high demand for tapes with a width of 15 to 30 mm. They are mainly used in sewing and handicrafts;
- Colors can vary, but the most popular are neutrals such as black and white;
- They can be smooth, shiny or even lace-like in shape;
- The texture is determined by the frequency and width of the rib;
- Rigidity is determined by the density of the threads. Grosgrain tape can have different degrees of rigidity.
Rep is mainly produced in the form of long narrow and wide tapes. The use of silk-screen printing makes it convenient to use this fabric as banners. The print is smooth and even. Logos and drawings do not wash out. Such tape can be used for packaging large loads, while advertising the necessary products and services. Rep tape painted with varnish looks beautiful. With the help of silk-screen printing, you can create three-dimensional drawings on rep tapes.
During production, the tapes are tested for pigment resistance to chemicals, sunlight and high temperatures, as well as reaction to washing powders and ironing.
There are three main methods of producing grosgrain ribbons:
- Hot stamping: apply company designs. Decorate soft toys, various bottles;
- Thermal lift: a special type of printing. Has a curved surface. Used in the production of advertising banners (envelopes, postcards, business cards, etc.);
- Color sublimation printing: the pigment penetrates into the material. The result is a smooth pattern that does not fade under the influence of the sun. Very bright and saturated shade. Large selection of colors. Ribbons do not lose freshness for a long time. Often used as an accessory for carrying cards, phones.
They have several main characteristics:
- Beauty: it is achieved due to the mirror shine, bright colors, and various decorative inclusions;
- Durability: achieved through the use of expensive components and dense structure;
- Resistance to negative environmental influences: the material does not fade, retains its original brightness after constant washing and ironing;
- Wide choice;
- Low price: synthetic materials have a low price tag compared to natural ones.
Application in clothing
Due to the listed properties, the material is extremely popular among creative individuals. It is used in various types of art. It is mainly used to decorate hats, accessories or dresses. It is widely used when processing seams, creating draperies. It is very often sewn to decorate various skirts or hem dress. Most ties and bow ties are made of this material.
In addition to clothing, it is often used to create notebooks or diaries. Photo albums, notepads, and postcards decorated with it look amazing and beautiful.
Florists constantly use ribbon in their work. White rep ribbon is used to create delicate bridal bouquets. Even wedding dresses are sometimes decorated with this ribbon. The bottom of a fluffy dress, decorated with white rep and small flowers, looks very beautiful.
Craftswomen use the ribbon for crafts and appliques, since it hardly crumbles when cut.
For many centuries it has not gone out of fashion and has not lost its freshness. According to fashion designers, this subspecies of satin ribbons will never lose its popularity. Because it can be used not only in clothes, but also in various crafts. In this matter, it is important to include all your talent and imagination.
Attention! You can buy such tape in textile stores, it is usually sold by the meter. But there may also be separate spools of 5-10 meters at once.
Washing is allowed in almost all modes, water temperature from 40 to 90 degrees, spinning is allowed at any speed. Since the material is very hard and dense, it will not wrinkle or shrink when washed. Therefore, there is no need to iron items trimmed with rep ribbons. But it is better to dry only in a horizontal position so as not to stretch the product.
Grosgrain ribbon is widely used in various activities. From decorating clothes to various crafts in schools. It is worth emphasizing that it has received well-deserved love due to its low price, ease of use and variety of color choices. Even novice craftswomen can handle it.
