There’s an unmistakable magic to silk curtains — an indulgent texture, a resplendent sheen, and a fluid drape that moves like poetry in fabric. Whispering luxury and regal opulence, silk curtains are an experience in themselves, catching the light and scattering it into a cascade of reflections across each fold. And it is this signature shimmer of silk that brings depth and movement, never letting a space feel dull or flat.
A testament to the delicate artistry of nature itself, pure silk is a treasure harvested through a process that is as timeless as the fabric itself. With every fiber, silk tells a story — one of patience, precision, and the gentle caresses of nature.
And at Sewn, we celebrate this dazzling fabric with a wide collection dedicated to silks ranging from pure dupionis and shantungs to silk blends and faux silks. From the delicate sheen of a pale champagne to the deep richness of a midnight hue, whatever suits your style, our silk drapes will bring a sense of grandeur to any room.
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A Silky Showdown: An Introduction to Sewn’s Silk Collection
One broad collection brings you everything from the unapologetic indulgence of 100% pure silks, to the practicality of smart blends, and the economic savings of faux silks. So, get ready to dive into all the silky goodness we have to offer — and know that there’s a silk for every taste, space & wallet within our silk curtains collections. Here’s a peek at what’s in store for you:
SHANTUNG SILK: Known for its signature texture that serves a lustrous finish with a slightly irregular slubby weave, shantung silk drapery is considered the most elite member of the silk family. Being one of the finest fabrics in composition, shantung silk drapes cascade into an elegant fall with effortless grace, resulting in a poised and elegant silhouette. With a surface smooth as butter, shantung silk takes the crown for the silken smooth texture with slubs much less pronounced than its dupioni counterpart. Therefore, shantung takes the lead over dupioni for clients who prefer their silks smooth and polished. Also, unlike the bolder, two-tone effect of dupioni silk, shantung silk embraces a quieter charm with its single-tone finish, lending it to interiors that prefer quiet luxury.
DUPIONI SILK: Renowned for its rich texture and striking dual-tone effect, dupioni silk drapery is a true showstopper in the world of luxury fabrics. Its trademark slubby weave, made with intertwining threads of varying thickness — a delicate warp with irregular weft — results in a tactile ridged texture that adds depth and character to the textile. And everyone’s favorite bit — dupioni silk’s flirty little affair with light! The variegated texture not only causes the fabric to reflect two color tones - slightly changing its hue with movement - but also acts as light-catching and reflecting points, producing a captivating shimmer across its surface. With more pronounced slubs than shantung silk, dupioni silk sports a more ‘raw’ and organic look, favored by clients especially seeking a more natural, textured feel.
SILK BLENDS: Our silk blends offer the perfect fusion of luxury and practicality. They couple the grandeur of silk with the durability of other fibers, creating textiles that are both elegant and resilient. Curtains in silk blends also tend to be more stain-resistant, sturdy and easy-to-care for, making them solid candidates for homes that appreciate a balance of form and function.
FAUX SILKS: Our faux silks - while mimicking the look and feel of their natural counterparts - provide a more price-accessible option, offering glamorous finish at a fraction of the cost. Faux silk curtains are therefore an attractive option for clients seeking the luxury of silk within a budget. Being wrinkle-resistant and colorfast, these also prove to be better options in high-utility spaces or busy households.
So, when you are looking for unabashed luxury and natural fiber options, you will want pure silks for your home. But if affordability or ease-of-maintenance are your priorities, our faux silks and silk blends will make your home’s perfect match.
You may have already locked in the type of silk you want, but before you go full throttle with shopping, please do take a moment to go through the upcoming tips from our stylists to help you make the most of your choices:
Silk’s Stylish Sanctuary: Know Silk’s Spots to Shine
Pure silk drapes are born for the spotlight – they don't do subtle. They thrive in spaces that crave opulence and character. So we often see our shantung and dupioni silk curtains hanging proudly in classical living rooms - offering perfect backdrops to statement chandeliers - and in grand master bedrooms, where silk drapery makes for a lavish cocoon every time you step inside the room.
However, bathrooms and kitchens are not pure silk’s scene. Pure silk is simply too delicate for the hustle and bustle of such spaces. Here, you may find a better fit in our blends and faux silks.
Our stylists advise knowing the properties of all the types of silk on offer and choosing the one that best meets your needs.
Perfect the Poise: Pinch & Puddle Your Silk Drapes
Silk drapes are the epitome of glamour, and nothing can add to all that glam quite like pinch pleat headers paired with a dramatic, flowing puddle.
Pinch pleat headers, such as goblet pleats — reminiscent of a wine goblet’s graceful curves — or French pinch pleats, echoing the delicacy of flower petals, are timeless choices for silk drapes in classic, formal settings.
If your style leans modern, a Euro pinch pleat header can bring a sleek, waterfall-like elegance, while inverted box pleats, with their clean and structured lines, perfectly complement a masculine or minimalist aesthetic.
Your choice of heading style will affect the overall look of your silk drapes. So, before ordering your curtains, please refer to our Drapery Headings Style Guide for more information on all the headers on offer at Sewn.
Along with pinch pleats, the next bit to complete this formula of opulence is puddling the drapes. If you’re dressing an ultra-formal space where your silk curtains are playing more of an aesthetic role than a functional one, extend the length of the panels by 6 to 16 inches and let them spill onto the floor in a graceful pool of fabric. Opt for lavish puddling if your drapes are intended to be stationary focal points adding that cinematic, show-stopping element. However, if functionality is key and your drapes will be frequently drawn, we recommend floating or ‘break puddle’ length curtains to ensure ease of movement. For further details on different drapery lengths, refer to our blog post ‘How Long Should My Curtains Be?’
Keep the Sun at Bay: Add Blackout Lining
Adding blackout lining behind your silk drapes will minimize unwanted light, letting you summon the night at will. But room darkening is just the beginning. Our stylists recommend blackout lining for silk drapes for several other reasons. Coming below are all the benefits you can reap with a layer of blackout lining fortifying your silk drapes:
SILK’S SECRET SHIELD: Natural fabrics like linens, cottons and delicate silks are vulnerable to premature sun damage and color fading. But when protected with blackout lining, sunlight is no match for your silk drapes. So, don’t let your fabric’s fabulousness fade – line them with blackout lining and keep your drapes as vibrant and luxe as the day they were hung.
FULLNESS AMPLIFIER: Blackout lining adds weight and body to your silk drapes for a more sumptuous and voluminous look. Particularly beneficial for more formal and opulent settings, silk drapes partnering with lining boast a fall worth swooning over. Furthermore, the added weight of the lining aids in the ‘pleat-training’ process, settling the drapery in neat and straight pleats much faster than they would otherwise.
LIGHT & PRIVACY GUARD: Especially recommended for bedrooms, blackout lining lets you steal a quick nap at odd hours by wrapping the space in comforting darkness. It also enhances privacy, ensuring your retreat stays undisturbed. Plus, since silk isn’t naturally highly insulative, blackout lining steps in to regulate indoor temperature — helping you stay comfortable while keeping energy costs in check.
Give Silk a Stylish Edge: Trim ‘Em Drapes Right
Every diva deserves accessories that dazzle under the spotlight, and your silk drapes are no exception. So, pair them with lush trimmings that amp up their oomph factor and take their style quotient sky-high.
You may choose one of our plush silken tassel trims that don a Victorian-style flair or fringe trims that bring a retro-Hollywood vibe to your space. If you would like your silk curtains to sport a more modern look, opt for the sleek silhouettes of our ribbon trims lining your silk drapes with delicate detailing.
The right drapery trimming can make your silk drapes the centerpiece of your decor, capturing attention and admiration alike. So, don’t settle for ‘stunning’ when you can have ‘show-stopping'. Make the most of your ‘custom’ shopping experience and personalize your drapes to this last detail!
Hang the Drapes in Style: Choose Hardware that Holds Glory
Befitting hardware is your secret ingredient to completing the recipe of opulence for your drapes. When you carefully envision every detail of your silk drapes, never overlook the hardware because nothing undermines the grandeur of silk drapery like a flimsy, mass-produced chrome pole.
In a minimalist home, clients often lean towards discreet options like curtain tracks. However, in our humble opinion, silk drapes are best paired with poles. Therefore, our stylists recommend metallic finish poles - from brass and black to brushed nickel and bronze - that complement the elegance of this regal fabric. Or consider traditional wooden poles and finials to speak to the natural origins of the fabric itself.
Long story short, your choice of hardware is the finishing touch that ties everything together. Therefore, pick the partner for your panels with forethought.
Crinkled or Smooth: Silk’s Stylish Little Dilemma
Delicacy, texture and resplendence are the unique offerings of silk, however, every silk serves this mix in different measures. Some silks are soft and smooth with a subtle sheen, others wrinkly, rustic and richly textured. We recommend carefully considering its finish and discerning whether it will endorse your design style and complement your desired functionality.
You may let your silk drapery flaunt the fabric’s signature wrinkles, adding a bit of timeworn charm and a whole lot of character. Or, you may prefer a smoother, polished look – in which case you can simply steam iron them or choose silk blend alternatives.
Steaming enhances the silk’s luster and finish, though many clients let their silk curtains crinkle with pride for a more relaxed, lived-in look. Whether you’re after a laid-back vibe or a polished finish, silk knows how to work its magic and bring its charm to every space it graces.
Design is in the Details: Complete the Look with Valances & Tie-Backs
A window isn’t truly dressed until its drapery has donned all the right accessories. So, when shopping for couture, make the couture choices and consider pairing your new silk drapes with carefully curated valances and tie-backs from Sewn:
VALANCES: A royalty like silk deserves a crown — and our valances are happy to serve. Whether you choose the opulent scallops of a swag-style valance or the sleek facade of a board-mounted flat valance, there’s nothing like valances to serve as the cherry on top for silk drapes. More than just a decorative accessory, valances also add optical height to your window - making the ceiling seem higher - while curbing light leaks from the top edges of your windows. Quite the beauty with brains, aren’t they?
TIE-BACKS: Tie-backs are dainty little additions with tremendous potential, bringing both flair and function to the table. With a gentle ‘pinch’ in the middle, they sculpt the drape’s fall when they are stacked to the side and hold the panels in place.
To Stitch it All Up
At the end of this (hopefully informative) journey — we now drop you off at our silk collection shopping page. A whole world of silken glamour awaits you, eager to dress your windows. From rosy pinks to aureate gold tones and moody blues to blazing reds, whatever your vision holds, you will find a silken option to match at Sewn. On that note, it’s your inner designer’s time to shine. Shop away!
