Lamé Fabric

Lamé (pronounced lah-may) is a type of fabric woven or knit with thin ribbons of metallic fibre. Originally, these metallic threads were made of real gold or silver, but modern dressmaking lamé is typically created by wrapping metallic-coated plastics around a synthetic base yarn like polyester or nylon. This creates a brilliant, highly reflective fabric that catches the light beautifully.

It depends on the type of lamé! Traditional woven lamé (often called tissue lamé) does not have any stretch and is quite crisp, making it perfect for structured garments and crafts. However, “Liquid Lamé” or stretch lamé is a knitted fabric that features a high percentage of spandex or elastane. This gives it a fluid, multi-directional stretch that is incredibly popular for form-fitting dancewear, gymnastics leotards, and cosplay.

Because of its dramatic, eye-catching shine, lamé is almost exclusively used for occasion wear and performance garments. It is the industry standard for theatrical stage costumes, dancewear, and drag/cosplay outfits. In high fashion, it is frequently used for glamorous evening gowns, metallic blouses, and statement accessories like clutch bags and evening wraps.

Lamé requires extremely delicate care. Because the metallic threads are effectively coated plastics, heat and friction will cause them to melt, snap, or lose their shine. You should never put lamé in a washing machine or tumble dryer. We highly recommend professionally dry-cleaning your lamé garments. If you must wash it at home, gently hand wash it in cool water with a mild detergent and leave it to air dry flat.