MATERIAL AND CARE GUIDE
In keeping with her design philosophy, Cecilie Bahnsen's pieces are made to be treasured but above all, worn, bringing elements of couture into the every day. To ensure they can be passed on and cherished for years, we recommend following our general care guide.
This guide contains information on each fabric, with notes on how to care and store for each one.
KNITWEAR
Versatile in its category, Cecilie Bahnsen’s knitwear ranges from chunky jumpers to fitted layering pieces crafted from cotton wool blends. With practicality and comfort in mind, each iteration is soft and breathable, making them ideal for daily wear. Caring for your knitwear will extend the lifespan of each garment and help preserve its shape and stretch.
MATELASSÉ
The French word “matelassé” refers to the padded, textured design of hand-quilted textiles. Woven on a jacquard loom, the fabric is raised to create a 3 dimensional look and feel. The texture is then made by tightening or releasing the tension in the yarn.
CLOQUÉ
Cloqué is a unique and luxurious textile characterized by a raised, blister-like pattern. To achieve the blistered effect, the woven fabric is made from twisting yarns with distinct features or blending fabrics. Cloqué is made from the jacquard technique and is another branch of the matelassé family in techniques.
FIL-COUPÉ
Referring to the French term for “cut thread”, fil-coupé is a jacquard fabric created by cutting or shaving the weft thread on the back of fabric after the jacquard weaving is complete. This produces a frayed effect that adds both texture and dimension to the fabric.
COTTON
Cotton is created from the natural fibres of cotton plants. The fibres are harvested from the plant’s cotton balls and separated from the seeds through a process called ginning, before they are cleaned to remove impurities. The fibres are then spun into yarn and processed into fabrics through weaving or knitting.
The classic poplin structure uses a thinner yarn in the warp compared to the weft in order to create a tight weave and a supple and lush fabric. Coloured cotton fabrics used by Cecilie Bahnsen are bespoke and created to match other fabrications in the collection.
MACKINTOSH
Made in collaboration with Mackintosh, using their signature waterproof bonded cotton. This core material for the brand contains two layers of 100% cotton bonded together by rubber dyed to match the outer cotton layers. This continued partnership with one of the world's most influential coat makers is another expression of Cecilie Bahnsen's dedication to craftsmanship and evolution of signature designs. You can read more about Mackintosh here.
SMOCK
Smocking is an embroidery technique created through the application of an embroidery stitch made from an elastic thread. Through the tension of the embroidery and selected motif, the base fabric shrinks into a smoked pattern, creating a 3 dimensional texture. Cecilie Bahnsen’s most common motifs are florals and geometrics.
FAILLE
Cecilie Bahnsen uses recycled faille, an extremely tight plain weave, made from polyester that is 100% recycled from plastic waste. The fabric is certified, ensuring the reliability of origin.
VELVET
The term “velvet” refers to the weaving technique rather than the content of the material, meaning velvet can be woven from any fibre. In the past, silk was traditionally used, but today many synthetic velvets have been developed.
SILK
Silk is a luxurious, natural fibre. Produced by silkworms, silk threads are extracted from the cocoons and spun into a lightweight and soft material. While silk is more sensitive to light and perspiration, the fabric generally feels cool to the touch in high temperatures, but warm in lower temperatures.
QUILT
Quilting consists of stitching two layers of fabric together in a motif and trapping warm lining between them. This ancient Persian technique has historically been used for items like blankets and cushions and today, has been updated and often used in modern day outerwear.
Cecilie Bahnsen brings traditional notions into the everyday through the complexity of her quilting, featuring hand drawn artwork and beautiful stitching.
DENIM
Denim is known as a durable and utilitarian fabric, created from a twill weave. Typically blue, the warp threads are dyed indigo and weft threads left white, achieving a unique denim blue colour on the outer fabric. Cecilie Bahnsen’s denim styles are cut from a crisp Japanese denim crafted from 100% cotton.
EMBROIDERY
Embroidery is a fabric manipulation created by hand or by machine to an already finished material. Each season, Cecilie Bahnsen features a hand-drawn motif, expressed through embroidery techniques. Common motifs include florals, applied across the fabric or as placed patterns, systematic or irregular, to create a unified or flowing feel.
The thread used in the embroidery process can be tonal or chosen to contrast with the base fabric, rendering the motif more obvious and adding depth to the overall aesthetic.
In some of Cecilie Bahnsen’s more elevated pieces, embroidery has been applied to a patchwork base wherein several smaller pieces of fabrics are pieced together to create a variation in shade and mismatched look. This traditional and highly elevated technique is a couture approach to fabric modification.
Known for their traditional embroidery know-how, we work with suppliers based in Italy’s Como Region and Switzerland’s Saint Gallen.
TECHNICAL CANVAS
This technical canvas boasts a utilitarian construction thanks to its durable weaving structure. A water-repellent fabric crafted entirely from 100% nylon, it showcases a soft and lustrous surface. Originating from a luxury maison, this fabric is sourced from deadstock materials, ensuring both quality and sustainability.
JERSEY
Knit from cotton and elastane, each thread intertwines seamlessly to create a soft and supple texture. Versatile in its nature, Jersey can be used in every day wear or elevated through couture design, effortlessly adapting while offering elegance and ease. Its knitted structure grants stretch and softness, providing optimal comfort. Cotton jersey offers breathability, making it an ideal fabric for everyday garments.
LEATHER
Cecilie Bahnsen uses a beautiful smooth full grain leather that gives off a liquid shine and a marble-like finish meant to evolve with each wear, deepening in character over time.