Say the word grosgrain and what springs to mind? Ribbon, as in hair bows, hatbands, and prettily wrapped presents. But when the French word first appeared in 1562, it referred to fabric, not ribbon. Early grosgrain had the same ribbed texture and matte finish so well known today, but it was originally valued for its durability and commonly used as a less expensive alternative to finely woven fabrics—and therefore a frequent choice for waistcoats, jackets, petticoats, breeches, and more.
Historically made from wool, silk, or a blend of the two, grosgrain gets its distinctive texture and prominent ribbing from a weft that’s heavier than the warp. The result is a fabric that’s unexpectedly strong and a bit stiff, which helps it hold its shape. And although it seems refined by present standards, grosgrain was at first considered rough—in fact, its name literally translates to “coarse texture.”
Available in three widths and a full spectrum of hues from neutral to bold, Schumacher’s Faille Tape is a classic grosgrain trim suitable for virtually any application—from finishing a pillow to adding an eye-catching accent to upholstered walls.
KEVIN KERRThe Shift from Fabric to Trim
Grosgrain fell out of favor as a garment fabric in the early 20th century, and by the 1920s, it was in common production as ribbon. With time, the fibers used to make it had also evolved, from hemp, jute, or linen during the World War II era (its strength was ideal for seatbelts and cargo webbing) to the cotton or synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon in use today, for everything from reinforcing seams to making simple decorative bows. Finer versions, however, are still indispensable in millinery and evening wear, whether to fashion hatbands, bow ties, and cummerbunds or to accent tuxedo jackets and trousers.
Peter Pennoyer Architects gave this formal canopy bed an extra touch of tailoring with an outline of sharp navy-blue grosgrain. The canopy exterior is in Schumacher’s Charee Silk Stripe.
BRITTANY AMBRIDGE
At the Lake Forest Showhouse outside Chicago, Illinois, Houston-based designer Paloma Contreras fashioned soft roman shades from Schumacher’s Legere Linen Silk Appliqué, an elegant silk-linen embellished with a bold grosgrain zigzag.
Aimée MazzengaAn Unsung, Use-It-Everywhere Embellishment
Affordable enough to use with abandon, grosgrain offers endless applications for interior decorating. The most common iteration: as edging or trim on curtains, pillows, bedding, and table linens. But you can also run grosgrain along the tops of walls for a bit of colorful punctuation, use it in place of millwork to create the look of panel molding, or even outline said millwork—mantels, doorways, and trim—to give the architectural detail further visual impact. So many other options abound, too:
- Lampshades: Use grosgrain to create stripes or outline the tops and bottoms of drum shades.
- Shelves: Trim the edges with grosgrain for an unexpected dash of color.
- Upholstery: Use grosgrain as inset trim on upholstered doors or to outline the box pleats of a sofa or chair, and combine it with nailheads for an even more decorative finish.
- Walls: Run grosgrain trim across the wall to create an eye-catching stripe or diamond pattern. Bonus: The material can be easily affixed with tiny finish nails or decorative tacks, making it the ultimate temporary decor for anyone who wants to experiment.
For this primary bedroom in New Jersey, designer Penny Drue Baird created a sense of architectural detail where there was none, adding crisp-looking diamond-patterned grosgrain embellishment to a wall upholstered in gray flannel.
Brittany AmbridgeSeveral Schumacher designs play up grosgrain’s graphic potential, including the three-dimensional Lazare Appliqué Tape and the boldly embellished Legere Linen Silk Appliqué. And for couture-quality inspiration, check out designer Miles Redd’s Ribbon Appliqué Panel, which is a masterful example of grosgrain’s endless possibilities.
