Dupioni is a luxurious silk fabric with a characteristic uneven, 'slubbed' texture formed by an uneven weft thread reeled from two or more conjoined cocoons. These small irregularities (slubs) are not a flaw but the recognisable beauty of dupioni: they give the fabric a living texture and a special, faintly shimmering sheen. Dupioni is dense, springy and holds its shape well, so it is used for smart dresses, skirts, bridal and eveningwear, and in trimmings. The striking play of light on its surface is often enhanced by a 'two-tone' effect, when the warp and weft are of different colours. The fabric is traditionally made in India. Dupioni is the embodiment of natural silk luxury, in which the characteristic texture of raw silk and a rich sheen create an effect of ceremonial, slightly ethnic elegance.
