Fabrics and care · 8 October 2026 · 3 min read

Pure, viscose or faux georgette: the difference

Pure georgette vs faux georgette, plus viscose georgette: how silk, viscose and polyester kinds differ in weight, fall, shrinkage and care, and how to spot each.

Inspiration

Three fibres sold under one name

Pure georgette traditionally means georgette woven from silk. Viscose georgette uses viscose, a fibre regenerated from wood pulp. Faux georgette is polyester made to imitate the silk original. All three share the same grainy, sheer, crinkled weave; they differ in weight, fall, how they react to water, and how they need to be cared for.

Be careful with the word “pure”. In some markets it is used loosely for any good-quality georgette, including polyester, so it is not proof of silk. The fibre content on the label, or a test, is what tells you.

Silk georgette

Silk georgette is light and fluid, with a soft lustre rather than a shine. It breathes well and feels cool and dry against the skin. It is also the most delicate of the three: water can shrink it and leave spots, perfume and sweat can mark it, and it is often labelled for dry cleaning. Seams need a fine needle and care, because the cloth slips and frays.

Viscose georgette

Viscose georgette is soft and matte, with a heavier, more liquid fall than polyester. It feels cool, absorbs moisture and is pleasant in warm weather. Its weak points are water and creasing. It shrinks if washed warm, loses strength while wet, and wrinkles easily, so it needs a cool hand wash, no wringing and a gentle press. Our viscose and rayon guide explains why the fibre behaves this way.

Polyester or faux georgette

Polyester georgette has a little more bounce, a slightly crisper hand and sometimes a faint sheen. It holds bright colour and printed designs well, keeps pleats that have been heat-set, resists creases and barely shrinks, which is why it is so common in ready-made and unstitched collections. Against that, it does not absorb sweat, so it can feel warm and clingy in heat, and it builds static in dry air. It needs a low iron, because heat can glaze or melt it.

Faux is not the same as poor. A good polyester georgette can be beautiful and practical; the label simply tells you what care and comfort to expect. Whether either kind shrinks in the wash is covered in do chiffon and georgette shrink?

Telling them apart without a label

A few home checks give a fair idea, though none is perfect and blends confuse all of them:

Crush test: squeeze a corner in your fist for a few seconds. Polyester springs back almost smooth; viscose holds deep creases; silk sits in between and relaxes slowly.
Fall: drape it over your hand. Viscose drops heaviest, silk flows lightly, polyester has a little lift at the edges.
Touch: silk and viscose feel cool and dry; polyester can feel slightly slippery or warm.
The label or the seller: home checks only narrow it down, so ask for the fibre content in writing before you buy, especially when the price suggests silk.

Choosing one for your outfit

For a flowing dupatta that you want to keep easy to wash, polyester is practical. For a summer kameez that breathes, viscose or silk feels cooler. For pleats or a printed design that must stay crisp, polyester holds its shape. The comparison of chiffon, georgette and organza helps if you are still choosing between sheer fabrics.

Whatever you choose, our custom stitching service can make it up with your fabric or ours. Mention the georgette type in your quote request and we confirm what is possible on your fabric and design.

Common questions

Is faux georgette poor quality?

Not necessarily. It is polyester, so it is easier to wash and holds colour well, but it is warmer and less breathable than silk or viscose. Weight, weave and finish matter more than the word faux.

Does viscose georgette need a lining?

Usually, for a kameez. Like all georgette it is sheer, so a lining or an inner slip is normal unless you want the sheer look for sleeves or a dupatta.

Which georgette is easiest to look after?

Polyester. It can usually go on a gentle machine cycle and dries quickly. Viscose and silk need more careful hand washing or dry cleaning.

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