Renowned for its lightness, softness and beautiful sheen, habotai is a wonderful plain weave silk that is a particularly popular fashion choice for linings, as well as blouses, lingerie, pareos and scarves. It is also top of the list for designers of lampshades.

Habotai plays a big role in the arts. Apart from costumes, this silk quality is used to create specialist lighting effects for stage, TV and film and for Kabuki drapes. In museums, habotai can be found covering display furniture to shield it from direct sunlight and avoid colour degradation.

Additionally, our clients include events companies who use it for disclosure launches and lining marquees.

Habotai feels very silky to the touch and this slightly slippery attribute means that extra care needs to be taken when sewing. While light, it is not as transparent as chiffon.

As specialist suppliers of silk, we stock silk habotai in more than 70 fashion and classic colours. We can also assist designers looking for small quantities in an exclusive, bespoke shade.

Traditionally made in Japan and used for making kimonos, habotai is now mainly produced in Asia.