Everything You Need to Know About Sequined Garments: Its History and How it Works

You’re not living it loud if you have yet to wear a sequined garment. Any sequined garment always adds joy and sparkle to anyone’s look! So much so that in the past, only the rich could afford to wear one. If you want to level up your closet and improve your wardrobe, it’s time to give sequins a try! In this post, we’d tell you everything you’d need to know about it!

This post will tell you everything about sequins by discussing the following:

• Sequins proper
• The history of sequins
• The rise of sequined gowns to fame
• Hand-sewing techniques for sequined garments
• Needed sewing materials
• Individual attachment of sequins
• Using a sewing machine to add sequins
• Where to shop online for sequins
• The future of sequins

Sequins proper

Sequins got its name from the Arabs. It came from the Arabic word “sikka” which means coin. It was later on referred to as zecchino, a Venetian word. It was only in the 16th century that it was called “sequin,” a French word. Sequins have been around for a very long time. So much so that they’ve been used even by ancient people.

The history of sequins

Before, it was so hard for seamstresses to create suits and formal gowns. But lo and behold, everything changed when they discovered tiny disks of metal that can be used for sewing. Sequins reappeared in modern times in 1922 when archeologists found the garments of an Egyptian Pharoah, Tutankhamun. Tutankhamun had splendid clothes that had tiny disks made of pure gold. This discovery spread like fire in the Western fashion industry. Lo, sequins were reborn. The Pharoah’s tomb was explored intensely and archaeologists were able to find over a hundred more metal sequins. 

People loved sequins so much that in the 1930s more were produced by using lead paint in gelatin colors. Such kinds were not durable though. They can’t withstand low temperatures and they easily dissolve in water.

In the same decade though, Herbert Lieberman discovered another way to make sequins — with acetate. Lieberman discovered acetate sequins while producing a film in Eastman Kodak. This came to be as he was assigned to come up with sparkling dance costumes to be used in a movie. 

Today though, sequins are now made of plastic. They now easily come in different colors and sizes. They can also now be worn regardless of one’s social stature. 

The rise of sequined gowns to fame

Sequins became more popular during the 1900s. This is because it adds so much more flare, spark, fun, dynamism, excitement, and story to an outfit! It can easily make any clothing look magical as sequins sparkle and dance with light! They are widely used for the following:

• creation of gowns for night parties
• outfits of stage performers
• outfits for dance competitions
• outfits for any kind of competition where a show-stopping costume is necessary 

Hand-sewing techniques for sequined garments

There is no one right way to sew sequins into the fabric. The technique will vary depending on the kind of fabric that you’re working with. If you want to fully manipulate sequins though, you need to be aware of the proper hand-sewing technique. You can of course still opt to choose a sewing machine. All will depend on your level of skills and needs. 

You can easily make an embellished garment at home by closely observing the following steps: 

Needed sewing materials

Making an e sequin-embellished garment is not hard. You would simply need the following properly prepared in advance:

• thin small needle – to be used to attach sequins to your garment
• embroidery thread – any color of your choice, best if it matches the color of your fabric
• invisible threads – optional 

Individual attachment of sequins

There are different kinds of sequins that come in varied shapes and sizes. One uniform thing though is the fact that they all come with a hole – either in the middle or their edges. To attach, simply do the following:

• start on its middle hole 
• sew in one direction 
• do several stitches to secure its attachment
• do the same to other sequins
• attach sequins in a row
• do two straight stitches to secure your sequins
• You can also watch video tutorials online. 

Using a sewing machine to add sequins

If you’d opt to use a sewing machine, it’s best if you’d use larger sequins and a monofilament nylon thread. You should always stretch the fabric on the hoop while securing that the sequins are in place. You can ask for expert help if you find the process too complicated. 

Where to shop online for sequins

You can now easily buy sequined outfits online. If you want hundreds of options, you should check out sequined outfits at Charismatico Dancewear. Some sites also accept customized orders. 

The future of sequins

Sequins are here to stay! In the future though, you can expect that most sequins will already be made of biodegradable and recyclable materials. More and more people now realize the importance of having a sustainable lifestyle by applying green concepts in all aspects of their lives, including fashion. Hence, you can expect to see environment-friendly, recyclable, and ethically sourced sequins in the future!