Ariificial silk may seem at first not an int ings ubject to women out here in the home of real silk, yet it should be remembered that although practically all the plain silk materials used out here, and some of the more simple ones are of al silk, yet those in the finer weaves rofsuyore intricate design and colouring are nearly all imported Britain, France and Ameri "And thus. the' fourth exhibit 'o£ British artificial silk good was opened recently at. Olympia in London, is of interest out here, and he, great progress that is being ihm. in the exhibits and racting considerable attention will ultimately be realized out here.
Sir Robert Home, in opening the exhibition, gave some very interest-{Ing notes on the industry, which vere published in this paper a few Aays ayo, Te is, lo. said, as yet in is infancy, and 10. years ago hight only fourth place in the st of countries productngartifeiat glk. *Towlay it is second only the United States, and the British manufacturers ko nol merely Supplying thole own country but are selling enough of their artil ilk products abroad to produce fo #hem_on_dalance an extra revenue of over 7,000,000 ju one year. The Biscovery of "the "possibilities Combining silk and cotton and silk and woo! "had helped the trade {mmonsely and it would continue to 45 so more and more.
{At w luncheon eld at the exhibition Lady Rhondda, as has been Feported, pul forward some of the porsibiliies of artificial sible for men's clothing, and hoped that the ay would soon come when men's Bits became as interesting and as Golourful as women's, "Concerning the exhibition itself, 'x'zoport more interesting to women ea: in which the trends of given in the "Manchester
infan, us influenced by materials, was sot forth, Amongst the designs shown, we are told, there seems to be a definite Fotum to the small. pattern and floral" effects which are always sate" as opposed to. the many modernistic designs printed Last year. There were, many "shot" affects. The "shot effect of the 'Madras curtain fabric was obtained by weaving in a new way, so that, although the pattern was' repeated Fogularly, the broken colours of Yhroads produced different. effects ith every repeat, giving a change-Ableness to the entire surface.
Another interesting curtain net, also of a Madras weave, had 2 metal thread running through it one way, giving a very rich yet quite light effect. This is a fabric which may eventually be produced for the dress trade, but even in its present form would make sumptuous summer evening wraps if lined with georgette and edged with fur fairly new fabric for dressing-gowns was shown which washes well and also, a very good appearance. This looked like an artificial silk design woven into a terry background, the contrast between the gleaming silk and the roughed cotton being ex: tremely good, The introduction of wool with weaves of artificial sih ug some very good fabrics, a sort of Tigghtweigeht mat with a slightly speckled owing to the viscose silk not taking the dye as thoroughly as the wool threads do. Artificial silk chenille velvet js_a. very. pleasing material ina light weight for frocks and evening wraps woven in stripes, cheeks, and other elaborate patterns, Among the models shown at the: mannequin parade were dressing-owns, pyjamas, underwear, tailor-ca suits, sports cents, and' frocks, An unusual night-dress with a Ince hom reached only to the knees in front whilst sweeping to the ground at the back, and was worn with & matching coatee, An evening frock a straight-topped corsage was supported with "braces" rising from a point in the contre front and continuing their obvious course to the back of the waist, where they crossed and became part of the wrapped-over gown. Another evening gown had a bodice which at the back suggested a low-cut' man's doess waiteont reversed, without, of course, the shirt front, this deep U-opening being tied across at the back of the shoulders with velvet ribbons.
Besides these somewhat original' models there were many pretty little frocks for summer wear, notably a frock of bordered material in which the verder appeared only as the two skirt flounces, and a very effective dress of ved silk on which a large white spot_made almost a honey-pattern,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.