Fringe Trim is an ornamental border of threads left loose or formed into tassels or twists. It’s used to edge home accent pieces, window dressings, garments and accessories. It’s an excellent way to add movement to any garment and funk up an otherwise basic hem. Originally created to prevent a piece of fabric from unraveling, fringe trim was used in place of hemming and is typically made separately, then sewn onto the garment or piece of home decor.
Before the Industrial Revolution (18th Century), trim was called passementerie. It was made and applied by hand, thus making heavily trimmed furnishings and garments expensive and high status. Eventually machine-woven trims and sewing machines put these specialized trimmings within reach of modest dressmakers and home seamstresses. The result, by the 1930’s, applied trim lost its value and became a signifier of mass-produced clothing. Today, though most trimmings are commercially manufactured, the creative appeal that they offer have made trims, tassels and cording highly sought after for unique one-of-a-kind creations. A compliment to any fabric project where that ‘something extra’ makes all the difference, modern day passementeries offer the perfect touch.
