Lelievre | Ravissant

Ravissant is a sheer voile from Lelièvre, woven in Trevira CS polyester at a generous 317 centimetre width, considerably wider than a standard sheer. It has the fine, even hand of a good voile, letting light through softly while still giving a room privacy, and the extra width is the real point of this cloth: it lets a curtain maker run it sideways across a window rather than piecing narrower drops together.

Composition is Trevira CS polyester 100 per cent, at 317 centimetres wide, with no pattern repeat to match. Because Trevira CS is inherently flame-retardant rather than surface-treated, the performance holds for the life of the curtain, which is what makes this cloth a natural choice for contract interiors, hospitality projects and holiday lets, where fire compliance needs to be dependable and not dependent on how the fabric is cleaned. There are three colourways: Blanc, a clean white; Ecru, a soft off-white; and Lin, a warm flax neutral, covering the range most sheers are asked to do.

We use Ravissant on tall windows and full-height glazing, where a standard-width sheer would need an unsightly seam down the drop, and on wide bay or picture windows where railroading the fabric keeps the weave running the right way without piecing widths together. Sold by the half metre; order a sample to see it in your own light, as sheers read very differently against glass than they do in hand. It layers comfortably under a heavier curtain in Lelièvre's plains for a room that needs both privacy and a proper lined curtain.

Because the width runs to 317 centimetres, most domestic windows can be dressed with the fabric turned to run sideways, avoiding a horizontal seam altogether and giving a cleaner, more considered finish than a pieced sheer. We would still ask the maker to confirm the finished drop against this width before cutting, so the sideways run is used to best effect.

• Composition: Trevira CS Polyester 100%
• Width: 317 cm (125 in)
• Suitable for: Curtains
• Care: Wash at 30 degrees Celsius or below; do not bleach. If ironing, use a low heat and keep the iron away from any water.
• Colourways: 3 (Blanc, Ecru, Lin)