4 min read
Saree Cancan and Fish Net for Lehenga and Gown Volume
How saree cancan and fish net add volume to lehengas, gowns and frocks. Which can can material to choose and how much you need for the flare you want.
That dramatic flare on a bridal lehenga or a flowing gown rarely comes from the outer fabric alone. It comes from what is stitched underneath: saree cancan and fish net. These are the stiff, netted materials that hold a skirt out instead of letting it hang flat. Get the grade and the quantity right and an ordinary lehenga looks like a showroom piece. Get it wrong and it either sags or stands out like a cage.
What cancan material actually is
Can can, or cancan, is a stiff nylon net sold in graded hardness. Soft cancan gives a gentle lift and is comfortable for everyday gowns and frocks. Hard cancan stands almost on its own and is what you want under heavy bridal lehengas where you need a full, sculpted flare. It is usually attached as a layered frill to the lining or sewn into a separate underskirt.
Because the grade decides the whole silhouette, it pays to feel it before buying. Our saree cancan is stocked in multiple stiffness levels, and you can ask us on WhatsApp at +91 98402 69851 which grade suits the weight of your outer fabric.
Fish net for softer volume
Fish net is a wider, more open net than cancan. It adds body and bounce without the rigid stand of hard cancan, which makes it the right choice for gowns, fishtail skirts and dupattas that should move rather than hold a fixed shape. Many tailors combine the two: a layer of fish net over a base of soft cancan gives volume that still flows when the wearer walks.
Both are sold by the metre, and a full bridal lehenga can take several metres once you account for the frills and layering.
How much you need and how to finish it
As a rough guide, a child's frock needs one to two metres, a regular flared gown three to five, and a heavy bridal lehenga can run to eight metres or more once it is gathered into frills. Always buy a little extra, since gathered net eats length fast.
Finish the bottom edge of the cancan with a horsehair braid or a strip of lace so it does not scratch the legs. A neat lace edging also stops the net from showing through a sheer hem. Layer it over a smooth lining so the structure stays hidden and the outer fabric drapes cleanly.
Come see it before you cut
Cancan and net are cheap compared to the lehenga fabric, so this is the wrong place to economise on grade. The difference between soft and hard cancan changes the entire look. Visit the shop in Rattan Bazaar, Sowcarpet and we will show you the grades against your fabric so you order exactly the flare you are picturing.