The Taffeta cloth is a crisp, smooth, plain-woven fabric with a slight sheen, was originally made of silk, but it is now also made of synthetic fibers such as rayon, or nylon. The cloth supposed to have originated in Persia, and the name is derived from the Persian language. The meaning of Taffeta is "twisted woven." The Taffeta fabric is is considered to be a "high end" fabric, similar to satin made of silk. The cloth is made of a plain or tabby weave, and the textures of the Taffeta cloth vary considerably.
In addition there are two types of silk taffeta. Piece-dyed taffeta is quite soft, and is often used in linings. Yarn-dyed taffeta is often used in evening dresses, and is much stiffer. Taffeta is also used in ribbons, umbrellas, and some electrical insulation.
Today, most of the silk woven Taffeta fabrics are manufactured in India.