Metal boning

The word boning has the correct connotation – it refers to something that behaves like bones inside our body – giving the garment it is inserted, a definite structure. Boning is long, flat and stiff and is inserted inside the clothing to give it stiffness and structure. It is used in wedding dresses, evening wear, bras, corsets, petticoats, hats, toys swimwear, bags and purses.

If you are looking for other means of creating stiffness in clothes check out these posts on creating volume or stiffness in clothes ; Make and Use homemade starch ; Petticoat skirt

The boning is enclosed inside channels that is sewn inside interlining (a layer of fabric inside outer fabric and lining) and the boning pieces are slid into these slots. It is available in widths from 1/8” to 1/2”

Boning was a very important part in clothing construction during early days because it aided in giving a particular shape to the body – like the infamous S curve silhouette which pushed the bust forward and kept it so.