A 100% PES woven fabric was subjected to a silk-like finishing treatment using a two-factor (soda concentration and vaporisation time), three-level experimental design on a pilot plant in order to examine the influence of process variables on fabric drape and hand, and also to relate weight loss to the properties of the finished fabric. Weight loss in the fabric was significantly related to the process variables studied. By contrast, the vaporisation time affected no drape indicator, even though it interacted significantly with the soda concentration, which influenced three of the five indicators examined. Also the vaporisation time affected no FAST property, but its interaction with the soda concentration had a significant effect on all drape-related FAST parameters. Regression equations accurately predicting drape indicators and physico-mechanical properties of the fabric studied from its weight loss are proposed