The curtains are a faux silk with a soft texture feel with a shine to it. The back is solid white fabric lining which is very well made with tight stiching. 
The curtains have tabs that need to be twisted so you can hang them. There are instructions included on how to tie the tabs. I found it hard to follow and twist the tabs and tie them. I couldn't get any of them to match. When I hung the curtains, the knots didn't look bad. The twist tab do add an elegant look to the curtains.
The curtains did filter out the right amount of natural light but does not completely black out the light. I was happy with the amount of sunlighted blocked. To be completely blacked out, liner might need to be a little thicker.
Overall the curtains are made of high quality materials and very elegant. I love the look.