Yeah looking at it again the black does have a pretty rough texture, while the red is just a smooth rayon kind of fabric. I can see why it might be tricky finding something with that look, but which still drapes well.
Yeah, I hope he can find something close to it. My gut tells me that the original wrinkled-gauze material might still be the best bet. While not wholly accurate, it does give the right feel -- used, roughed-up silk.