Sheer Silk Fibre Luxury
We all know how wonderful silk feels and how popular it is but do many of us know where it comes from and what a fascinating history it has?
The origins of silk go way back about 5000 years and can be traced back to ancient China where silk was highly valued and reserved especially for making the emperor’s clothes. It was and still is considered to be a symbol of luxury.
This beautiful soft and smooth very fine thread originates from the humble silkworm which spins a cocoon for itself and which is then taken by man and unravelled into silken thread.
Throughout the centuries, silk and the knowledge of how to produce it gradually spread throughout the world, from China, to the Middle East, to India and eventually to the European mainland, to places like Rome where the italians gained an impressive reputation for fine italian silk and plied a great trade.
The northern country people of Thailand also began to rear their own silk worms and gradually developed a strong silk industry and were well known for a long time for their famous shiny iridescent silks until factory produced silk fibers proved too competitive. However they have regained popularity of late, especially known for their silk product called Mudmee, a very intricate, labour intensive design which includes silk brocade and silver threads interwoven into the silk fabric in unique traditional Thai designs.
Silk is especially popular because it is so delicate, soft and cool which is good news if you live in a hot climate. Silk insulates, keeping you cool by absorbing moisture whilst at the same time allowing your body to breathe and keeping you comfortably cool or at an even warm temperature.
Winter silks also keep you warm in cold climates. It is a popular choice for women’s lingerie because of this and because it is such a smooth, soft texture and leaves you feeling as if you are being caressed. It os very flattering and leaves a woman feeling very sensual and feminine. Silk is a protein fiber, similar to human skin and because of this it acts as an ideal “second skin”.
It is also safe and non-allergenic. In fact silk is the most hypoallergenic of all fabrics The ever popular silk lingerie for ladies and men’s underwear both come in many styles, shapes and colours today so there is a wide choice available. Many other clothes are now made from silk, including silk screen shirts, silk suits, women’s silk blouses, pashminas and more and can be both machine or handmade. There are a range of other items you can get in silk such as silk bridal bouquets, silk flame lights, bed sheets and pillowcases.
So really silk is very versatile and ranges from expensive and luxurious products to be worn on special occasions such as a wedding or a ball, to something more afffordable and functional for regular use. Silk often makes for a wonderful luxury gift for someone on that special occasion.
Some people are wary of buying silk because they are concerned that it might be difficult to clean, however it is surprisingly easy if you know what to do. The first thing you need to remember is that it should be washed by hand because machine washing could otherwise ruin or tear the soft delicate fabric. When washing by hand use lukewarm water and a mild soap and when rinsing it is a good idea to
add a couple of drops of white vinegar to the water to help dissolve any remaining residue from the soap and never leave it to soak. Take it out straight away and either hang it to dry or lay it out flat without wringing and away from direct sunlight. Let it dry naturally instead of putting it in the dryer otherwise, again, it is in danger of being ruined, shrunken or torn by the heat or tumbling action of the machine. Alternatively clothes made from silk can be dry-cleaned.
Silk is a beautiful and luxurious fabric and as long as it is treated with care, will last for a long time and give you much enjoyment and comfort.
It is strong, soft, luxurious and beautiful.
Dot’s fibre to fabric: Plain weaves with quality threads
I enjoy handspinning & dyeing, and using yarns in knitting, handloom and inkle weaving.
So we have history, we have a chapter looking at silk in relation to other fibres, an overview of the global silk industry today, and several chapters on silk production.
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loveFibre » time to do the ironing
I used to add scraps of fabric and paper, silk fibres and sequin waste and embedded lace, bits torn out of magazines and coloured tissue – the sericin left in the cocoon strippings is strong enough to hold all kinds.
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