MEET SILK
FROM:
Larvae of the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori).
IS IT SUSTAINABLE?
The sustainability of silk production depends on various factors, such as farming practices, processing methods, and transportation.
IS IT DURABLE?
Relatively durable, can last for many years with proper care.
Some factors that can affect the durability of silk:
- The quality of the silk can affect its strength.
- The way in which it is woven can affect its durability. A tight weave helps to prevent tears, while a looser weave or knit can be more prone to damage.
- Proper care can also help to maintain the durability of it. Silk should be washed gently by hand or using a delicate cycle in a washing machine, and should be dried flat or hung to dry. Harsh chemicals and high heat can damage silk fibers, so it is important to avoid bleach and high-temperature settings when cleaning silk.
IS IT BREATHABLE?
Yes.
IS IT WARM?
Not typically considered a warm fabric, but can be if layered right.
HISTORY:
Its history dates back more than 5,000 years to ancient China.
According to a legend, the Chinese Empress Leizu discovered the process for making silk when a silk cocoon fell into her tea, and she unraveled the cocoon to reveal the fine threads inside.
For many centuries, the production was a closely guarded secret in China, and the Chinese held a monopoly on its’ production and trade. Silk was highly valued for its luxurious texture and beautiful colors, and was used for clothing, bedding, and decorative items.
Over time, the secret of its’ production began to spread beyond China, as traders and merchants brought the fiber to other parts of the world. The fiber production spread to other parts of Asia, and eventually to Europe, where it became a prized and expensive luxury item.
Silk was frequently used as a form of currency or as a gift between rulers and kingdoms, so it also had a significant impact on trade and diplomacy. For the purpose of simplifying the commerce and other precious items between Asia and Europe, the Silk Road was created.
Today, it is still produced and used around the world. Although the production of the fiber has increased, the process of breeding silkworms and harvesting the fibers is still labour- and time-intensive.
PRODUCTION PROCESS:
The silkworm spins a cocoon made of a single continuous thread that can be unraveled and harvested for use in textiles and other products.
The silkworm’s life cycle starts as an egg, which evolves into a larva that feeds on mulberry tree leaves. As the larva develops, it starts to spin a cocoon, which can be up to 900 metres long and is formed of a single thread. There are two different types of fibers—the inner, which are extremely fine and smooth, and the outer, which are more coarse and sticky.
The silkworm pupates inside the cocoon when it is done spinning it, eventually changing into a moth. When the moth emerges from the cocoon, it will eat through the fibres if the cocoon is not disturbed, which will lower the silk’s quality. Before the pupa inside the cocoon can emerge, the cocoons are carefully removed in order to harvest the silk. Next, the cocoons are cooked in water to kill the pupa and free the silk fibres. The fibres can then be spun into yarn after being unwound from the cocoon, usually with the help of a reel.
Poor silkworms!
