FIber- Silkiest Silk

Silkiest Silk

            One of the most luxurious fibers that people die for today is silk. The smooth and cold feel of the fabric is desirable to a lot of people. The price of silk is very costly because of the process it takes to make it and the history behind it. Silk comes from the cocoon of a larva and a long process after that. The man by the name of Leizu, from China, is the man that discovered such an amazing and fragile fiber. To explain exactly how precious and expensive silk is, in history, silk was reserved for the Kings of China for their own use or if they chose to gift it for others. Luckily, silk can be made year round so the high demand for it stays under control.

            Silk is made from a specific process. Silkworms lay eggs on a monthly basis on a specially piece of paper that is prepared for them. A straw or stick is placed above them horizontally so they can produce their cocoon on that material. After two to three days of spinning, they have produced about a mile of silk. Can you believe that? After the cocoons are made, they are sorted by their color, shape, and size. They want to make sure same color of silk is paired with one of the same. Then they are soaked in water in order to separate parts of the cocoon from the actual silk. This process is very detailed and lengthy, but makes a beautiful and high end fabric. The threads that are produced are so delicate, so in order for someone to work with them they have to spin three to ten strands of silk are spun together to make it more durable.

            Silk is one of the strongest fibers that we know of, but if you happen to get your silk wet, be careful; it becomes very delicate and hard to work with. Also, do not plan on wearing your silk dress to go hiking in; it can not take the wear and tear of most more durable fabrics. The two protein fibers that make up silk are sericin and fibroin. The make up of silk does not allow the fabric to have much of a stretch or elastic feel to it, so be careful when you go to buy a silk piece of clothing; there is no room for mistakes. Many people believe the “silky” feel of the fabric would allow for it to be a breezy type of fabric, but be careful when wearing this type of fabric in the heat; it likes to trap heat.

            They’re a many types of silk. Chiffon is the lightest weight of the silks and a very thin and sheer type of silk. Chiffon can be used to add dimension to a piece of work. There is also China Silk that is a plain-weave fabric. It is one of the least expensive kinds of silk. A lot of scarves are made from China Silk. Twisting fibers clockwise and others counterclockwise makes Crepe de Chine Silk. They are woven in a plain-weave pattern and should be handled very delicately. Charmeuse is known as the traditional silk and what most people think of as silk. The front of Chermeuse is a silky shimmery weave and can be found in scarves, blouses, and lingerie. Jacquard silks can be woven in different patterns and create a positive and negative effect on the fabric on opposite sides. Douppioni is a plain-weave silk with ribs that cause texture on the fabric. You often find Douppioni in elegant and expensive pieces of fabric and gowns.

            We all love silk and we have opened a new world to experimenting with silk. Silk has grown a respectable and expensive reputation. Owning silk can be a status symbol to many, but the type of silk it is and where it is placed also plays a role into it. Silk is an amazing and luxurious piece of fabric that this world is so proud to have discovered and made use of it.