What is silk?

Silk evokes for many the feeling of timeless luxury and opulence. The silky texture and chic sheen of this natural fiber have made a lasting impression on fashion lovers. Silk Ties and cufflinks are classic examples of this. The elegance of silk adds extra sophistication to an outfit. Not surprisingly, silk is often used in evening wear, such as smoking jackets and cumberbands. In addition, silk is also suitable for more casual styles.

How is silk made?

Silk consists of the threads produced by the silkworm during the pupation process. The soft threads are flexible so they protect the caterpillar well. After the caterpillars pupate into silk moths, the empty pupae are collected and immersed in boiling water. In this way, the threads are separated from each other. The long silk threads are then joined into yarn and woven into the distinctive shiny fabric.

Properties of silk

Although silk is lightweight and delicate to the touch, it is one of the strongest fibers in the natural world. Because it regulates moisture efficiently, silk dries quickly. In addition, it has excellent insulating properties, keeping you comfortably warm. Silk absorbs colors well, allowing you to create garments with bright and vibrant colors. Moreover, it is hypoallergenic making it suitable for people with sensitive skin or allergyën.

Is silk animal-friendly?

This depends on how the harvesting is done. There are small-scale farmers who deliberately wait for the natural cycle of the caterpillar to end, as described above. A good example of this is Ahimsa silk, also known as peace silk. On the other hand, there are producers who breed caterpillars on a large scale and kill them (3,000 per pound) while they are still in the cocoon to ensure the highest quality silk threads.