What is silk?
Image courtesy of the University of California - San Diego
Silk - also known as the queen of all textiles - comes from the silk moth. Or more precisely, the larvae of the silk moth. There are several hundred different species of silk moths, of which the one that produces the finest silk comes from China. The female silk moth lays up to 500 eggs, which hatch after 20 days into small larvae that feed exclusively on mulberry leaves. After almost 3 weeks, the silkworms have grown 70 times larger and now begin to spin the fine, white silk thread. After two days, the silkworm has produced a thread of approximately 1500 meters. And to put that into perspective, at least 100 cocoons are needed for one silk scarf.
As far as is known, the production of silk fabric in China began as early as 6000 BC, and according to legend, it was the Chinese empress who made the discovery. Silk quickly became a highly sought-after luxury item, and trade in silk spread via caravan routes to India, Europe, and the Middle East. Hence the name Silk Road.
Properties of silk
· Silk is as strong as steel when measured in the same thread thickness.
· Silk feels extra soft against the skin and is moisture-absorbing. The amino acids and silk fibers ensure that silk clothing is comfortable in all seasons.
· Silk has less tendency to become statically charged compared to other light fabrics.
· Silk has a surface resembling pearls thanks to its many layers of fibroin, which, with its prism-like structure, disperses light.
Care for silk
Depending on the care instructions on the garment, it is best to have silk dry cleaned. Alternatively, silk can usually also be machine washed (if it has a wool/silk program) with liquid silk detergent.
When ironing, it is best to place a piece of cloth between the iron and the silk. Iron in the same direction as the fibers and at a maximum temperature of 120 degrees. Do not use steam.
Acorns.dk sells beautiful silk scarves with prints from Danish By Birdie. The scarves are made from the finest Chinese silk - and processed, woven, and printed in India.