Silk, its types and what silk is made of from Julia Fernandaz's blog

Silk, its types and what silk is made of

Silk is a fibre obtained from the cocoons of the silkworm. It is made up of two main proteins: fibroin and sericin. The process of creating yarn involves carefully and slowly unrolling the individual silk threads from the cocoon and then twisting them into one long, continuous thread.

What is silk?

Silk is a natural fiber known for its strength and durability. Silk is made from a protein called fibroin and is known for its luster and softness. Because of its luxurious appearance, silk fabric has become a popular choice for high-fashion clothing.

Production: How is silk made?

Silk fibers are naturally produced by silkworms, which is why it is called “mulberry silk.”

The process of making silk is expensive and labor-intensive. There are two types of natural silk: wild and cultivated.

The first is the most expensive because the cocoons need to be collected from a large area, which is a difficult and lengthy process.

The second type of silk fabric is cultured silk: cocoons are grown on special farms.

Stages of silk production:

caterpillar breeding;

obtaining raw silk and its processing;

production of silk fabric;

coloring;

processing of canvases with steam under pressure.

The color of wild silk is richer and more beautiful, it is rarely dyed or bleached.

Unlike farmed silkworms, wild silkworms live in the wild. They feed on the leaves of the trees they live on and spin their cocoons on the same trees.

As a result of their natural nutrition, fibers produced from the cocoons of wild silkworms are stronger and more stain resistant than fibers from conventional cultured silk.

Properties of silk

Silk fabric is used for the production of clothing, underwear, and home textiles.

Fabric characteristics: silk

Luxurious texture. Silk fiber is pleasant to the touch, because it has a very soft and smooth texture.

Silk fabric is a breathable material. It lets air through freely. Sleeping in silk underwear is comfortable and cool even in the hot summer months.

Hypoallergenic. People suffering from allergies and skin rashes are comfortable wearing such underwear.

Durability: Although silk fabric is very thin, it is incredibly durable and resistant to deformation.

Elasticity: Silk fabric holds its shape well if you take proper care of your clothes.

Silk has a wonderful appearance. The fibers are smooth, unlike, for example, wool, which has a scaly structure, and silk clothing has a pleasant shine.

Sericin protects clothing from bacteria, dust mites and fungi.

Silk helps retain moisture. Sleeping on silk is a great way to help your skin retain its natural moisture.

Quick drying. The fabric dries quickly, making it a very practical material.

Silk fabric is resistant to heat and does not burn, unlike viscose. However, silk clothes should be ironed very carefully.

Due to the property of silk to quickly absorb dye, the fabric is easy to color, and the patterns remain bright for a long time and do not fade.

Types of silk fabrics

When asking the question “what kind of fabric is silk?” it is impossible to answer unambiguously, because there are several types that differ in the origin of the silk and its use:

● Tual. Cotton fabric with a slight sheen. In the original version - fabric with pastoral scenes, authentic patterns. Used to create home textiles, various decor and accessories.

● Silk chiffon. Airy, flowing fabric of plain weave. Used to create elegant items of clothing for women's wardrobe.

● Silk-satin. This type of silk fabric is characterized by an amazingly smooth, shiny front side and a matte back. An ideal choice for almost any item of a woman's wardrobe, from underwear to office blouses and cocktail dresses. Even a simple, laconic dress made of silk-satin will look expensive and elegant.

● Dupont. Dense fabric with a sheen. Used for sewing curtains, blinds, drapes.

● Case. Lightweight fabric with shine. Used for the production of women's accessories (scarves, shawls), underwear.