You’ve seen silk used in bedding, clothing, and other accessories such as gloves, headbands, and even beauty products. This super soft, luxurious fabric has become famous for its plethora of natural qualities. But, where does silk from?
Silk is a fabric like no other. Historically, its unmatched beauty, durability, and comfort were prized by the ranks of nobility — Roman and Arabian aristocrats in particular. The rarity of the fabric made it all the more precious.
What is it about silk that has captivated humanity for thousands of years, making it a still-sought-after status symbol today?
Unlike cotton or hemp, which are made from plant fibers, silk is a protein fiber made from the saliva of silkworms, a small insect scientifically known as the Bombyx mori moth.
Silk also holds great potential in the biomedical field. Because it’s strong and antimicrobial, silk has a long history in medicine. Recently, it’s even been explored for its potential in skin regeneration.
About silk-producing began？
To find out where this all started, we have to go back in time. Silk production originated in China, around 2640 BC. Legend has it a Chinese princess discovered silk after a silk cocoon fell into her cup of tea. The hot water unravelled the cocoon, and she managed to pull out a silk fibre that was several metres long.
Upon this discovery, the princess and her serving women begin to weave the silk fibres to make the luxurious fabric which we now know as silk. From that point forward, China discovered the life cycle of the silkworm and managed to keep the production of silk a secret for thousands of years.
Types of silk
There are many different types of silk from all different corners of the world. The silk we’re using is simply known as Mulberry silk, because of the type of leaves fed on by the silkworms. When compared to other variations of silk, Mulberry silk is often superior because it is the softest kind.
How is it used today?
One of the benefits of silk is that it is naturally temperature regulating, which means that in cold temperatures it will keep you warm and in warm temperatures, it will keep you cool. Because of this, silk is now used frequently in bedding. Keeping you comfortable throughout the night, the gentle fabric can actually help you sleep better because your body temperature is a fundamental factor in getting a good night’s sleep.
This property of silk is also useful with bedding, pajamas, and other homing accessories like silk pillowcases, silk scarfs, silk storage bags, etc. Silk is a superior material for clothing because it is naturally hypoallergenic, and will not irritate the skin, making it the perfect choice for those with sensitive skin.
