What is Silk?
It is the fiber insects produce as a material for their cocoons. There are multiple types of silk fabrics manufactured in the clothing industry. The earliest example of silk fabric is from China, which was used to wrap the body. The country has reserved its place to manufacture silk for years.
But now, it has spread across the globe and brought in great types of fabric. The process of obtaining silk is complicated. The filaments produced by the insects are spun to make silk fibers and then processed into a material.
What are the different types of silk?
Handling the silk material should be done very delicately. Generally, it requires dry cleaning and extreme caution while washing the fabric. Also, avoid chlorine bleach that destroys the luxurious texture, and exposure to the sun damages the cloth.
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Raw Silk: It is a slightly coarser fabric to retain the fibers for longer intervals. This is a cost-effective material that is valued for its great texture. It is popularly used as a semi-formal and casual material.
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Mulberry Silk: This is the easiest and most cost-effective type of silk fabric. It is known for its strength, durability, and softness.
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Tasar Silk : It is the most commonly produced fabric. India and Japan are the home to tasar silkworms.
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Muga Silk : is produced in Assam as the worms are semi-domesticated.
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Eri Silk : This is also called peace silk which is heavy and durable.
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Spider Silk : The silk fabric is highly tensile and extremely expensive. It is used to make telescopes, bulletproof vests, microscopes, and other niche products.
What are the primary uses of the silk fabric?
It is primarily used in fashion garments, household items, medicine, and tires. The clothing is highly absorbent and removes moisture to make it perfect for summer. While in winter, it has low conductive properties to keep the body warmer. Also, it is sometimes blended with rayon, viscose, or cotton fabrics to provide great properties.
Let us give you a few uses of the silk fabrics:
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Formal Wear : The lustrous appearance of the material gives you great comfort in the formal attires. As you need to wear them for longer intervals, it provides great breathability and ease of maintaining the look.
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Bridal Wear: Silk is an ideal choice for gowns and dresses as it is beautifully draped and floats to give a serious look.
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Scarves and Ties : The strength and color make it a great accessory. The high-end ties made using silk fabric give the attire a rich color, durability, and patterns. The material is perfect for scarves as it provides great warmth and decoration.
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Upholstery : The material is perfect for covering pillows and furniture to provide a durable and strong covering.
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Wall Hangings : Some beautiful wall hangings are woven using silk material as it reacts with great colors and dyes.
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Bedding : Silk sheets bring a height of luxury and give great softness. This makes it a perfect choice for bedding with its great shine.
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Parachutes : They were originally used for making parachutes due to their great elasticity and strength.
What are the benefits of wearing silk fabrics?
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Saves you from hot temperature
The warmth in the neck, chest, and face is the most uncomfortable symptom someone has to suffer. Many people suggest sleeping in breathable and light fabrics. So, wearing silk clothing and sleeping on cool silk sheets will help reduce the heat.
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Avoid Skin irritation
The material has antimicrobial properties. It helps the skin to stay free of anger and makes it clear. Silk fabric comprises natural, long, and smooth fibres woven together. It will decrease the loss of moisture from the skin.
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Safe from Allergies
Some people are very sensitive to certain fabrics due to the chemical or natural substances. Silk fabric will save you from dust mites, fungus, and other allergies.
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Comfortable Sleep
Bedding plays a huge role in getting a comfortable sleep. Some bedding material will irritate the skin and invite dust mites which affect sleep. So, silk fabrics are the softest possible slumber to dress your bed.
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Glowing Texture
The silk fabric is tightly-woven with smooth fibers to keep the moisture close to the skin. This will keep your body hydrated and provide great comfort. Sometimes a chantilly lace is added to bring a better texture.
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Highly Absorbent
The material has great absorbency as it handles moisture well in clothing materials.
How do you wash your silk fabrics?
When you wash the silk garment, you may damage the fabric. Silk garments require a proper procedure to make them durable for longer intervals:
- Make a habit of airing the garments to make them feel and smell fresh. Silk is highly resistant to dust and dirt, which means it requires less frequency to be washed. It is quicker to remove stains.
- Apply gentle detergent to avoid dissolving the fabric and making it brittle. The mild laundry detergent would retain the smoothness and shine of the material.
- Never mix colors or hard-wash the material as silk can bleed its colors.
- Wash it at a lower temperature and grease a bit to remove the stains. To maintain the luster and color, keep the right temperature.
Conclusion: Maintaining a
silk fabric is beyond washing and drying. Store the material easier to keep your body cool and dry from allergies. The material is luxurious and beautiful fabric only if you wash and care properly.