Silk and the world’s economy

August 4th, 2011

In the past, silk has driven economies, lent its name to the road which connected the far corners of the world for the first time, facilitated the trade of goods and ideas and has even been used as currency. The story of silk is woven into the story of the modern world.

In ancient times, the Romans and other nations would import silk in vast quantities from the Far East using the Silk Road, from the mysterious tribe “seres” (the “silk people”), who we now know as the Chinese.

Today, silk trade represents 0.2 percent of the global textile fibre market (An exact global monetary value is difficult to assess, since reliable data on finished silk products is not record in most importing countries.). The biggest importer of silk fabric today is America, a nation which has an appetite for luxuries. The modernisation of the textile industry decreased the demand for the fabric when artificial silks were developed and quality of silk coming from china dipped. Today, as China's economy booms, we enjoy beautiful fine quality silks which far surpass artificial imitation materials, and for which the world’s economy provides a healthy demand.

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Why does the silkworm make silk?

July 27th, 2011

Why does this amazing animal spin the beautiful and strong silk threads which we use to produce this incredible fabric?

Silkworms are part of a family of insects which undergo metamorphosis during their journey into adulthood and this is the key to why the silkworm spins silk filaments. The Silkworm is the larva or  caterpillar of the silk moth (in the case of fine mulberry silk, the silk moth bombyx mori). It hatches from an egg and immediately begins feeding on mulberry leaves until it is ready to metamorphosis into the adult moth. During this process of profound change, the larva itself is extremely vulnerable to attack because it loses the ability to move. Because of this, the moth has evolved the ability to spin itself a protective cocoon, made of an incredibly strong material.

When the cocoons are unravelled they become the silk filaments which are the basis for silk production. Bombyx Mori produces the finest quality Mulberry Silk, which you can find woven into beautiful elegant products such as silk sheets, silk ties and silk shirts here at Silkwood Silk.

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How to tell good quality silk

July 27th, 2011

High quality silk can be distinguished from lower quality silk textiles by its superior smoothness, lustre and thickness. You should be able to instantly recognise this, but it may be difficult with no comparison. In this case there are some things to look out for:

  • Make sure the silk is 100 percent mulberry silk (also called cultivated silk or bombyx silk). Longthread mulberry silk is incredibly durable.
  • Look for a momme count of no less than 10 (this is pronounced “mummy” and indicated by the symbol “mm”). Momme is the standard weight measurement for silk fabric and indicates the heft of the fabric.

Artificial silk should be avoided. Synthetic textiles are produced in such a way that they provide an inferior lustre and shine in in comparison  to silk. These fabrics cannot begin to imitate the durability and the superior thermal properties of high quality mulberry silk. Here at Silkwood Silk, be assured that you will find a fantastic range of beautiful high quality silk products such as silk duvet covers, silk pillowcases, silk shirts and fantastic silk ties.

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Three amazing facts about silk

July 27th, 2011

Some interesting facts which you may not know about silk…

  1. Silk is the most durable natural fibre known to man.

Because of its amazing molecular structure, it has the same tensile strength as steel – this means it can endue huge amounts of stretching and stress without breaking.

  1. The silkworm can spin filaments of silk which are up to nine hundred meters long!

The annual world production represents 70 billion miles of silk filament, a distance equal to well over 300 round trips to the sun.

  1. The silkworm (Bombyx mori) no longer occurs in the wild.

Its nearest wild relative is Bombyx mandarina with which it is able to hybridize. After 5000 years of domestication for silk production, this species is now entirely dependent on humans for its reproduction and no longer occurs in the wild.

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Silk, the ancient material of the future: Fiorenzo Omenetto on TED.com

June 27th, 2011

Fiorenzo Omenetto shares 20+ astonishing new uses for silk, one of nature’s most elegant materials — in transmitting light, improving sustainability, adding strength and making medical leaps and bounds. On stage, he shows a few intriguing items made of the versatile stuff. (Recorded at TED2011, March 2011, in Long Beach, CA. Duration: 9:41)

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The Molecular Structure of Silk

June 22nd, 2011

Why is silk so soft, shiny, durable and lustrous? The molecular structure of silk accounts for the characteristics of silk which we take pleasure in.

Silk Fibroin

At a molecular level, the particles which make up a silk fibroin form a ‘pleated sheet’ structure. Rather than covalent atomic bonds, the bonds between the strands are attractive hydrogen bonds which remain strong even when stretched. This arrangement gives silk thread its high strength and flexibility. This uniform, pleated surface structure also reflects light effectively, giving silk its lustre.

The R-groups represent amino acids. These pack out the fibroin strands and make silk smooth to touch and good for the skin.

There are also other irregular groups of amino acids present which give silk its sparkle and shimmer. These are the small and beautiful natural irregularities, which make silk such a special and sought after textile. These amino acids also bond well with dye molecules, making silk colour retentive and resistant to fading.

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How to Store Silk Bedding

June 22nd, 2011

This post provides some simple tips on how to store your silk bedding to ensure that it is kept in good condition:

Store silk in a cool, dark and dry place

-       Airtight containers are perfect for silk storage as they prevent moisture damage. If you do not have an airtight container or are storing silk for a short period, putting packs of silica gel in the folds and around the outside of the sheets will absorb excess moisture.

-       Vacuum packing is a great way of storing silk bedding as it is airtight and will compact the bedding to optimise your storage space.

Insect protection

To repel insects, such as moths which can wreak destruction on all bedding, it is not advisable to use mothballs and harsh chemical sprays as these can leave a strong odour in the fabric, which is unpleasant and difficult to remove.  Cedarwood balls are a great natural alternative repellent which you can place in the cupboard on and around your silk bedding for protection.

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What is TOG and what TOG value do I need?

June 22nd, 2011

TOG is a measure of thermal resistance used in the textile industry. A high tog value has a higher thermal resistance than a lower tog value and will keep you warmer. Lower tog value blankets are sometimes referred to as summer togs while higher tog value blankets are referred to as winter togs.

The thickness and weight of a blanket is not universally related to the tog value because different materials have different thermal properties. For example, silk duvets are thinner than other blankets of the same tog value, but will keep you just as warm because silk is a great insulator.

The tog you require will depend on your general climate. If you often find yourself overheating under conventional high tog duvets, but find that summer duvets do not keep you warm, then silk duvets may be your perfect solution as silk insulates but the lattice structure of the silk filling is also breathable.

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The Silk Road

May 10th, 2011

Although the famous historical trade route which connects the Far East and the West is called the Silk Road, this title is slightly misleading. The Silk Road is actually made up of many different roads, with three main trade routes: the north, central and south roads. These connect the length and breadth of the vast continent of Asia and extend into Europe. The name ‘The Silk Road’ was coined by a German scholar during his studies of the Roman Empire, because it was the road by which silk reached the luxury seeking Romans.  The silk came to the Romans from the distant and mysterious tribe known to them as ‘Seres’, meaning  ‘The Silk People’, who we know today as the people of China.

The Silk Road allowed items other than silk to be traded across the globe, including furniture, paper, jewellery and spices. Silk was an excellent trade item for China, and perhaps the best, because it was considered such a luxury and thus fetched a great price. Raw silk was traded, as well as dyed rolls, tapestries, embroideries and clothes. In any form, it was ideal for traders to travel with as it was easy to carry, did not spoil, took up little space and was of high value relative to its weight.

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Scientists Create Silk Electronics

May 10th, 2011

Silk has always been renowned and revered for its beautiful and flattering drape on furnishings and against the human body (such as silk shirts). But in 2009 a new application of silk was discovered by scientists interested in human-electronic interfaces. In medical situations where brain activity needs to be closely monitored, silk’s softness and flexibility means it can be used as a base for electronic circuitry. The human body is very unlikely to reject the fibres, whereas synthetic fibres are often rejected, causing serious medical complications. Silk is also biodegradable, which means that it will eventually dissolve inside the body. This means that it does not need to be surgically removed once it is no longer required. This means that it the perfect substance for biological applications.

The research and development of the silk electronics came to fruition last month and is now being applied in other electronic technologies where flexibility is essential.

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