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.

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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.