About Silk

• Fabric Care
•   Coir
•   Cotton
•   Hemp
•   Jute
•   Linen
•   Silk
•   Angora
•   Alpaca
•   Cashmere & Llama
•   Mohair
•   Wool
•   Acrylic & Modacrylic
•   Nylon
•   Polyester
•   Polypropolene
•   Acetate
•   Cupro
•   Polynosic and Modal
•   Triacetate

There are two types of silk, ‘Cultivated’ silk, (from a silk worm) and the other is ‘Wild’ or
‘Tussur’ silk (from moths), and is creamy or brown coloured.

Click here to down load a printable PDF File so you can print this information with the accompanying Easy Care Chart

Common Silk Fabrics
Brocade, chiffon, crepe, damask, georgette, grosgrain, moiré, ottoman, satin, shantung, shot
silk, taffeta, velvet.

Recommended Uses
Blouses/shirts, skirts/trousers, shorts, ties and cravats, casual and formal dresses,
sleepwear/lingerie, suiting, upholstery and curtains.

Properties
The elasticity (or stretch) of silk is good, helping its durability. Silk can have very good
‘drape’, especially if made into a satin.
Like wool, silk can absorb approximately 20% moisture before feeling wet. Silk actually
gives off heat when absorbing moisture! (The ‘chilling effect’ is not apparent at first, but
wet silk can get clammy on your skin after a while).
Silk is usually made up into lightweight fabrics, therefore drying reasonably quickly (the
heavier the fabric the more time it requires to dry). Perspiration is readily absorbed but will
eventually rot the fabric if not laundered regularly, with care. Silk actually has poor sunlight
resistance, even though it is worn in hot climates.
Silk can become static, but still is a very comfortable, smooth fibre to wear.
Silk is not usually attacked by larvae or mildew, but can, when left in humid and warm
conditions without proper laundering. White silk that has been stored for a while will
yellow with age. This is inevitable.

Degummed Silk
Degummed silk (when the protein ‘Seracin’ is removed from the silk strand), is very smooth
in texture, causing many people to think that silk is soft, when in fact the texture of silk can
range from medium/hard to very smooth
Degummed silk also has a specific lustre (shine), due to its smoother, slightly irregular
texture. This lustre is softer and more pleasing to the eye than the lustre of synthetic
fabrics.

Care
Hand wash silk in cold water, as higher temperatures will yellow or dull the colour of the
fabric. Over-steaming with your iron has the same effect.
It is recommended to dry silk in the shade out of direct sunlight.
When ironing silk, make sure it is slightly damp, using a cool iron (on the reverse side). Silk
stretches more when wet, (leading to fabric distortion over time), but wrinkles come out
more easily in this state.
Silk can be dry-cleaned. Always use recommended silk bleach.

INFORMATION REFERENCED FROM: Textiles for Modern Living. 5th Edition. By E.P.G Gohl