Introduce royalty to your wardrobe with Silk

In one of our recent blogs, we talked about protein based natural fibres and key natural proteins they consist of. We talked about "Pashmina", which is Keratin protein based.

Today, we will talk about another protein based fabric, which is "Silk". Silk is made of Fibroin and Sericin proteins. A fabric which has been adorned by generations and symbolizes royalty.  

Fibroin is a fibrous protein constituting the core of silk, while sericin is a glue-like protein that envelops fibroin fibers with successive sticky layers that help in the formation of a cocoon (Source :https://www.sciencedirect.com/).

Silk is produced through a process called sericulture which involves raising silkworms and later processing the fibres produced. The silkworms/larvae mainly feed on mulberry leaves and hence sometimes you would hear the name “Mulberry Silk”. China is the biggest Mulberry silk exporter with 831,000 tons of silkworm cocoons being produced there in 2018. Some other countries where Silk production is also done at a significant scale include India, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Turkey.

Depending on the finish, weight, lustre and artwork the silk end products can range from affordable to ultra-luxury segment.Known for its royal sheen, tensile strength, suppleness and ease of drape, silk exudes unmatched richness and elegance. No wonder why silk garments are so often seen in museums showcasing royal family exhibits. 

For closet essentials, if you want to start off small then why not use a silk pocket scarf (for men) for special occasions or try a silk scarf (for women) which can be used with office as well as evening wear. For those who want to go with a more premium, unmatched look can don party gowns, Indian silk sarees, silk coats.

Interestingly, other than the popular Mulberry silk, India boasts of many silk varieties such as Eri silk, Tasar silk and Muga Silk; each having a unique texture.

References :

https://www.statista.com/statistics/242971/production-of-silkworm-cocoons-in-china/

Featured Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels