About Silk
Silk is a fine natural fiber obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm. Silk is the only naturally occurring textile continuous filament and consists mainly of protein. There are different types of silkworms. The most well-known are mulberry silk and Tussah silk.
Mulberry Silk
Since the silkworms bred for silk production feed exclusively on the leaves of the mulberry tree, it is called mulberry silk.
The production of mulberry silk has been perfected through millennia of breeding. The caterpillar spins a particularly fine and even thread that forms a cocoon. The cocoons are collected and boiled before hatching. This allows the silk thread to be reeled off the cocoon.
The mulberry silk fiber can be up to 3500 meters long. It is very fine, has a pearl-white sheen in nature, and can be dyed in brilliant colors.
Tussah Silk:
Tussah silk is a wild silk and comes from the oak silkmoth, native to India and China. The cocoons are collected for processing after the butterflies have hatched, meaning the silk is not reeled but spun.
Compared to mulberry silk, it is dull, more irregular, firmer, somewhat rougher, and has a yellowish color. Tussah silk is relatively insensitive to alkalis. Products made from Tussah silk can usually be washed and are more durable than mulberry silk products.
History of Silk
The long history of silk is an important part of Chinese civilization. Many legends surround its origins. One of the most famous takes place in 2700 BCE. While on a walk, the wife of Emperor Huang Di (Lei Zu) observed a silkworm spinning a cocoon in which it transformed into a butterfly, and Lei Zu had a brilliant idea. She had the long silk threads unwound from the cocoon and woven into soft fabric. It was successful. Thus began the blossoming of Chinese silk art.
For a long time, the Chinese guarded the secret of silk production, while the beautiful fabric reached Europe through trade along the Silk Road, where it was highly coveted and as valuable as gold.
It wasn't until 522 AD that smuggled silkworms arrived in Europe. From then on, silk production was established in Europe, including Italy and France. To this day, China remains the main producer of silk. India and Japan follow.
Facts about Silk
- As a protein fiber, silk is compostable.
- Around 500 cocoons or 32 kg of mulberry leaves are needed for one T-shirt.
- The production of a single silk dress requires almost 70 kilograms of mulberry leaves.
- The thread of a cocoon can be reeled up to 3500 meters.
- The thread has a thickness of just 20 micrometers. In comparison: a human hair has a thickness of approx. 60-80 micrometers.
- A rope made of metal can carry less weight than a rope of the same thickness made of silk.
