The advantages of silk you should know

Silk is a naturally hypoallergenic fibre, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. Our 100% silk-filled duvets, pillowcases and toppers have been tested by and awarded the BRITISH ALLERGY FOUNDATION SEAL OF APPROVAL for the removal of house dustmites.

When you sleep

Silk has also been attributed with helping hair retain its moisture keeping it shiny and smooth and with keeping facial lines at bay.

Silk is a natural heat conductor UNLIKE COTTON and can adjust it to the ambient TEMPERATURE of the room. As silk is breathable the excess heat breaths away to help keep the body at a constant temperature throughout the night.


One particular study showed improvements in patients with the skin condition eczema who used silk, but not in those who used cotton

Silk is anti-acarid, antibacterial and antiallergic to help skin stay clear and free of irritation.

What’s more, silk protein contains 18 kinds of amino acids, 11 of which are necessary for the human body. These amino acids send out subtle molecular, also called “sleep molecular”, which can make the person’s nerve in a stable condition.PROTABLE FOR ALMOST PEOPLE. 

How much do you know about silk?


Silk is a natural protein fiber produced by mulberry silkworm which is used for textile manufacturing. Silk fiber has a triangular prism-like structure which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles and with that to produce different colors.

Sericulture or silk production has a long and colorful history unknown to most people.

Modern sericulture

History of silk began in the 27th century BC in China where it remained in sole use until the commercial ways appeared from China to the Mediterranean Sea. During the latter half of the first millennium BC, Silk Road opens and silk starts to spread the world. Since silk was highly valued and appriciated outside China as well, lenghts of silk became a well-established trading commodity between China and foreign countries.It was this trade that made it possible for people in places located far away from any silk cultivation and silk weaving to wear and use silk. 

When silk was first discovered, it was reserved exclusively for the use of the ruler. It was permitted only to the emperor, his close relations and the very highest of his dignitaries. Within the palace, the emperor is believed to have worn a robe of white silk; outside, he, his principal wife, and the heir to the throne wore yellow, the color of the earth.

During the Han Dynasty, silk became somewhat of a currency. There are for instance documents from this era telling us about farmers who paid their taxes in grain and silk.  

Finally the silk threads are woven into cloth or used for embroidery work.

Clothes made from silk are not only beautiful and lightweight, they are also warm in cool weather and cool in hot weather. Today, People’s Republic of China is the world’s largest silk producer.

How to Clean a Silk Robe

A silk robe drapes the body in comfort and luxury. A delicate fabric, silk requires a gentle cleaning routine that prevents damage to the elegant material. Some silk garments may allow dry-cleaning only, but other manufacturers provide a less costly hand-washing solution to cleaning silk robes. Non-alkaline products provide a soft cleaning action for the fragile fabric. Clean your silk robe without fear using simple but effective washing techniques.

Remove any items from inside the robe pockets.

Fill a sink with lukewarm water. Add 1 tbsp. baby shampoo. Swish the water with your hand to create soap suds.

Place the silk robe into the soapy water. Move the robe gently within the water, allowing soap suds access to the entire garment. Swish the robe in the soapy water for two minutes.

Drain the water from the sink. Lift the robe out of the sink to rinse away all soap suds. Place the robe back into the sink and fill it with lukewarm water.

Lift the robe 1/4 way in and out of the water to help rinse soap suds from the clothing. Drain the water from the sink after rinsing the robe for one minute.

Lay one white towel over a hard surface. Place the robe flat over the towel. Lay another white towel over the top of the robe. Gently pat the top towel into the robe; do not smash the towel on top of robe. Allow the towels 30 minutes to absorb excess water from the robe.

Lay the damp silk robe onto a hard surface and dry flat, smoothing out any wrinkles

Tips & Warnings

You may also dry-clean a silk robe if preferred.
Do not use bleach on silk garments.
Avoid scrunching or squeezing water out of the silk robe after washing as it could wrinkle the fabric.

How to Keep Silk From Wrinkling

Pure silk is made from a natural protein-fiber obtained from the larvae of the mulberry silkworm; it has a tendency to wrinkle depending on the variety. Leaving crumpled silk garments in damp conditions also causes them to wrinkle. Some silks — like crepe de chine, habotai, noil and charmeuse — are less prone to wrinkling. Ahimsa silk — also known as “Peace Silk” because it is made from silkworm cocoons in which the silk worms are not killed — wrinkles less than other silks.

Step 1
Remove wrinkles with a hand-held steamer. Hang your silk clothes in breathable clothes-covers — in a dry place — to keep them wrinkle free.

Step 2
Iron smooth-finish silk like charmeuse on a “low” setting. Hang the garment in a breathable clothes-cover to keep it dry and to prevent it from touching other garments.

Step 3
Place the two ends of your tie together after you take it off. Roll up the tie around your finger. Slip the tie off your finger and leave it rolled up. This tightens the fabric and helps keep the tie wrinkle-free.

Step 4
Fold your silk garments after ironing. Place tissue paper between the folds. This prevents wrinkling when you store or pack the garment.

Tip
Hang up your silk garment in the bathroom when you take a hot shower. The hot steam relaxes the silk fibers. The natural weight of the garments pulls out most wrinkles.

How to Clean 100 Percent Silk Clothing

Silk fabric contains protein fibers that create the smooth texture synonymous with silk. However, 100 percent silk is very delicate, and any wash, detergent based soap or sunlight can damage the fabric and the clothing permanently. Hand wash 100 percent silk clothing to ensure the fabric is not damaged. More importantly, wash silk clothing with neutral-based pH-level soaps to avoid staining the fabric.

Fill a water bucket with lukewarm water. Placing silk in warm water will prevent shrinkage.

Add neutral- or alkaline-based soap. These soaps are not highly acidic, and they do not contain harmful detergents or bleaches, which can damage silk.

Soak the clothing in the soapy water for less than 10 minutes. Any longer, and it can damage the silk’s protein-based fibers.

Scrub the clothing to remove odors and stains. Avoid placing silk clothing inside a washing machine or dryer, as they may damage the fabric. If you must do so, wash and dry using the delicate cycle and mild soap.

Hang the clothing to dry. Avoid drying silk in direct sunlight, as sunlight may fade the color of wet silk. Also avoid using wooden drying racks, as they can stain the fabric.

What is silk fabric?

Silk is an animal protein fibre produced by certain insects, like worms and spiders, to build their cocoons and webs. It is one of the popular fabrics for apparel because of its unique properties. Silk is most luxurious fabric, the most comfortable fabric, the most absorbent of fabrics (equal to wool), the best fabric for drape, the best fabric for color, capable of the greatest lustre, having the finest “hand” etc. These are some of the factors which make the fabric more popular. The fabric is cool in summer and warm in winter

Maintaining Silk

Unwashed silk chiffon may shrink up to 8% due to a relaxation of the fiber macrostructure, so silk should either be washed prior to garment construction, or dry cleaned. Dry cleaning may still shrink the chiffon up to 4%. Occasionally, this shrinkage can be reversed by a gentle steaming with a press cloth. There is almost no gradual shrinkage nor shrinkage due to molecular-level deformation.

Uses of Silk

Silk’s absorbency makes it comfortable to wear in warm weather and while active. Its low conductivity keeps warm air close to the skin during cold weather. It is often used for clothing such as shirts, ties, blouses, formal dresses, high fashion clothes, lining, lingerie, pajamas, robes, dress suits, sun dresses and Eastern folk costumes. For practical use, silk is excellent as clothing that protects from many biting insects that would ordinarily pierce clothing, such as mosquitoes and horseflies. Silk’s attractive lustre and drape makes it suitable for many furnishing applications. It is used for upholstery, wall coverings, window treatments (if blended with another fiber), rugs, bedding and wall hangings. While on the decline now, due to artificial fibers, silk has had many industrial and commercial uses, such as in parachutes, bicycle tires, comforter filling and artillery gunpowder bags

  • Home Decor, Furnishings

Silk fabric may be used to make silk sheets, silk pillow cases, table cloths, throw covers and other home items.

Silk fabrics can also be used for decorations and occasionally used as a high-end wall covering.

I looked it up because I knew that while silk has had many industrial and non-apparel uses in the past, it seems like most of those have been replaced by cheaper and more durable synthetics. They still make silk comforters in China, although they’re expensive. And once upon a time, silk underwear was de rigeur for serious winter campers and hikers, but now people use the cheaper and easier-to-wash polypropylene version.

What is the difference between Charmeuse silk and Mulberry silk?

Mulberry silk refers to the silk made from the cocoons of the larvae of Mulberry silkworms reared in captivity. The entire production process is carefully monitored and the environment of the silkworm larvae strictly controlled to allow the larvae to spin silk threads that are rounder, finer, smoother, lighter and more uniformly colored than any other type of silk in the world. Mulberry silk fibers are also extremely strong, easily beating steel fibers of the same diameter in strength and durability.

Charmeuse silk, technically speaking, does not refer to a type of material as Mulberry silk does; it is a silk fabric made with a particular way of weaving, allowing for extra luster and shine on the front side in exchange for a dull finish at the back. Charmeuse silk can be made from all kinds of different silk including Mulberry silk and is often used on products that does not require showcasing of both sides of the fabric such as pillowcases and duvet covers.

We at Lilysilk promise you that every time you see Charmeuse silk used on our website, it means Charmeuse silk made from 100% pure and natural Mulberry silk and nothing else.

 

Some ABCs about Silk

Why Silk?

SKIN AND HAIR CARE

The smooth surface of silk means there is little friction between your skin and your bedding linen, which is said to be the biggest cause for sleep wrinkles. Sleeping on silk bedding lines enables you to say goodbye to your messy morning hair.

HYPOALLERGENIC

Silk is hypoallergenic and repels common household allergens including bacteria, mold, fungi, and dust mites alike to ensure a healthy and restful sleep throughout the night.

TEMPERATURE-REGULATING

The great insulation properties of silk help keep the temperature around your skin at an optimal level during sleep, allowing you to feel cool in summer and warm in winter.

What is silk made of?

Silk is mostly made up of two proteins, called sericin and fibroin. Fibroins are what makes up the “silk” as we know it, as they form the long strings of silk fiber that act as the structure of the cocoons. Sericin, on the other hand, is the “glue” with which the silkworms hold the fibers together in the shape of the cocoon. Large amounts of sericin is irritant to our skin, so after pupa have been removed, the cocoons must undergo a process in which they are placed in water and lose most of the sericin coating. The filaments made of fibroins are then drawn from the cocoon and weaved, eventually made into silk fabrics as we know it.

Mulberry vs Tussar/Wild silk:

Mulberry silk is produced by the silk worms of Bombyx mori moths, which eat Mulberry leaves. The process of Mulberry silk production is an ancient craft that had been in existence for over 2000 years in China. Generally speaking, Mulberry silk has better color, smoothness, luster, fiber length, fiber uniformness and elasticity that wild tussar silk, in all its coarseness and dimness, can only dream of having.

Satin & Silk Satin:

Satin is not even a type of fabric, it is just a particular way to weave any fabric so that the surface is glossy and shiny and the back is dull. Satin weave can be done with most textiles such as silk, polyester, cotton, nylon, etc., and with any quality of silk as well. So when you read “satin silk” in a product name, know it could very well be made with very low quality silk and break apart easily.

What is Momme in silk fabric?

Mommes (mm), is a unit traditionally used to measure the quality of silk fabrics. One momme = 4.340 grams per square meter. The usual range of momme weight for different weaves of silk are:

Gauze—3 to 5 mm
Organza—4 to 6 mm
Habotai—12 to 16 mm
Charmeuse—12 to 30 mm
Normally, the higher the momme weight, the more durable the weave, the more luxurious the fabric is, the more suitable it is for heavy-duty use, and the longer the shelf-life.

For bedding, the higher the weight in momme, the better the silk bedding is. Sheets between 19-25 momme are considered ideal. silk with momme weight lower than 19 are not suitable for the production of quality silk bedding linen. For sleepwear, 22mm are the most suitable fabric.

How to Identify Silk

The most effective and simple way to identify real silk is burning. You can tell the difference from 2 aspects.
1 Flames
Burning genuine silk produces a smell very similar to that of burning human hair. The flame is close to invisible when burning the edge of the real silk fabric. Very soon after the flame source is taken away from the fabric, the silk will self-extinguish. When burned, fake silk material tend to combust rapidly in intense flames, and give a smell of burning plastic.
2. Ashes
The ash from burning of real silk is black, crispy and turns to powder easily when grinded. The ash of fake silk tend to be sticky, twisted, and difficult to break apart.

Silk vs Egyptian Cotton Sheets

If you have shopped for bedding, you probably already know about the top two contenders in the high-end bedding market: Mulberry silk and Egyptian cotton, as both are a big step-up from your regular cotton sheets. Sometimes it can be quite a difficult task choosing between the two. In this article, we will present you with a quick comparison between the two textiles that will hopefully help you in picking out a choice that is more suitable for your needs. For convenience purposes, we will refer to Mulberry silk simply as “silk” and Egyptian cotton as “cotton” in this article.

– Warmth Keeping:

What distinguishes a good sheet from a bad one is its ability to keep the temperature around your body at a comfortable level. This means being able to keep warm in the winter and keep cool in the summer. Mulberry silk is generally considered to be a great insulator while cotton is mediocre in this regard. This means that in the winter, body heat tends to escape more easily through an Egyptian cotton sheet while in the summer, the extra heat from outside will not be able to penetrate your silk sheets to get to you. Mulberry silk wins by a non-trivial margin here.

– Moisture Wicking:

Another aspect that may affect the comfort of sleep significantly is moisture wicking capabilities – nobody wants to sleep with a ton of sweat. Silk is one of the best moisture wicker in the market of textiles due to the structure of silk fiber having large hollow spaces in the middle. Cotton, while a decent moisture wicker at the beginning, quickly becomes inefficient when it has absorbed a certain amount of moisture. If you consider yourself a relatively sweaty person, sleeping on a silk sheet should be much more comfortable, especially if you use a very warm comforter.

– Material Weight & Smoothness:

The third major criteria for a good sheet is how it feels on your body and skin. Silk is known for it’s smoothness (“silky-smooth”) and lightness, and sleeping on silk is extremely comfortable. Cotton, while also quite light, is significantly coarser than silk in terms of surface smoothness, which is why sleeping on cotton tends to create wrinkles and broken hair.

– Health Benefits:

Aside from the obvious benefits that a good night’s sleep brings, sleeping in silk has a few additional perks that are beneficial to your bodily health. Most of these benefits comes from the fact that silk is a natural animal fiber and thus contains the essential amino acids a human body needs for various purposes such as skin repair and hair rejuvenation. Since silk is made by silk worms to protect them from outside harm during their cocoon phase, it also has the natural ability to expel unwanted substances such as bacteria, fungi and other insects (such as dust mites), making it naturally hypo-allergenic. Cotton, on the other hand, is a plant fiber and needs to be treated before it can be weaved as threads. It is not hypo-allergenic by nature, although you can wash a cotton sheet frequently to reduce potential accumulation of allergens.

– Source:

Mulberry silk is primarily cultivated in China, India and Japan, with China producing roughly 60%-70% of the world’s Mulberry silk each year. The best Mulberry silk comes from China and Japan. Egyptian cotton, like its name suggests, originates from Egypt where cotton plants grow well due to sufficient sunshine.

– Quality Measurement & Cost:

Silk fabric is sold by its momme weight which is measured in grams per square meter. Silk of 19 momme or above is considered to be high-end. The higher the momme weight is, the more dense and opaque the silk becomes. Cotton fabric is sold by its thread count, which is measured by number of threads per square inch. A cotton sheet with a thread count of 600+ is considered to be decent. Generally speaking, high-end silk is more expensive than high-end cotton, although as a long-term investment, silk is still very much a worthwhile choice.

Overall, Egyptian cotton sheets is the more economical choice of the two, and despite not offering as much comfort or as many perks, it is still very decent in terms of the comfort vs price ratio. Of course, if you are not overly concerned about the price and wants the absolute best, then Mulberry silk should definitely satisfy all your needs for a good bedding set.

How to Wash Silk Sheets

In ancient China, silk bedding was a status symbol and only available to the wealthy. Today, anybody can purchase this luscious fabric and enjoy the benefits of having silk sheets. Silk is a lightweight and breathable material that is also hypoallergenic, durable and perfect for both summer and winter months. High-quality silk sheets can be quite costly but will last for many years if cared for properly. Silk sheets should be washed by hand the first two to three times, but after that it is OK to launder them in a washing machine as long as you use the proper method.

Inspect the sheets for any stains and attempt to remove gently with warm water and a soft sponge. Do not scrub vigorously.

Set the washing machine to the delicate cycle and ensure that the water is lukewarm. Do not use the extra spin cycle; it is hard on silk fabric and can cause damage.

Add mild laundry detergent and fabric softener if desired. Use the amount recommended by the brand that you are using. Put the sheets in the washing machine for the set cycle time.

Hang sheets on a clothesline and allow to dry in an area out of direct sunlight, which can cause damage. Silk sheets can also be dried in the dryer on the lowest temperature setting.

Tips & Warnings
Silk sheets usually shrink slightly the first few times they are washed. This is normal and not cause for concern. Wash sheets separately from other laundry to prevent damage.
Do not use bleach on silk sheets.

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