Suitable
What is silk?
For many, silk evokes a feeling of timeless luxury. The soft texture and chic sheen of this natural fibre have made a lasting impression on fashion lovers. Silk ties and cufflinks are classic examples of this. The elegance of silk adds extra refinement to an outfit, so it is no surprise that the fabric is widely used in eveningwear such as dinner jackets and cummerbunds. Silk also appears in more casual clothing these days.
How is silk made?
Silk consists of the thread that the silkworm spins around itself when it pupates. That thread can be as long as a kilometre and protects the caterpillar during pupation. In common production, the cocoons are immersed in hot water before the moth emerges. This has two functions: the glue between the windings dissolves, and the thread stays in one piece. If the moth were to break out by itself, it would gnaw the cocoon apart and you would be left with only short pieces. The long threads are then combined into yarn and woven into the characteristic glossy fabric.
Properties of silk
Although silk is light in weight and feels delicate, it is one of the strongest natural fibres in existence. Because the fibre regulates moisture efficiently, silk dries quickly. It also insulates excellently, keeping you pleasantly warm without being thick. Silk also takes dye well, which allows bright and vivid colours. The fibre is also suitable for people with sensitive skin, because there is little room for house dust mites in the smooth weave.
Is silk animal-friendly?
That depends on how it is harvested. In regular production the pupae are killed while still in the cocoon, to keep the thread in one piece; roughly five thousand cocoons are needed per kilo of silk. In contrast, there are small-scale producers who deliberately wait until the moth has emerged and then collect the empty cocoons. This variant is known as Ahimsa silk, also called peace silk. It yields a slightly less smooth thread, because it is spun from shorter pieces.