It tends to need gentle care.Ĭrêpe de chine is a textured fabric, slightly rough to the touch. Some of these fabrics can also be made of polyester or nylon as a more affordable alternative.Ĭhiffon is translucent, very light and a lot of fun to swish around. Here are some common silk material types you might come across. Of course, the properties of silk can depend on the types of silk fabric you’re working with. Together, all of these properties contribute to the lustrous look, excellent drape, and luxurious feel of silk. Wild (Tussah) silk is different in appearance (coarser, thicker, flatter & broader with fine surface lines. The structure of silk depends on the fibre source, and this is usually either China or India. More often than not, silk used in apparel is cultivated ‘raw silk’ comprised of two smooth and transparent filament rods with a triangular-shaped cross-section (this gives silk its characteristic lustre & scroopy feel – it makes a rustling sound when you rub it between your fingers!). Silk is the only continuous filament, natural fibre, and like wool, it’s a protein-based fibre. This difference makes silk smoother to the touch and shinier to the eye, with an altogether luxurious feel. Silk fibres are smooth and straight, unlike wool, for example, which has a scaliness you’ll see if you put it under a microscope. Silk is fast drying which makes it highly practical when managing your laundry or just going about your day-to-day business. If you want a fabric that’s both thin and a good insulator, silk’s the way to go.ĭrying speed. Silk’s good at maintaining your body temperature which means it can help you feel cool in hot weather and warm in the cold. If you’re using a fabric conditioner, you’ll want something gentle, such as Comfort Pure and should always check the item’s label for washing instructions. Water weakens the fibres, though, so treat your silk carefully when you’re washing it. Don’t stretch silk unnecessarily or you may go too far.Ībsorbency. Silk is flexible and has some elasticity to it which allows it to pull itself back into shape after stretching – to some extent. If they’re treated well, silk clothes are good at keeping their shape. Silk is a lightweight, breathable fabric, which means it reduces the risk of overheating when you’re going about your day.Įlasticity. Of course, there are more properties of silk fibre than its strength. You can’t pull a strand of silk into its component fibres in the way you can with cotton. The process is time-consuming and delicate, which explains the high cost of this fabric. Silk is cultivated from the cocoon of mulberry silkworm larvae – they can make a long, continuous thread to work with. Cotton and linen are made from short plant fibres that are spun together to make longer threads. Part of this strength comes from the length of the fibres. It may be elegant and gentle on your skin, but underneath the shine it’s brimming with power. At first touch, you might be fooled into thinking silk is fragile but it’s actually one of the strongest fabrics there is. Strength is one of the most interesting characteristics of silk. To understand why you can’t get enough of this smooth and indulgent fabric, let’ look at the properties of silk. There’s nothing like the feeling of silk against your skin, whether you’re luxuriating in silk sheets or playing with your favourite silk scarf. Feel silky smooth with these nuggets of knowledge all about the properties of silk.
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