The Art of Silk: Behind the Scenes of Craftsmanship
Silk, often called the queen of fabrics, is a prized choice among those with refined tastes.
From its soft lustrous feel to its exquisite shine, silk evokes a sense of luxury and impeccable refinement unlike any other fabric.
Read on as we discuss the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into creating this priceless fabric.
Origins of Silk
Silk is not merely a fabric of choice in fashion, but a statement piece that spans from ancient times.
Ever since then, the fabric became associated with high status and royal figures due to its opulence.
The highly sought-after material originated from ancient China. Made from natural protein fibers, silk threads carry a rich history and presence.
By 140 BC, silk spread over to different regions, such as India, Persia, and Japan. Eventually, the fabric became a coveted piece worldwide.
Phase 1: Sericulture
Sericulture is the process of gathering and harvesting silkworms. That’s where silk production all begins. Once born, the little silkworms feed on lots of mulberry leaves to continue their growth cycle.
These wrigglers can take about six weeks to mature to their full size. By this time, their stomachs are filled with liquid silk made from digested mulberry leaves.
Once grown, the silkworms will start to cocoon by secreting the liquid silk and forming it into tiny threads using their salivary glands.
The worms can spin up to 300,000 times before securing their cocoon. This can take up to three to eight weeks.
Phase 2: Sorting and Boiling
After the silkworms are fully enclosed in their cocoons, workers will start to place them in boiling water to soften.
It helps ensure that the cocoon’s thread remains intact. After being boiled, each cocoon gets a quality check to make sure they contain no defects, such as holes or mold growth.
Phase 3: Extracting Threads
Following the boiling process, the cocoons will likely be covered in a fuzzy exterior of silk filaments. Workers will defloss this layer to ease the threading process.
Afterwards, cocoons are unraveled using a machine. It grabs one end of the cocoon’s silk thread and pulls until the piece is fully extracted and dried.
In most cases, machines reel more than one cocoon since a single thread is too thin to use on its own. Between 2 and 20 cocoons can be reeled together to form one thread.
Once workers have extracted the raw silk threads from the cocoons, they’re then twisted into yarn called skeins.
Phase 4: Spinning
The spinning process unwinds the yarn onto a silk bobbin. Some manufacturers use traditional silk spinning wheels.
Nowadays, more advanced industrial machines are used to efficiently spin more silk at a time. This is to prepare the threads for the next step, weaving.
Phase 5: Weaving
This is where the magic all comes together. The spun silk threads are woven to create one of the most sought-after fabrics worldwide.
Interestingly, silk weaving holds multiple techniques, from satin weaves to open weaves with the former being the most common.
Silk threads are usually interlaced on a device called a loom to create the final fabric product. These can include garments like scarves and hijabs.
Phase 6: Printing
The printing phase allows manufacturers to create a world of unique designs and patterns to suit their intended product.
Digital printing is the most commonly used method to print on a selected drawing. Alternatively, some businesses also prefer the use of hand-drawn printing methods for better authenticity.
Phase 7: Finishing
Whenever you see and touch a piece of silk, you’ll notice that sheen and lustrous feel. That’s where the finishing phase comes in.
Manufacturers apply a layer of chemical treatments to give the material that extra shine and smoothness.
Final Thoughts
At Worood, we believe that the beauty of silk lies not only in its luxurious feel but in the intricate craftsmanship behind every thread.
From the meticulous care in sericulture to the precise techniques in weaving and finishing, each step is a testament to the dedication and skill of our artisans.
Embrace the invaluable beauty of our silk creations, knowing that every piece is a work of art, crafted with passion and precision.