The cool luxurious feel of certain fabrics against your skin is something that cannot be replicated. It is very soft and smooth and simply caresses your skin.

Silk has long been a staple and exotic fabric and a symbol of pure luxury.

For thousands of years only the elite were able to afford this rare commodity. It may have been harvested by simple farmers but it wasn’t worn by them and it had a tremendous impact on the trading world.

As precious as gold and spices were, the demand for silk was even more. This creation of nature is still sought after today. Yes, the availability has increased and more people are able to wear it but pure silk is something that is still a valuable commodity.

This article will let you know about silk’s unique history and how it helped shape the world of fashion today. You may just find out something that you did not know.

When was silk first discovered?

Silks were discovered between 6000 and 3000 BC by the Chinese. The empress Xi Ling-Shi was the first to develop the silks into fabrics. But the rarity of silks meant that only the royalty had access to this precious fabric. Gradually through gifts and trade the silks made their way to various other parts of Asia.

From Asia it was a simple matter of traders taking the silk fabric with them throughout the rest of the known world. For many centuries the Emperors of China hoarded the secret of cultivating the silkmoths in captivity. There is countless recordings or digs in which silks were discovered from around the world.

What types of clothing can be made from silk?

Any type of clothing can be made from silks. The key is not using just one strand though. Spinners have to combine several strands of silk in order to make a tough enough fiber to withstand the weaving process. Fabrics that are made from very thin silks can easily tear or rip apart.

But to answer the question, you can find silken fabrics to make anything from. If you want a pair of socks…there are certainly manufacturers out there that can provide you with them.

It is more common to find silks being woven into typical clothing items such as dresses, pants or shirts. The smooth quality of the fabric combined with its luster gives it a great appeal to virtually everyone.

Who was the first person to mass produce silk?

There really is not one single person who is written down in history as the first to mass produce silks. History does credit the Chinese for holding the majority of the market even up to this day.

True mass production of silks did not come until the Industrial Revolution. Thanks to new weaving methods and machinery, more silken fabric could be produced. The Jacquard loom helped make silk embroidery easier and less expensive.

How does silk come in so many colors?

Silks are just like any other fibre that is woven. It can be dyed to any color that the manufacturer wants. There is a process though. First the fabric must be bleached to remove the natural yellow tint that comes from the raw silks. After it has been bleached out, dyes can be added in to reach the desired shade for the finished product.

Quality silks will be dyed in a way so that you do not have to worry about bleeding or color run-off. In the past when the dying process was done by hand, the colors were fairly limited with what could be dyed naturally. With today’s chemicals and varying shades of hues, a silken fabric can be transformed into a multitude of colors.

By: Michael Selvon

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Silk is a wonderful and fascinating material and it has many different uses

Over the last thirty years, the production of silk has nearly doubled with China taking the lead. This is because the world continues to consume countless silk products. Silk is in such high demand for its elasticity, strong fibers and the beautiful sheen that it makes when woven together.

Silk continues to be used as a material to produce fine dresses. Chinese women continue to have their wedding cheongsam dresses made out of silk. They choose this material because it is one of the finest materials known in ancient Chinese culture.

Delicately woven dragons, flowers and butterflies are sewn into the silk dresses.

The material is thick so it allows a women to look leaner and have cleaner lines. Additionally, the shininess of the material is very flattering and alluring. Women’s evening gowns are also made of silk. It also falls well and is a material that is slightly warmer allowing the women’s body to feel a bit of warmth, in winter silks, even as she wears a sleeveless gown in the winter.

Silk shirts remain popular amongst women. Especially for women’s blouses, silk is a great material. It is seen as more classic and flattering since it drapes a woman’s body. Additionally, the thinness of the material allows women to easily tuck the shirt into their skirts or wear a jacket on top without having the jacket look bulky. For men, silk shirts are becoming more and more popular. Men have started wearing silk short sleeve shirts as well as long sleeve shirts. Men used to only wear silk shirts for the evening, but the lightness of the material has made it a popular alternative to cotton.

Silk is also used very frequently for pajamas. Silk pajamas feel soft and smooth and very comfortable while sleeping. Both men’s and women’s pajamas are now made of this fine thread. For women, silk is often used to make lingerie as well. Using this fine thread has become a great option since it is smooth, tends not to catch on your hair, and is very breathable for the body.

Silk scarves have also been around for a long time. The number of gorgeous patterns and designs on the scarves has made these items very expensive. Women tend to tie the scarf around their necks for warmth and for style. Men tend to carry one in their pocket as an alternative to the cotton handkerchief. Be prepared to pay more for a silk scarf with a fancy design.

More and more, manufacturers of bedding have started to make silk sheets and silk pillowcases. The health benefits of silk are starting to be more widely known. Sleeping on them helps prevent coughing and sneezing, especially for those allergic to dust mites which do not like silk. Additionally, sleeping on silk sheets is sometimes beneficial to women’s hair, helping it to have less tangles and less split ends. Beyond the solid color sheets, many makers of luxurious bedding are now offering their own version of sheets with lots of different patterns and designs in stores.

Silk has come a long way since the Silk Road. It is still a highly sought after material. Having pieces of fine clothing or a scarf or even a silk sheet silk sheet is often seen as the ultimate extravagance.

Author Jenny Wells is a personal shopper and decorator for women in Los Angeles and Miami. She has found that having silk sheets in your bedroom can really enhance and beautify the room.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Wells

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