What Is Silk Fabric Made Of?

Although you may not realize it, silk is all around you. This luxurious fabric has a long history and is still a popular choice for clothing and decor designs today. But what is silk fabric made of, and where does it come from? Keep reading to find out more.

Humble Beginnings

Silk is a symbol of opulence and class, but where do these luxurious silk threads get their start? Silkworms. Yes, you heard that right; little caterpillars produce silk thread. As they create cocoons for their next stage of life these amazing little creatures produce a filament of silk starting from the head and adding to it as they move backward along their silk tubes. The silkworm builds silk through modified salivary glands, resulting in the formation of a continuous silk thread. Silk thread variations can happen depending on what the silkworm is dining on - which is usually mulberry leaves, their favorite! The silk threads are collected and spun until it becomes silk yarn. Then, this fine yarn is woven into silk material that will be used for a variety of fine goods.

Silk Fabric

Silk fabric can be dyed in different colors, hand-printed with hand painting techniques, or silk-screened on with silk screening machines to create decorative silk. In addition, some silk fabrics have a unique design woven right into them. Though silk fabric can be expensive, it is often used to make clothing. As natural insulator silk allows the skin to breathe, keeping people warm on cold days, and cool on hot days. Some silk fabrics are also used in home decorating.

Stone Age Fabric

Silk has an intriguing history that spans thousands of years across the globe. Silk has been used in clothing since the Neolithic period. According to garment production platform Sewport.com, China is the first country to manufacture silk and is still the world’s top producer of this luxurious fabric. Brocaded silk textiles from China, Iran, India, and Japan were traded along the Silk Road from Asia to Europe.

There may be many different types of fabric, each possessing its own unique properties, but by virtue of its strong and lustrous beauty silk stands out among the rest. It is prized for its softness, drapeability, and durability, and it is no wonder that silk clothing and decor have remained classic, enduring choices through the ages.