There’s a reason silk has been a favorite fabric for centuries of emperors and commoners alike – it’s all-natural, supremely soft, lightweight yet strong, and is one of the most versatile fabrics on the planet.
The Goddess of Silk, Lady Hsi-Ling-Shih, the wife of the mythical Yellow Emperor, was believed to have developed the process of unraveling the thread from the cocoon of the silk worm, and to have begun the first silk-cultivation farms in China. Artifacts associated with “sericulture” (the raising of silkworms to obtain raw silk) have been found along the Yellow River in northern China, dated to between 2600 and 2300 BC, or even earlier.
Silk quickly became a much sought after commodity as its luxury spread westward. The famed Silk Roads, trading routes that grew between the great silk producing centers in China, through Persia and India to the Mediterranean, were largely responsible for the growth of international trade and the spread of culture and knowledge.
Luxurious, yet practical
Silk is one of the most versatile fabrics currently in production. Silk fibers appear delicate but in fact, are considered the strongest of all natural fibers. Due to its capacity for absorbing moisture, silk is temperature regulating – cool in summer and warm in winter.
Silk is used in everything from fine apparel and home furnishings to medical sutures and prosthetic arteries. It can be dyed a rainbow of deep, vibrant colors, and floats over the body with a shine and shimmer all its own. Plus silk isn’t as fussy as some would have you believe – many silk products can be machine washed on a cold, gentle cycle.
Silk has long been associated with the highest luxury – and it is no wonder. For sheer elegance, drape, comfort and style, there is absolutely nothing to compare with the allure of silk.
Not just a fabric for a shimmering gown on worn on the red carpet, silk pillowcases are one of the best loved beauty secrets of movie stars and models. Silk is a 100% natural fabric, is hypoallergenic and temperature regulating. Composed of sixteen different amino acids, some say silk is beneficial for the skin, helping to prevent wrinkling, and also can keep your hair looking healthy and shiny. Whether that’s a scientific fact or not, it feels heavenly against your skin as you sleep!
If you’d like to learn more information about silk and other sheet types, check out our new infographic! There’s also still time to enter our contest over on our Facebook page.
1 Comment
Wow- great info on silk! I never thought about it being actually good for you to sleep on!