Assistant Professor, Sushant School of Design, Ansal University, Gurgaon
Online published on 8 May, 2017.
Silk has been intermingled with the life and culture of the mankind. Also known as The Queen of Textiles, it spells luxury, elegance, class and comfort. Mankind has always loved this shimmering fibre of unparalleled grandeur from the moment Chinese Empress Shiling Ti discovered it in her teacup. There are four varieties of silk which include-Mulberry, Eri, Muga, and Tasar which are obtained from different species of silkworms. Conventional uses of silk include apparel and home textiles where it is used to make blouses, dresses, scarves, pants and ties. It can also be made into curtains, draperies, cushion covers and sofa covers. It addition to this, silk is also used in technical textiles where it is used in items like parachutes, bicycle tires, comforter filling and artillery gun powder bags.
Today there has been revival of silk and its products with the customer preferring more environment friendly, natural and skin friendly options. Silk with its inherent qualities of being soft and supple with an abrasion ratio of only 7.4% scores highest in being most human friendly fibre. It has good hygroscopicity and moisture releasability which makes it cool in summers and warm in winters. It is being looked at fabric of beauty and health world over. Silk is also sound absorbing, anti-dust and fire retardant which makes it ideal for use in home textiles as well.
