Raw Silk Fabrics and Clothes

 

If you are a fabric lover or a professional who deals in fabrics, you must be familiar with the term raw silk. You may also know what it means to wear raw silk fabrics, what properties it renders to your dresses, and how it is different from its counterpart i.e. traditional silk. If you have some knowledge about that, you can still read further down the article for I will be sharing details that you may find new and a must-read. If you are a beginner, I assure you that this article will help you a lot in understanding this fabric and the dresses made from it better, and for other fabrics also.

 

The difference between two sister fabrics

 

Before we have a look at what it means to wear raw silk, we should start at what silk is. It is a natural material secreted by silkworm caterpillars through a single opening on their head and the material itself is composed of a protein called fibroin. This forms a cocoon that surrounds the silkworm entirely. At this stage, silkworm rearers have to kill the caterpillar through heat or steam, because if it is not done at this stage, an emerging moth will come out of the cocoon, thus damaging it. That is the reason so many animal rights groups are raising their voices against the use of this fabric, as it costs silkworms their lives.

This protein is secreted in the form of two filaments that are glued together by another gummy substance secreted from the same opening that is called sericin. It is responsible for giving the silk yarns their serrated appearance. This thin layer of gummy substance has to be removed by using soap and water to achieve what is known as traditional silk, which is soft and lustrous and has very little drape due to its smooth texture. Traditional silk, however, is treated with many finishing products which are most of the time some minerals, and its drape is increased as well as the weight.

So, what we have in the form of raw silk is something that is less slippery, has a rough texture, and is something comparable to cotton, but again it is lighter than cotton. It has an excellent drape, crunchy nature, and makes some noise when you wear it. It can produce an excellent fabric that has a premium feel when you wear it and can be put into many motifs and iterations. It weighs a little more than traditional silk, almost 30 percent heavier than it is. This has to do with the gummy bolts present on the surface of raw silk fabrics.

What makes it so special? 

The term ‘natural’ can explain what this special fabric has to offer you. Besides its premium feel, when you rest your fingers on it and move them across the length, or you see it through carefully, you will notice that it has flecks and bolts that give it a little rough appearance. Due to the fact that it is natural and pure, no two pieces of this fabric will look alike. They will be slightly different from each other, contributing to the beauty and elegance of this elegant fabric.

Good material for summer dresses

It is an excellent fabric that has great drape and moisture-retaining qualities. It absorbs the moisture without being watery or damp, and thus it can be used as excellent source material of summer dresses whether they be sarees, blouses, evening wears, gowns, or even abayas. It is comfortable to wear in winters also, as it adapts to the temperature changes well. It changes its properties a little bit according to ambient temperature, this is an excellent fabric for dresses that can be used all times of year without having to worry. Raw silk fabrics are stunningly soft with a flattering drape, catering to all of your fabric needs. Indeed, it is a kind of fabric that can be named as ‘evergreen’.