What is Silk?
Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture). Silk production also occurs in nature without human intervention, such as with the silkmoth Samia cynthia.
Silk became an important item in long distance trade between China and the West starting in about 2800 BCE, and played a vital role in establishing cultural ties between them. Chinese records indicate that Japanese diplomats and Buddhist monks used it to pay tribute to the Chinese emperor as early as 600 CE.
How Silk is Made?
The process of making silk involves several steps:
1) First, the raw silk thread—which looks like a fine white powder—is fed into a machine called a reeling machine. This machine winds multiple silk threads onto one spool to make what’s called “reeledsilk.”
2) Second, this reeledsilk is then taken off the spools and put through a process called “throwing,” which twists two or more strands together to create stronger yarns.
3) Next, these thrown yarns are ready for weaving or knitting into fabrics on looms or knitting machines. Depending on how it will be used, different types of fabric are made using either a plain weave or twill weave technique.
4) Finally, any remaining impurities are removed from the fabric through a process called “degumming,” which uses soap and hot water (or sometimes just steam). Once degummed, the fabric is ready for dyeing—or it can be used in its natural state as “rawsilk.”