The Origin of Silk

Silk, often called the "Queen of Fibers," is a luxurious textile that comes primarily from a special kind of insect: the silkworm.

The history of silk begins in ancient China, dating back nearly 5,000 years. Legend holds that around 2700 BCE, Empress Leizu, wife of the Yellow Emperor, discovered silk. While having tea in her garden, a silkworm cocoon fell into her cup. As she reached for it, she noticed the cocoon unraveling into a single, long, shimmering thread. Inspired by this discovery, she began to study silkworms and developed the process of sericulture—the cultivation of silkworms for silk production.

The Source: The Silkworm

The most common source of silk is the silkworm, the larvae of the silk moth. Their entire life's purpose is to eat leaves and spin their cocoons.

Sericulture: The process of raising silkworms is highly delicate. The worms must be kept in clean, temperature-controlled environments and fed exclusively on fresh leaves.

Spinning the Cocoon: After several weeks of growth, the silkworm begins to spin a liquid protein from its mouth. This liquid solidifies upon contact with the air, forming a continuous silk filament. The worm then wraps itself in this thread, creating an oval-shaped cocoon.

Reeling the Silk: To obtain an uninterrupted silk filament, the cocoons are boiled in hot water to soften the sericin, a gummy protein that holds the cocoon together. Artisans then carefully unravel the single, unbroken thread from the cocoon. A single cocoon can yield a silk filament that is several hundred to a thousand meters long.

Weaving: Once the threads are reeled, multiple filaments are twisted together to create a yarn that is then used for weaving.

From a tiny silkworm cocoon to a final piece of magnificent silk fabric, the entire process is a tribute to patience, skill, and the wonders of nature. This is what makes silk so valuable and gives it its unique luster and soft feel.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At 1 Fabric Silk collection utilizes two distinct types of natural silk, each offering unique textures and benefits Mulberry Silk and Wild Tussah Silk.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mulberry Silk

The Queen of Textiles

Mulberry Silk is the highest quality silk available in the world. It is a natural protein fiber produced by the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori. Renowned for its unparalleled smoothness and radiant luster, it serves as the premium foundation for legendary Chinese textile arts, including Gambiered Guangdong Gauze Silk and Song Dynasty Brocade Silk.

Origins

Traditional Sericulture: Harvested from silkworms raised in a controlled environment, where they feed exclusively on fresh mulberry leaves.

Ancient Heritage: Originating in China thousands of years ago, the production of Mulberry Silk is a cornerstone of Eastern culture and luxury trade history.

Key Characteristics

Unmatched Fineness: Compared to the more robust Wild Tussah Silk, Mulberry Silk fibers are exceptionally fine, round, and smooth.

Natural Luster: It has a unique pearlescent sheen that refracts light at different angles, creating a luxurious glow.

Exceptional Purity: Because the silkworms are domesticated and fed a strict diet, the resulting silk is incredibly uniform and pure white in its raw state.

Supreme Softness: Known for its "second-skin" feel, it is incredibly gentle and reduces friction, making it ideal for high-end fashion and intimate accessories.

Hypoallergenic: Naturally resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew, making it the safest choice for sensitive skin.

Temperature Regulation: It is highly breathable, helping to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Moisture Management: It can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in moisture without feeling damp, keeping your skin hydrated and comfortable.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tussah Silk

The Treasure of Nature

Wild Tussah Silk is a premium natural filament produced by wild silkworms (Antheraea pernyi). As a rare and precious resource unique to China, it is celebrated as a high-quality fiber that combines health benefits, environmental sustainability, and luxury. Compared to mulberry silk, Tussah silk is thicker, more resilient, and offers a more textured, "wild" aesthetic.

Origins

Historical Heritage: China is the world's pioneer in wild silkworm rearing, with a history dating back to the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties.

Geographic Source: It is primarily produced in the Liaoning (notably Xifeng County), Shandong, and Henan provinces of China.

Natural Growth: Unlike domesticated silkworms, Tussah silkworms feed on oak leaves in the wild, absorbing natural minerals and tannins.

Key Characteristics 

Structure and Composition: The fiber is composed of two parallel, flat monofilaments merged together. It consists primarily of silk fibroin (approximately 85%) and silk sericin (approximately 13%), containing 18 types of amino acids.

Appearance: It features a natural golden-yellow hue. The cross-section is a flat oval shape with longitudinal grooves, providing a unique jewelry-like luster.

High Strength: Its tensile strength, elongation, and resistance to acids and alkalis are superior to those of mulberry silk.

Warmth and Breathability: Its porous structure makes it fluffy with strong moisture absorption, providing excellent warmth and breathability.

Durability: It has excellent heat resistance with a high ignition point (300 Degrees - 460 Degrees), making it difficult to burn. It also possesses antibacterial, anti-corrosion, and UV protection functions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The exquisite craft techniques applied to Mulberry Silk

Gambiered Guangdong Gauze Silk & Song Dynasty Brocade Silk

Click to Explore Our Gambiered Guangdong Gauze Mulberry Silk

 

Click to Explore Unveiling the Art of Gambiered Guangdong Gauze Silk:

A Step-by-Step Journey

 

Click to Explore Song Dynasty Brocade Silk: A Wearable Masterpiece

 

Click to Explore The Art of Weaving: The Creation of Song Dynasty Brocade Silk