What are the different types of silk?

At first impression, silk radiates refinement and elegance. But what is it about silk that makes it so appealing? Is it the features that first catch the eye, such as the richness and shine? Is it the complex manufacturing process? Is it the heritage that dates back a long time? Is the price tag the only factor? Whatever the cause, buyers long for silk nighties and silk bedding, making it a highly sought-after product.

You might not be aware of this, but many other types of silkworms can be used to make silk, and occasionally even no worms are needed. Regardless of the origin, these moths and worms create "fibroin," a protein that is the primary component of silk. Various varieties of silkworms will produce textiles with various qualities. Here is a brief overview of what to anticipate from differentt types of silkworms.

Mulberry Silk

The most widely chosen type of silk among different silk varieties is mulberry silk. 90% of the global silk supply comes from it. This popular type of silk is prepared from bombyx mori silkworms, which eat mulberry shrubs. This is mainly used for silk clothing like silk nighties, tops, and silk bedding.

It is simple to obtain since it is a common kind of silk. The necessity for careful maintenance to preserve this type of silk's fine texture is one of its drawbacks. Moreover, it is frequently acquired unethically by murdering silkworms in their cocoons and harvesting the long fibres.

Muga Silk

Muga can be compared with Tussah silk as Antheraea assamensis, the semi-trained silkworm behind its preparation belongs to the same family. Being an Indian silk muga silk is characterized by its golden colour and shiny look.

Muga manufacturing is said to be more environmentally friendly because silkworms don't need special handling. Because of this, it is also cheap silk.

Also Read: Silk Nightgowns vs. Satin Nightgowns: Which One Is Better?

Tussah Silk

Silkworms from the tussah region generate tussah silk. This silk, in contrast to other silks, has a distinctive light golden to dark brown colour. This is a consequence of tussah silkworms eating tannin-rich plants.

These heavier tussahs prove that silk is one of the strongest fibres available, which makes it the perfect fabric for sofas, coats, and sweaters.

Sea Silk

Sea silk is one of the most costly varieties of silk in the world because it is so fine, uncommon, and fragile. Sea silk is created by a particular snail known as the "noble pen shell," or Pinna nobilis, and is not generated by any land-dwelling species, unlike traditional silks like mulberry and tussah silk, which are produced by silkworms. Pinna nobilis, a Mediterranean species, produces byssus, a type of natural fibre that it uses to tie itself to the ocean floor. Once extracted, these threads are what are used to create the lovely and naturally brown-colored silk that is currently so scarce.

Eri Silk

Eri silk is well recognised for its thermal qualities; it is neither as soft nor as fine as mulberry or sea silk. Eri silk can keep users warm in the winter and cool in the summer; nevertheless, although having some similarities to mulberry silk, which is also naturally temperature regulating, it hasn't yet taken over as the preferred silk for fabric manufacturing. This is partly because of the suppleness and greater weight of this sort of silk, which gives it a wool-like feel to the touch. Although this has reduced its opulence considerably compared to other varieties of silk, it is particularly well suited for blending with other materials like wool and cotton, hence is frequently the primary option for manufacturing silk-blend goods like curtains, bed coverings, and other clothing.

Also Read: High-Quality Silk vs. Poor-Quality Silk

Art Silk

Art silk is not a naturally occurring fibre; rather, it is intentionally created by humans, unlike mulberry, muga, eri, and tussah silk, which is generated by silkworms, and spider silk and sea silk, which are made by spiders and molluscs, respectively. Art silk, often known as bamboo silk, is the term used to describe any synthetic fibre that resembles silk but is not real silk. There are several ways to recognise "Art Silk" if there is no label on a product, even if you can usually determine whether a thing is a real silk or not by glancing at the label.

The Conclusion

So, now you know different types of silk that can be used to prepare different silk products. However, if you want to buy high-quality, beautiful silk bedding or silk nighties, Slipintosoft is a leading supplier of silk clothing, bedding, and other silk product made from the world’s finest silk.

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Disclaimer- The information provided in this content is just for educational purposes and is written by a professional writer. Consult us to know more about different silk varieties.