Artificial and Natural Silk: Fabric Specifics
Silk is truly the ideal fabric for both clothing and bedding... but only if it is natural. In its structure and composition, it is similar to human hair: it consists of 97% protein, with the remaining 3% containing fats and waxes. This is precisely why silk is hypoallergenic. Completely. Furthermore, silk practically does not accumulate dust and prevents the growth of pathogens on its surface. π
The hygroscopicity of the fabric is impressive β from 35 to 50% of its own weight! Forget about static. By the way, if you have purchased silk fabric and it gives you a static shock, rest assured β it is, alas, a fake. π
Although I have sung odes to silk, I must admit β it does have its drawbacks:
- price β even artificial silk is expensive, and natural, high-quality, dense silk costs from 1000 UAH per linear meter;
- silk fibers degrade quickly under sunlight;
- a real treat for moths. π
I would like to separately note the difficulty of cutting and sewing (especially for beginner seamstresses). Silk requires razor-sharp scissors and precise, confident movements. You should also take care with seam allowances β make them larger than the usual 5-10 mm as a precaution. Personally, I always interface the edges.
Due to the high cost of the fabric, silk is regularly counterfeited. Sometimes the fakes are so perfect that they are visually indistinguishable from the original! And that would be fine if you knew it was an artificial analog and were paying accordingly...
## How to distinguish artificial silk from natural? There are several ways:
Burn a few threads. A natural thread smells like burnt hair, a very characteristic odor. Artificial silk melts and smells like synthetic material (if it's polyester) or smolders and smells like burnt paper (viscose). A burnt clump of natural silk easily crumbles between the fingers like charcoal.
By the sheen. Natural fabric retains its luster for years, sparkling and shimmering in the sun with all the colors of the rainbow. Artificial silk shines white, i.e., it has a monochromatic sheen.
By the structure. Natural threads are softer, more elastic, and less prone to creasing. Squeeze the fabric tightly in your fist for 5-10 seconds and release. Strong creases indicate a non-natural origin, while barely noticeable ones indicate the opposite.
I want to defend artificial silk right away. It is not bad, but it does not have all the privileges that natural silk does. If the cost is a major concern, feel free to use analogs. I recommend viscose ones β such fabric breathes and is comfortable to wear. π
In addition, you can feel the fabric. Real silk is quite cold to the touch and creates a cooling effect on the skin. Also, look at the cut; synthetic silk is a very fraying material. Real silk does not fray as much along the cut edge. And remember once and for all: real silk does not come in a white shade. After processing the silkworm threads, the thread becomes a slightly creamy or off-white shade, but definitely not snow-white.