Leaf Silk
Leaf Silk

Silk - The Basics
Silk in History
For thousands of years silk has been a highly esteemed fabric. It was invented some 5,000 years ago in China, and for about the first 2,000 of those years the secret of producing silk was guarded and remained in China. Finally silkworm eggs and the knowledge of how to produce this textile were smuggled out of China and spread to many places around the globe. Silkworms are actually domesticated insects, and their scientific name is Bombyx mori, sometimes shortened to B. mori. They no longer live naturally in the wild at all, and they only exist to produce silk. If people did not keep them alive for silk production, they would simply disappear. They eat nothing but the leaves of mulberry trees (or substances made from mulberry leaves). When the worms are in their caterpillar stage they are mulberry leaf eating machines. After an enormous growth spurt they extrude a chemical to make a cocoon, and this hardens quickly when exposed to air and turns into silk fiber. The silk worms work for 2-3 days and produce one long strand of silk fiber normally about 400-600 meters in length which makes a cocoon that protects the pupa while it is in the process of metamorphosis into a moth. Silk production unravels this strand and combines it with many others to form the fabric we know as silk. It is interesting to note that most of the pupa are killed in the production process, and only enough moths are born to lay eggs for the next generation of caterpillars.
Silk Properties
Silk has many remarkable properties. It is light in weight and when used in clothing can keep one cool in summer and surprisingly warm in winter. Silk is sometimes used as a liner in winter garments. Silk is very flexible and will return to its original shape without a lot of wrinkling. It can be stretched by as much as 20-25% and return to its original condition. In particular silk takes well to both natural and synthetic dyes, and that is why it is used in colorful parts of the wardrobe such as silk scarves for women and neck ties for men. Taking silk scarves along when traveling is a good way for women to stretch their wardrobes and carry less clothing. That is, a different colored silk scarf can make the same outfit look different.
Wild Silk
There is a certain amount of production of silk made from caterpillars other than B. mori, and India is the leader in this area. This production is small and uneven, however, because the caterpillars cannot be domesticated like B. mori, and the cocoons need to be found in the wild. Also, with B. mori numerous generations can be produced in a year using heating, lighting and other techniques, whereas with the wild silkworms there can only be one generation each year. The silk made from wild silkworms is said to be a bit more rough than the silk made from B. mori.
Conclusion
Silk has a fascinating history, and in the heyday of silk production hundreds of thousands of people around the world earned at least part of their incomes from some facet of the silk industry. Since synthetic fibers like nylon and especially rayon were invented, the demand for silk has dropped a good deal, but there will always be some demand for the real thing.
Silk shibori leaf
![]() Womens Silk Leaf Print Long Sleeve Blouse By Stunt Size Medium US $2.99
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![]() 100 pure silk sheer chiffon 2 patterns brown leaf by yard US $9.99
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![]() 100 pure silk sheer chiffon 2 patterns green leaf by yard US $9.99
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![]() Vintage Framed Jim Thompson Silk Scarf Gild Leaf Bamboo Hollywood Regency Glam US $39.99
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![]() UNIQUE TOMMY BAHAMA CASUAL SHIRT XL 100 SILK DARK GREY LEAF PRINTS US $23.99
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![]() Thai Silk Hobo Hippie Shoulder Bag Purse Black Velvet Floral Leaves Brown New S2 US $14.99
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![]() Wide Silk Net Lace with Intricate Embroidered Leaves US $.99
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![]() NEW WT JAMAICA JAXX CASUAL SHIRT SIZE L 100 SILK LEAF PRINTS BLUE US $21.99
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![]() New Blue Leaf Tie Silk Jacquard Woven Mens Classic Ties Necktie Z12 US $.01
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![]() TOMMY BAHAMAM100SILK SS SHIRT PEWTER LEMON GREEN LEAF HIBISCUS NEW MINT US $29.99
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![]() GREAT TOMMY BAHAMA CASUAL SHIRT SIZE M 100 SILK LEAF PRINTS OFF WHITE BLUE US $24.99
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![]() COAST RUCHED PURE SILK JERSEY LEAF PRINT DRESS SZ 10 US $20.99
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![]() Vintage VERA Wing Tip 100 Pure Silk Scarf Red Black White Leaves US $9.99
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![]() TOMMY BAHAMA Beige w Leaves Flowers Silk Shirt Sz L Whisper Rock US $24.99
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![]() REYN SPOONER HAWAIIAN TRADITIONAL SHIRT WHITE FLORAL LEAVES PRINT SILK MEN XL US $12.99
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![]() COCKTAIL COLORS HAND MADE SILK MENS NECK TIE LEAF PRINT RED GREEN BEIGE BLACK US $4.99
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![]() THE WALT DISNEY ITALY TIGGER LEAF BLACK ORANGE Silk Men Neck Tie Necktie 4684 US $9.99
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![]() HUGO BOSS BLACK DARKGREEN LEAVES SILK NECKTIE TIE HSF17 US $15.99
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![]() VINTAGE SILK KIMONO FABRICCharming Autumn LeafL81 US $1.60
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![]() VINTAGE SILK KIMONO FABRICCharming Autumn LeafL82 US $1.60
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![]() TOMMY BAHAMA CASUAL SHIRT BUTTON FRONT SILK SIZE SMALL EARTH TONES PALM LEAVES US $5.99
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![]() VINTAGE SILK KIMONO FABRICChrysanthemum Autumn LeafL91 US $1.60
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![]() VINTAGE SILK KIMONO FABRICChrysanthemum Autumn LeafL92 US $1.60
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![]() New LANVIN 2011 Couture Palm Leaf Print Long Silk Dress Gown 36 or US 4 US $599.00
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![]() MARA HOFFMAN LEAF PRINT CAP SLEEVE STRETCH SILK DRESS SZ M US $69.99
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![]() LEAVES FLOAT OUT OF THIS SILK COME TO LIFE JAPANESE KIMONO SILK FABRIC I24 US $2.25
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![]() Silk Hippie Hobo Chic Boho Swirl Pleated Sequin Leaf Sling Bag Purse Tote Purple US $13.90
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![]() DESIGNER GOLD METALLIC GREEK KEY SILK SHIRT BAROQUE ROYAL LEAVES SETA MODA ITALY US $65.00
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![]() VINTAGE SILK KIMONO FABRICClassic Autumn LeafM15 US $5.66
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![]() VINTAGE SILK KIMONO FABRICClassic Autumn LeafM16 US $8.13
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![]() Pre Owned OSCAR DE LA RENTA NECKWEAR Green Leaf on Navy Blue 100 Silk Neck Tie US $5.95
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![]() JAPANESE KIMONO FABRIC quilt patchclothworkJAPANsilkleavesviolet US $.99
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![]() Bulk Lot Over 300 Paper and Silk Flowers Leaves and Petals Embellishments US $13.76
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![]() BLUMARINE LEAF PRINT SILK SUN DRESS NEW 38 US $250.00
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![]() Tommy Bahama 100 Silk Palm Leaf Shirt Size Mens XL Red Rust Tones US $24.99
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![]() 100 New Blue Square 35 Silk Scarf Kerchief Flowers Leaves US $8.99
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![]() BEAUTIFUL Crushed Silk Effect Leaf Scarf Clip Ring Vintage US $8.06
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![]() Vintage Ladies Hat Black Straw with White Silk Roses Leaves Velvet Ribbon US $9.99
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![]() EILEEN FISHER Purple lagenlook silk like rayon PANTS S M subtle leaf pattern US $6.99
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![]() 30 Pretty Pink Silk Flowers 2 1 2 diameter ea W 2 leaves ea NWT 2 Per Card US $4.99
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![]() Vintage JACQMAR silk scarf outlined leaves and flowers on pink US $1.60
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![]() GORGEOUS J TAYLOR LONG SILK LEAF PRINT MAXI DRESS SIZE 12 US $24.22
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![]() WHITE STUFF cotton silk leaf print top tunic Size 14 US $8.08
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![]() Powder Blue Silk Skirt with feathers and leaves US $3.00
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![]() 2 Giant Split Leaf Philodendron Leaves Artificial Silk US $10.00
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![]() Silk Hermes Tie Red and Gold Gingko Leaf Pattern Excellent Condition US $90.00
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![]() LINDA ALLARD ELLEN TRACY LAVENDER LEAF SILK BLOUSE SIZE20 US $75.00
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![]() Diane Von Furstenberg Maternity Coral Pink White Leaf Print Stretch Silk Top M US $39.99
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![]() WW1 Silk Postcard Canada Maple Leaf And Flags Design with Card US $4.83
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![]() BLUE LEAF 50s STYLE OLIVE GREEN SILK STRAPPY SIDE ZIP LINED CAMISOLE TOP 10 US $4.83
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![]() Japanese vintage Silk Kimono Fabric PINE LEAVES 70m US $5.43
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![]() EASTERRABBIT HORSE BUGGY SILK FLOWER 4 LEAF CLOVER CHICKEES EMB 1909 POSTCARD US $3.50
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![]() MENS TOMMY BAHAMA HAWAIIAN CAMP SHIRT SIZE EXTRA LARGE SILK PALM LEAVES RELAX US $7.99
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![]() Leifsdottir top blouse purple white black leaf print SZ 0 100 silk NWT US $49.99
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![]() Vintage Evening Cocktail Hat with Silk and Velvet Leaves US $39.99
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![]() DANA BUCHMAN Dark Jade Abstract Floral Tunic Top Leaf Buttons 100 SILK 12 MINT US $16.99
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![]() JAPANESE KIMONO FABRIC quilt patchworkJAPANclothblend silkvioletleaves US $.99
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![]() TOMMY BAHAMA LIGHT GREEN DARKBLUE WHITE STRIPE LEAVES SILK NECKTIE TIE HSM29 US $15.99
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![]() Old Navy 100 Silk Leaf Print 3 4 Sleeve Ruffle V Neck Top Size XXL 50 Chest US $9.98
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![]() vtg SILK leopard cheetah gold leaf NOVELTY bomber statement jacket coat US $14.99
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US $2.99































































