Indian Premium Silk
MULBERRY SILK
Mulberry silk fabric is the highest quality
silk available for purchase. The unique thing about Mulberry silk is how it is
produced. Mulberry silk has its history in China, where local farmers grow
Mulberry trees and harvest the leaves for silkworms to feed on. The resulting
cocoons are spun into raw silk fibers.
HISTORY:
Silk, also known as “the queen of fibres”, owes its discovery to China. Although its exact origin is shrouded under the shadows of many tales, according to myths and legends that Empress Leizu (2600 BC) accidentally discovered the silk filament. While having tea in the garden, a cocoon fell into the hot liquid. As she attempted to pull it out, she caught hold of the strand which led to the fibre’s discovery and subsequently, its use for weaving.
INTRODUCTION:
Mulberry silk fabric is one of the most renowned and popular forms of Silk. India has the distinction of cultivating all the four commercially known varieties of silk, namely, Mulberry, Tussar, Eri and Muga. Of these, Mulberry and Tussar are the most popular among consumers.
Mulberry silk is made from the silkworms of the Bombyx mori moth. Mulberry silkworm is named so since it feeds on mulberry leaves. As a result of the mulberry leaf diet, the resulting silk is some of the finest available in the world. Pure white in colour and made up of individual long fibres, Mulberry silk is more refined than other types of silk.
The states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu lead in the production of Mulberry silk. Anuprerna is currently working with about 8 artisans from the pure Mulberry Silk Weavers' Cluster located in the Murshidabad district.
USES OF MULBERRY SILK:
Its smooth finish and subtle sheen make it an ideal choice for elegant eveningwear, especially silk gown and mulberry silk shirt or blouse. It can be used in dresses, jackets and skirts.
Its smooth, lustrous texture makes it ideal for knitted sweaters and light shawls.
Raw silk is used to make shirts, suits, ties, blouses and other types of clothing; mulberry silk is also used to produce silk comforters and sleeping bags.
Other varieties of silk fabric, such as dupioni, plain silk and deluxe satin are made from mulberry silk. It is also used for carpeting, interior decoration (such as draperies) furniture covers and cushion coverings.
The mulberry silk proteins, fibroin and sericin are processed into biomaterials because of bio-compatibility, bio-degradability, excellent mechanical properties, thermal tolerance and UV protective properties.
CARE FOR SILK:
Being an expensive fabric, Silk needs special care. Many users feel that silk has to be dry cleaned only. Contrary to this belief, Silk can also be hand wash at home however some precautions need to be taken. Silk becomes weak in water. Therefore, if silk is continuously kept in water it may erode and lose its shine and lustre.
PROCESS OF SERICULTURE & WEAVING
Its fibres are the strongest natural fibre and are pure white in colour thanks to the mulberry leave diet of the Bombyx mori silkworks.
Mulberry silk, a renowned fabric on its own, can also be blended with other fibres to create fabric with the combined positive characteristics of both.
This is a blend of Mulberry Silk with Matka Silk which produces combined characteristics of the two materials.
HOW TO IDENTIFY GENUINE MULBERRY SILK?
Team Anuprerna
