Researching natural materials and their background: Silk

"Today, silk is yet another word for elegance, and silk garments are prized for their versatility, wear ability and comfort. Silk, or soie in French, is the strongest natural fiber. A steel filament of the same diameter as silk will break before a filament of silk. Silk absorbs moisture, which makes it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Because of its high absorbency, it is easily dyed in many deep colors. Silk retains its shape, drapes well, caresses the figure, and shimmers with a luster all its own."


 Ref:http://www.fabrics.net/silk.asp

"Silk -- elegant, versatile and washable. In the past, owning a silk garment meant not only the initial price of the garment but also the cost of dry cleaning. All silk is washable. Silk is a natural protein fiber, like human hair, taken from the cocoon of the silkworm."


Most silk fabrics can be washed by hand, it does not shrink like other fabrics. Woven silks can be tightened by exposing them to water for example "crepe de chine of 14mm".


However silk fabrics can shrink if they haven't been treated or washed properly before garment construction.

Caring for silk
A good shampoo works well on silk. It will remove oil and revitalize your silk. Do not use an alkaline shampoo or one which contains ingredients such as wax, petroleum, or their derivatives, as these products will leave a residue on your silk and may cause "oil" spots. If static or clinging is a problem with your silks, a good hair conditioner may be used in the rinse water.


Ref:www.fabrics.net/silk.asp 


  
Ref: silkwormshop.com                                       Ref: silkwormsink.blogspot.com


I wanted to research silk as I am aiming to use it as one of my fabrics within my trend prediction. As mentioned above silk is an elegant material which I would like to portray as its more natural form throughout my design process through the use of mixing with other natural fibres to maintain this elegance about it. Silk will be well on trend this coming fall (A/W 2011-12) as it will be followed through from S/S 2011 with deeper and richer tones when describing colour. Which shows that silk is a versatile fabric and is suitable for all seasons.


Other fabrics that I am going to use silk alongside will be Faux Furs, cotton, Leather, and Wool keeping this years Winter Wonderland Wardrobe all natural that has a Smart / casual / Chic look at the same time as being edgy.



Ref: artofthepictures.blogspot.com


This is a picture taken from a chinese factory where they harvest silkworms. I didn't really find this picture interesting 
because of the silkworm' , but simply because of the structure they are "working"  within  as i feel it will give me
inspiration when coming up trend prediction.


Also I want silk to be a part of my natural trend prediction as it is a natural fibre that has such elegance.


Contemporary Art made of silk.

Nathan Gray's bright and beautiful "aggregations" will feature during the festive season in ACCA @ Mirka, an ongoing collaboration between the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and Mirka at Tolarno Hotel. Nathan's wonderfully exuberant ecosystems, made from the fiesta of cocktail umbrellas, coloured paper and decorative tat, will grow from the ceiling and incorporate silk screen prints, collage and found objects.

Ref: huma3.com