Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Silk fabrics or synthetic fabrics.
Which is the best?
Well let's look at the differences.
The origina of silk date back many thousands of years.
And people craved its delicate luxury feel.
Synthetics are a relative newcomer and were invented in the last century.
They are admired for their durability.
Although I must admit, silk, is also quite durable.
Over the years synthetics have come a long way towards replicating the hand and the drape
of silk.
Any many people have a hard time telling the difference between the two.
The stark differences lie in their properties, characteristics, cost and care.
So after you learn the differences you'll know which one you will prefer to use.
The first major difference between silk and synthetic fabrics is the fact that
silk fabric comes from cocoons via the silk worm.
Then it's spun and it's woven.
This can be done by both machine or by hand.
A single cocoon contains 300 to 1500 yards of filament and more than 20 cocoons
are required to create 1 fiber strand.
These strands can then be combined in the spinning process and weaving to create a whole
range of silk creations including charmeuse, noil, raw silk, shatung, tussah, dupioni.
The list goes on with each possesing its own texture and is used in all types of fine apparrel.
Synthetic fabrics are all manufactured by machines.
All involve chemicals especially petroleum based ones and the particulr products created
include nylon, polyester, ascetates, acrylics, rayon
etc.
Sometimes these are combined with natural products but generally they are not. and they
are used in all types of apparrel and commercial
applications.
Just be aware however, that synthetics are in fact chemical based.
The second difference. We will look at the characteristics of both silk and synthetic
fabrics.
You'd choose silk when the fabric is required to drape well and have a luxurious hand.
How it feels when you touch it.
The movement of silk creates static but the fibers will not pill or form into little balls.
Avoid exposure to excessive sunlight with silk as this can harm the actual fabric and
the dye colours.
Silk will absorb moisture. It is in fact surprisingly durable and if it's organic in nature or
has had only natural dyes applied rather than chemical dyes then it's also totally chemical
free.
Silk by its very nature breathes so it's ideal for all weather conditions.
It's also biodegradable which is great for our ecology and it's eco-friendly.
Especially when it's handmade, handwoven using natural dyes. that is especially eco-friendly.
Synthetics on the other hand. Any movement on synthetic fabric creates static
but the fibers will pill, unlike silk.
Avoid exposure to gases because they are retained withinthe fabric itself from the way they
were created.
There are chemicals involved as we mentioned before insynthetics. They are durable and
they are good for warmth.
However, they are not biodegradable so unfortunately for our ecology too much synthetics is not
a good thing.
The third difference to look at between silk and synthetic fabrics is the cost.
The price of silk is higher than synthetics because its production has multiple steps.
It's often labour intensive especially if it's handmade and hand woven and more than
likely imported.
Synthetics on the other hand are manufactured bt large scale machines achieving the economies
of scale that create lower costs.
Sometimes synthetics are blended with silk to reduce costs again and to give each fabric
the beneficial characteristics of each other.
Bear in mind however, that synthetics are petroleum based creations and as petroleum
prices increase so will the cost of synthetics.
Another important point to bear in mind is the relativity cost.
The purchase of a silk scarf, for example, let's say it costs you $35 to $50. That will
last you a lifetime. It may very well become a family heirloom
unlike the polyester or nylon scarf you may have
purchaed in the chain store.
So the actual costs of your silk scarf should be taken into account over the amount of time
you have to wear it and the enjoyment you have from doing so.
The 4th and final difference between silk and synthetic fabrics is the care factor.
There is quite a bit of confusion over this particular issue.
But in general, silk fabrics are hydrophilic. They absorb water. They may shrink a little
and they can wrinkle.
And it is best to hand wash them in luke warm to cold water.
always avoid piercing with a pin or a brooch because the hole will remain there permanently.
And warm iron to make sure that you do not destroy the colour within the silk itself.
ynthetic fabrics on the other hand are hydrophobic. They actually repel water.
But they also retain gases, odors and stains.
They will resist wrinkling more than silk and you can machine wash them.
And like silk it's best to warm iron them to avoid melting the fabric.
However, with Thai Silk Magic handmade silk, you will find that our fabrics do not shrink.
They very rarely wrinkle and you can throw them in the washing machine just like synthetic
fabrics.
They are extremely durable and very easy to take care of.
So that brings us to the end of the differences between silk and synthetic fabrics.
Which one do you choose? Well of course it's a matter of personal choice.
All we are trying to do is make you aware of the consequences of your choice and the
consequences of synthetics.
Sure they're cheaper but there are also toxic chemicals involved and they are non-biodegradable.
Silk on the other hand is safe, eco-friendly, healthy and if its handmade and hand woven,
it can also be sustainable.
I wish you wel in your selections and I hope this was of some help to you.