In today’s world, silk is one of the most high-valued and luxurious fabrics for clothing, bedding, or upholstery. People admire this natural fiber for its strength, shine, resilience, and softness. Also, its elegant appearance and feel position it as a luxury material within the fashion industry. This makes it a high-end material for garments.
Silk takes up only 0.2% of the global textile industry. However, this small percentage is nothing compared to the actual trading value. The silk industry (also called sericulture) is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Regardless of the trading value and appearance, below, we explore the question: is silk sustainable?
Silk is a natural fiber that consists of fibroin, which is the protein some insects secrete to make cocoons. Essentially, fiber is the material these insects produce to make their cocoons and nests.
Mulberry silk is the most common type, which producers derive from Bombyx Mori, a worm that lives on a mulberry tree. This is the silkworm that the industry primarily uses in the commercial production of silks. Mulberry contributes around 90% of the total global raw silk production.
Aside from using either wild or domesticated silkworms, sericulture also produces other types of silk. This depends on the type of insect the manufacturers use to produce the silk fibers. Other types include spider silk, coan silk, mussel silk, eri silk, and tussar silk.
On paper, it is possible to generate fabrics without harming the silkworms. However, many sericulture practices involve boiling the cocoons with the silkworms inside because it helps to prevent the long silk strands from breaking. Naturally, this practice of boiling the silkworm inside the silk cocoon has raised many ethical concerns.
Animal cruelty is the main concern here because this process leads to the death of these insects. As a result, peace silk emerged. Peace silk, or Ahimsa silk, uses a less-lethal process. It allows the silkworms to evacuate the silk cocoon before boiling. In this light, the production process of peace silk enables these silkworms to live their natural life. Also, producers breed silkworms under natural conditions. This means these silk farms don’t use chemicals such as insecticides and fungicides.
Silk is an ancient luxury fabric. Today, sustainable and ethical fashion brands are paying attention to the kinds of silk fabrics they use and the means of harvesting silk. As a result, some of them settle on vegan silk alternatives such as Tencel Modal and Lyocell.
Sustainable silk fabric is a great option for any commercial or residential project. It’s durable, sustainable, and beautiful.
Sustainable silk fabric is a highly versatile material that can be used in a variety of ways. It is made from natural silkworm eggs, which are collected, cleaned, and dyed before being woven into fabric. Sustainable silk fabric has many benefits over traditional cotton or synthetic fabrics:
- It is stronger than cotton, but still soft to the touch.
- It dyes easily, so you can choose any color you want!
- It’s biodegradable, so it won’t pollute the environment when discarded.
- It’s hypoallergenic, so those with sensitive skin can wear it without irritation.
The way that sustainable silk fabric is produced also makes it cost-effective for consumers. Unlike some other types of sustainable materials that require special equipment or processes, making sustainable silk fabric uses materials and techniques that are already common in the industry, which keeps costs down for both manufacturers and customers.
Pros and Cons of Silk Fabric
Pros
- Texture: Silk has a soft and smooth texture that gives it its luxurious and high-end appeal.
- High-Absorbency: This fabric handles moisture well, especially for clothing items. This makes it breathable. Also, it absorbs dyes well, and manufacturers can use low-impact or natural dyes.
- Durability and Strength: Despite its delicate feel, this fiber is considered one of the strongest natural fibers and results in a durable fabric.
- Biodegradable: Raw, untreated silk is completely biodegradable after its useful life. This makes it an eco-friendly choice.
Cons
- Wrinkling: One of the downsides of silk textiles is that they wrinkle easily. This means they require frequent ironing to look presentable.
- Care and Shrinkage: The clothing items shrink easily in the wash. As a result, you may need to dry clean often, which can be expensive.
- Water and Sun Damage: As much as it’s a strong and durable fiber, overexposure to the sun can weaken it. This can also lead to fading of the textile. Also, water damage can occur as a result of water staining the materials.
Brands that Use Sustainable Silk Fabric
The Ethical Silk Company
This company produces loungewear, wraps, scarves, and pillowcases. The brand ethically makes these from 100% natural eco-friendly silk.
Brooke There
Brooke There is a sustainable women’s underwear brand. It provides long-lasting minimalist underwear and lingerie pieces ethically made in the United States. The brand uses organic fabrics such as natural silk and organic cotton.
Skin
Skin provides sleepwear, lingerie, and swimwear essentials with natural fabrics. It offers pieces made from washable silk, including silk blends. The company offers a range of options that are GOTS-certified.
Reformation
Reformation is a sustainable clothing and accessories brand. The brand makes eco-friendly, fashionable pieces that stand the test of time. The selection of textiles for pieces is limited to those with minimal impact on the environment. These include certified silk, recycled cotton, and deadstock.
Silk vs Viscose Rayon
Unlike silk, viscose is plant-based. Viscose rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber from wood pulp. Some producers and brands sell it as an alternative to silk. It has a similar look, thereby mimicking the luxury textile.
Fashion consumers have described it as looking like silk, but feeling like cotton. However, viscose is cheap to produce and the manufacturing procedure involves heavy chemical usage.
Silk vs Lyocell
Lyocell is another semi-synthetic fiber made from wood cellulose or pulp. On the other hand, silk is a natural protein fiber. The history of lyocell began when researchers and chemists were testing ways to create artificial silk. The method of manufacturing lyocell is less toxic than other types of rayon.
Unlike silk which requires extra care with washes, lyocell is better machine washable. Lyocell is also vegan and relatively cheaper.
Conclusion
There are many layers to unpack when examining silk, from the method of acquiring the fiber to manufacturing and ethics. Although there are now innovations that target protecting silkworms, there are still concerns about whether they are 100% safe.
With regard to sustainability, organic silk proves to be the better option. When picking out fabric, it is important to check for the necessary details. These include the origin or source, manufacturing, treatment of workers, and certifications.
