Mulberry silk
Silk
is a natural material made from silkworm cocoons. Silk is a luxurious material
used in clothing and bedding for many centuries. The highest quality silk is
called mulberry silk. Mulberry silk is pure in color and has longer strands
than other types of silk. Long strands are the most important aspect of
mulberry silk and the main feature that distinguishes other low-quality silks. The
most well-known silk captive mulberry silkworm is found in the Bombyx mori
larvae cocoon. About 97% of raw mulberry silk comes from six Indian states,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and West
Bengal. Since the silkworms of the Bombyx mori moth are fed only mulberry
leaves, the resulting silk is one of the best available in the world. Mulberry
silk, with its pure white color and individual long fibers, is more refined
than other types of silk.
History of mulberry silk
The
origin of silk dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Mulberry silk is
the highest quality silk available for purchase. The unique thing about
mulberry silk is how it is produced. Mulberry has a history of silk in China,
where local farmers grow mulberry trees and collect leaves for silkworms to
eat. The resulting cocoons are cut into raw silk fibers. Varieties of silk
produced in India are made using mulberry.
Silk
cultivation spread to Japan around 300 AD and by 552 AD the Byzantine Empire
was able to get silkworm eggs and start silkworm farming. The Arabs also
started producing silk at the same time. As a result of the expansion of
sericulture, Chinese silk exports became less important, although they still
dominated the luxury silk market. The Crusades brought silk production to
Western Europe, especially to many Italian states, saw an economic boom
in exporting silk to the rest of Europe.
The
development of production techniques also began in Europe during the Middle
Ages, with devices such as spinning wheels first appearing at this time. In the
sixteenth century, France joined Italy in developing a successful silk trade,
although other countries' efforts to develop their own silk industry failed.
In
the twentieth century, Japan and China regained their earlier dominant role in
silk production, and China is once again the world's largest silk producer. The
emergence of new imitation silk fabrics, such as nylon and polyester, has
reduced the spread of silk around the world.
Properties of Mulberry silk
i.
Mulberry silk low density makes for light and comfortable clothing
ii.
It has high resistance to deformation
iii.
It has good insulation properties / warm in winter, cool in summer
iv.
It has the strongest natural fiber available
v.
It has shimmers and shines
vi.
It has a good affinity with dye
vii.
It contains 20-25% elongation at the break
viii.
It has color could be yellow, brown, green, or grey
ix.
Sunlight tends to encourage the decomposition of silk by atmospheric oxygen.
x.
It contains 11% moisture regain but can absorb up to 35%
xi.
It is the highest quality silk.
xii.
The moth larvae feed on the leaves of the Mulberry tree and therefore the name
of the silk is mulberry silk.
xiii.
It is pure white in color and has long fibers that are individual.
xiv.
It is completely natural and odorless silk.
xv.
There is not a minimal possibility of possessing any allergic reaction on the
body.
xvi.
Silk proteins, fibroins, and sericin are processed in biomaterials due to their
biocompatibility, biodegradation, great mechanical properties, thermotolerance,
and UV protective properties.
How mulberry silk is made?
Silk
production is a very complex process. Silk is made from silkworms, caterpillars
of the flightless silkworm, whose only food is fresh mulberry leaves. Silkworms
hatch from eggs and become entangled in cocoons, ending their existence from
which they emerge as silkworms. The female insects lay eggs to resume the
cycle. Silk yarn is obtained by killing silk pupae in their cocoons, boiling
the cocoons to loosen the yarn, and then spreading the yarn. The yarn is then
treated in various ways to prepare it for use in weaving for making silk textiles.
Mulberry
silk is always considered an expensive type of natural silk. Its smoothness and
strong fibers, both show its distinctive characteristics. Mulberry silk is made from
the silkworms of the Bombyx mori moth. The moth has a job and that is to lay
eggs. After it lays about 500 eggs, its work is finished and it dies. Eggs of
tiny pinpoint size are gradually placed at 65°F with temperature and carefully
raised to 75°F for hatching.
In
Bangladesh, almost all silkworms are reared in large bamboo trays in village
huts. Raising silkworms is very laborious, especially towards the end of the
season when thousands of silkworms are concerned. A silk season (bonding) lasts
up to 30 days depending on the temperature. Bangladesh has four to five silk
seasons a year. The main ones are Chaitra (spring), Jaistha (summer), and
Agrahayan (autumn). Silk dyeing, weaving, and printing are done in small rural
workshops as well as in mechanized urban factories. The silk market in
Bangladesh is mainly domestic. The demand for silk far exceeds the domestic
supply, and silk textiles are mainly imported legally and illegally from India.
Applications of mulberry silk
i.
Mulberry silk is made for surgery for many centuries. The recent
rediscovery of the biological properties of silk has created new fields of
research and use in the fields of cosmetics, health, and medicine.
ii.
Silk proteins can be obtained as pure liquids and can be regenerated in various
forms suitable for tissue engineering applications.
iii.
Used to make raw silk shirts, suits, ties, blouses, lingerie, pajamas, jackets,
handspun mulberry silk comforters, and sleeping bags.
iv.
It is great as a garment that protects against many biting insects that usually
scatter on clothing such as mosquitoes and horseflies.
v. The attractive luster and drop of silk make it suitable for many pieces of furniture. It is used for upholstery, wall coverings, window treatments, blankets, bedding, and wall hangings.
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