What is silk?
Silk is a highly reflective triangular filament fiber formed from the protein secreted by the silkworm. It is a unique protein that is made from 18 amino acids that offers unparalleled strength. Silk is the strongest of all natural fibers. The world’s finest silk comes from the Bombyx Mori silkworm from China.
A Little Silk History
In the writings of Confucius it is said in the 27th century BCE a silk worm’s cocoon fell into empress Leizu’s cup of tea. The 14 year old empress noticed the delicate fiber unraveling in the hot liquid.
At first silk was restricted only to the emperor and his close relations. Inside the palace the emperor wore pure white silk. Outside he and his consort wore yellow representing the color of the earth.
Silk Properties
- Silk is soft, smooth, sensuous and luxurious.
- Silk does not conduct heat and is a poor conductor of electricity. Silk prevents the body heat from radiating outwards. This makes in comfortable to wear in cool weather
- Silk is air permeable. It naturally absorbs moisture away from your skin and releases it quickly keeping your body cool in the summer.
- Silk is hypoallergenic. Silk is made from cocoons that contain natural occurring substances that protect it from mites, fungus and mold.
- Silk is a renewable resource
- Silk produced by a silkworm, may have irregularities in the silk fiber which is a part of its natural characteristics.
Care of Silk
Underwriters and gigi garments all have dry clean as the proper care for silk. Silk loses its strength when it gets wet. However it may be gently hand washed with a mild soap in cool or warm water.
- We highly recommend Forever New, a gentle organic and biodegradable wash that keeps silk in beautiful condition.
- Never mix colors when washing silk. Never use strong alkaline detergents or bleach, which will weaken and damage the silk fiber. Do not wring or twist the garment.
- After rinsing roll the garment up in a clean bath towel to remove excess moisture.
- Air dry away from sunlight.
- For gigi woven silks, iron on the wrong side of the fabric while slightly damp. Use a press cloth on touchups on the right side of the garment.
- For underwriters’ silk knits, we recommend air drying flat without ironing.
About our Silk
Underwriters’ and gigi only silk from the Bombyx Mori in China from the country that has for centuries have made the finest silk in the world. The Chinese produce a quality unmatched in the United States.
Underwriters’ and gigi’s styling is modern yet classic, feminine yet tailored. We design for a confident woman in mind not for a man. Our goal is to produce garments that are stylish yet functional without an extravagant price. Our customers know the difference between silk and it’s man made counterparts. There is no comparison. Silk is natural luxury at it’s finest.