Silk is a continuous protein filament secreted by particular types of insects (sericigenous) commonly known as silkworms. Matured worms toss their heads in a figure eight, extruding a semi liquid mixture of protein, coated with a gummy substance called sericin from spinneret. The liquid silk thus ejected at the rate of about a foot per minute; becomes when expose to air, the fibre the worms use to create the fabulous silk.

Silk constitutes about 3% of the world textile trade. More than 30 countries produce silk, and India’s share in global raw silk production is nearly 17.5% behind China (79.10%).

Common name of silk

Uses of Silk

Silk is used for clothing such as shirts, ties, blouses, formal dresses, high fashion clothes, lingerie, pajamas, robes, dress suits, sun dresses and Eastern folk costumes,plain silk, deluxe, satin, chiffon, chinnons, crepe, broacades are made from mulberry silk.

Cosy and soft sky jackets, comforters, sleeping bags, Knitted materials i.e. socks, stocking are made from hand-spun silk.

Physical properties of silk filament

Physical properties of silk filament include size (denier), breaking load, tenacity, elongation percentage, and colour and luster of silk yarn.