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What is Silk?
Silk is an age-old fiber, one that was so valued during the Roman Empire, it was considered “worth its weight in gold.” Silk absorbs moisture, which keeps the wearer cool in summer and warm in winter. It also travels well—it’s durable, drapey, and resists wrinkling.
The type of silk used in Classic Silk is called Bourette or Noil silk. It comes from the mulberry silkworm. These silkworms feed continuously on mulberry leaves for 30 days. Then they begin to use what they have consumed to spin the wonderful fiber that we know as silk.
Although Bourette comes from mulberry silk worms, it isn’t the shiny slippery silk we usually picture. Instead, it has a rustic look and feel. Ater the mulberry silk is harvested, the bits that remain are collected, combed, cut and spun into a fiber with a subtle sheen and nubby texture. Bourette silk is reputed to have a healing, calming effect on the skin—which is why it is sometimes used in making liners for cloth diapers.
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