The finest silk fibers, and most of what we use today, are produced by "cultivated" silkworms grown in a controlled environment. The worms are fed a diet of mulberry leaves and increase their body size 10,000 times in their short life span. Once the cocoonis spun and before the worm hatches through the silk into a moth, the cocoon is soaked in hot water then unraveled, producing filaments that can be up to a mile long in size. The raw silk is then processed to remove the sericin - the natural "gum" that protects the fibers and causes them to stick to each other as the cocoon was spun. Silk is a protein fiber, similar to wool or to human hair. It is only natural for silks to have some irregularities –sometimes called "slubs". This is the nature of the 100% silk fabric. Silk that has been processed can be woven or knit into a variety of fabrics. Silk will shrink, so if you are using it to construct clothing, be sure to preshrink it. Silk often has a wonderful feel, (referred to as a"hand"), and an almost iridescent sheen that makes us think of luxury. The weight of silk is shown as "mm" – pronounced"mommy" – and varies within the different types of silk. Some favorite high quality silk fabric include silk satin, silk charmeuse, silk chiffon, silk crepe, silk organza, silk dupion, silk duchess satin, silk georgette, silk habotai, silk tulle, silk taffeta, silk twill and sandwashed silk fabric.

Stretch silk fabric has all the softness and bright luster of silk fabric, but with spandex added for superior stretch and comfortable movement. Usually it contains 90% ~ 98% silk with 2% ~ 10% spandex portions. Stretch silk fabric usually comes as stretch silk satin, stretch silk charmeuse, stretch silk crepe de chine, stretch silk georgette, stretch silk chiffon and stretch silk 4-ply. Some called it silk lycra fabric or silk span fabric.

Generally, when we think of traditional silk fabric, silk satin is the fabric we have in mind. The back of the fabric is a flattened crepe while the front is a shimmery satin weave. Silk charmeuse fabric has even more drape than silk crepe de chine and works well for scarves, blouses and lingerie. Occasionally we will offer scarves in silk charmeuse.

Stretch silk satin / Stretch silk charmeuse is made of 2% spandex and 98% mulberry silk. Stretch silk satin fabric has elasticity compared with ordinary silk satin. As a new member of silk fabric family, stretch silk satin is becoming more and more popular among consumers. In the meantime, stretch silk satin features nobility, smoothness, density. Stretch silk satin fabric is used widely in garments manufacturing, such as dresses, sleepwear and pants etc. We would like to put stretch silk satin at the priority of our recommendation list when you are looking for silk fabrics for making evening dresses. Elasticity of 6% spandex with brilliant lustre makes the requirements of tightness and gorgeousness well catered.

Usual Usage:

Stretch silk satin / Stretch silk charmeuse is used widely in garments manufacturing, such as dresses, sleepwear and pants etc.

------Predatex Silk Co.,Ltd., a China based company who is exporting only 100% mulberry silk fabric!