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 sandwash 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.

Silk Crepe de Chine or silk cdc fabric is a lightweight fabric made by twisting some fibers clockwise and others counter clockwise. The twisted fibers are then woven in a plain-weave fabric, but it's the twisted fibers, not the weave, that gives crepe its distinctive "pebbly" look and feel rather than a shiny luster. Both sides of the fabric look and feel the same. Many scarves are made of Silk Crepe de Chine, often in the 12mm to 16mm range. When purchasing ready-made clothing or considering this fabric for sewing, avoid using it in tailored styles because the fabric is too soft to hold a structured shape.

Stretch silk crepe de chine, a newly added item at us, is made up of 98% grade A mulberry silk and 2% spandex. Like silk crepe de chine, it is also a kind of famously versatile silk fabric, noted for its glossy luster, subtle texture, surprisingly lightweight as well as truly excellent drapery. Medium weights stretch silk crepe de chine is an ideal fabric for making camisol, tops and shirts as well as summer dresses. Stretch silk crepe de chine is relatively easy to sew and does not have a problem with fraying or slipping.

And dry cleaning is recommended for the care of garments made of stretch silk crepe de chine.

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