Silk Chemise:More to them than You Knew by
Charlena
Silk chemises are classic. They are worn by women of any age.
Silk chemises are comfortable and sexy nightwear. They are
easy to wear and usually come with a g-string panty.
A silk chemise is a natural protein fiber fabric that can
be woven into textiles. It is obtained from the cocoon of
silkworm larvae reared in captivity. The process of harvesting
the silk from the cocoon kills the larvae. The shimmering
appearance for which silk is prized comes from the fibers'
triangular prism-like structure, which allows the silk cloth
to refract incoming light at different angles.
Silk fabric like that used for a silk chemise was first developed
in early China. Legend gives credit to a Chinese Empress.
Though first reserved for the Emperors of China, its use spread
gradually through Chinese culture both geographically and
socially. From there, silken garments began to reach regions
throughout Asia. Silk rapidly became a popular luxury fabric
in the many areas accessible to Chinese merchants, because
of its texture and luster. Because of the high demand for
the fabric, silk was one of the staples of international trade
prior to industrialization. Perhaps the first evidence of
the silk trade is that of an Egyptian mummy. In other centuries,
the silk trade reached as far as Europe and Africa. This trade
was so extensive that the major set of trade routes was known
as the silk road. The Emperors of China kept the knowledge
of silk secretive from other nations in order to maintain
a monopoly on its production.
Wild silks are produced by a number of undomesticated silkworms.
Aside from differences in colors and textures, they all differ
in one major respect from the domesticated varieties. The
cocoons, which are gathered wild, have usually already been
chewed through by the caterpillar or silkworm before the cocoons
are gathered and thus the single thread which makes up the
cocoon has been cut into shorter lengths. A variety of wild
silks have been known and used in China, India, and Europe
from early times, although the scale of production has always
been far smaller than that of cultivated silks. Wild silks
are produced by caterpillars other than the mulberry silkworm.
The term wild implies that these silkworms are not capable
of being domesticated and artificially cultivated like the
mulberry worms. Commercially reared silkworms are killed before
the pupae emerge by dipping them in boiling water or with
a needle, thus allowing the whole cocoon to be unraveled as
one continuous thread. This allows a much stronger cloth to
be woven from the silk. Wild silks also tend to be more difficult
to dye than silk from the cultivated silkworm. The beautiful
and expensive golden colored wild silk called Muga is produced
only in parts of Burma. This silk has always been highly prized,
not only for its beautiful natural golden sheen, which actually
improves with aging and washing, but for the fact that it
is the strongest known natural fiber. Garments made of it
outlast those made of ordinary silk by fifty years or more.
So when you purchase a silk chemise keep these things in mind
and hand wash your garment for lasting wear.
About the Author
Charlena has over 10 years of experience in the
silk apparel department for a large retailer of clothing. She
enjoys helping customers with their gift selections and giving
them insights on the latest trends and styles. Charlena shares
views and comments on http://www.silkfacts.com
which includes silk draperies
as well as a buying guide
