Pros & cons of silk fabrics.

Pros and Cons of Silk

 

Silver silk fabric

 

Nicknamed the ‘Queen of Fabrics’, silk fabric has been highly sought after since it has such a luxurious texture and is well liked by royalty throughout history. This fabric has a variety of benefits, including its elegant appearance and its classic yet luxurious appearance, which can be applied to both clothing and furniture. 


The process of manufacturing Silk also makes it one of the more expensive materials in the world of fabrics. But if cared for right, it is definitely a worthy investment.


In this article, we will be touching on some of the benefits as well as the flaws of this beautiful fabric that you happy sewers should be aware of before purchasing for your next project.



Green silk fabric

 

Pros of Silk:

Silk is well known for its ability to create beautiful drapes. Here are some of the many positive aspects of this beautiful material:

  • Strength & Durability: Silk is one of the strongest natural fibers, despite feeling soft to the touch. For added durability, silk is often blended with other fibers, such as cotton.
  • Absorbency: Silk fabric’s ability to absorb moisture allows this fabric to absorb dyes well. Silk fabric’s high absorbency allows this material to be breathable.
  • Texture: Silk fabric gives off a luxurious feel due to it’s flattering sheen. It also has an incredibly soft and lightweight hand feel which feels smooth on the skin. 

Cons of Silk:

As amazing and versatile that silk is, there are flaws to this well-loved material, including:

  • Shrinkage: Silk fabric shrinks in the wash, so it is best to have it dry-cleaned to avoid fabric shrinkage. That being said, sometimes manufacturers pre-wash the fabric before it is constructed into clothing items and that can be an expensive process.
  • Cost:On top of being one of the costlier fabrics, silk fabric is also costly to maintain. Dry cleaning services are not very easy on the pocket and this fabric requires special attention and care.
  • Sun Damage: Although silk fabric is pretty strong and durable, long exposure to sun rays can cause the fibre to weaken. This will cause material ripping and also colour fading much quicker than any other material.
  • Water Damage: Silk fabric can absorb moisture in large amounts. However, it is prone to water stains which is really tough to remove.

 

 

Water stain Fabric tear 2Fabric tear 

 

Of course with modern technology, there are other synthetic fabrics that can replace Silk such as Viscose and faux Silk which are much friendlier to the pocket. However they may not hold the same lustre and texture as silk. 
There are also many home tutorials nowadays to help guide Silk fabric lovers how to care for your material at home, without burning a huge hole in your pocket.
With that being said, we hope you silk lovers out there will gain some new insights to this beautiful fabric and consider it for your next sewing project.
Do tag us on Instagram as we would love to see your creations with the many beautiful silk fabrics we have in our store.
 
Unsure about purchasing fabrics when you've never felt them before? Not to worry! We offer a Sample Swatch Service, delivered right to your doorstep. 
Click here for more information.
Alternatively, if you'd like to drop by our warehouse and have a personal feel of our fabrics, do make an appointment with us at support@thefabricmarketplace.com.
 
Till next time!
Stay Safe and Happy Sewing!

 

 

Image Sources:

Silk fabric 1: Photo by Anna Nekrashevich from Pexels

Silk fabric 2:Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels

Water stain: https://bit.ly/3C1XkbN

Silk fabric tear : https://bit.ly/2VjfiGM

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