Last Updated on November 11, 2022 by
Since ancient times, silk has been one of the most sought-after textiles, traditionally reserved for people of novelty and status. Considering Australia’s fashion industry, silk remains a pricey yet demanded material among other clothes. Because silk laundry is a fashion icon for style and elegance, careful care is required to preserve their longevity and keep them in perfect shape for an extended period.
Why Does Silk Cost More When Compared To Other Common Fabrics?
One of the reasons why silk apparel costs more is because most silk goods or raw materials are imported into the country. This raises the total price for the final products due to import taxes and other transportation costs involved. Moreover, a single silk farm plus the added effort of manufacturing and weaving fabrics makes it hard to meet the common demands, raising the price for these products. Not to mention the public image of silk being associated with royalty and wealth and the advent of other synthetic fabrics, lifting the costs of these fabrics into a more expensive category. Because it is one of the strongest natural fibres on the planet, prices are unlikely to fall any time soon, and demand will remain at an all-time high.
Taking Care Of The Silk Clothes:
As mentioned above, a fabric that costs more needs to be adequately maintained so that wearers can enjoy its benefits for the years to come. Therefore, look at some of the best practices to follow to reduce any damage and help the silk apparel retain its delicate conditions for longer periods.
When Hand Washing Silk:
Always use washing powders and detergents that are labelled specifically for silk washing and safe for the fabric.
Don’t put all the silk laundry together to prevent the colour from bleeding into other clothes.
Don’t go hard on the silk when washing, and take it slow and gentle. Actions like scrubbing, stretching or wringing the silk can permanently alter its shape and cause wear to the fabric.
Don’t hang the silk to dry out on a string but lay it out flat.
When Machine Washing Silk:
Machine washing for silk isn’t always recommended, but for those who are pressed for time for handwashes, consider the following tips:
Before putting the silk clothes into the machine, make sure the clothes are labelled as machine washable.
Turn the clothes inside out to get a better reach for the machine during the washing process.
Always use cold water for washing and set the cycle speed to a lower level to give a delicate washing. Slower speeds will prevent any unnecessary stretching to the fabric.
What To Do After Properly Washing Silk Clothes?
- Drying, as mentioned before, works best when the clothes are laid out flat over a surface and let the room temperatures do their job. Avoid direct sunlight at all costs as this can distort the colours and the fabric. Tumble drying is not beneficial here due to the delicate nature of the fabric. Sandwiching silk between two dry cotton towels also seems to do the trick, so gently roll them and let the cotton absorb the extra moisture.
- To remove any wrinkles, consider steaming as long as it doesn’t take too long. Pressing isn’t uncommon but do it at a lower setting and only if the fabric is labelled safe for that method.
- Always store the silk in a cool place that has a proper circulation of air. Don’t seal them in tight bags but rather use bags made of cotton as these are much gentler.
