Silk Chemise: More to Them Than You Knew

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 make 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.

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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 www.silkfacts.com which includes silk draperies as well as a buying guide.