Published: 09 Jan 2023
Spotlight on Silk
The seductive lustre of silk never fails to enthral. Prized for thousands of years for its natural properties including; sheen, strength, durability and softness, it’s no wonder this precious natural material still represents the ultimate luxury in interiors and fashion. To find out more about the benefits of silk and how it’s used in rugs, read on below.
What is silk?
Commonly referred to as ‘the queen of fibres’, silk is a natural protein fibre obtained from the cocoons of silkworms. These cocoons are each made of one long silk fibre that the larvae produce using their saliva. On average, a strand of silk from a cocoon ranges anywhere between 300 to 900 meters long. These filaments are then either spun by hand or by machine to create yarns.
Did you know?
The process of making silk fibres is called Sericulture. It starts by raising silkworms and then processing their cocoons into the precious silk yarns.
Where does silk get its shine from?
Silk produces a shimmering optical effect as a result of triangular prism like structure. Silk rugs therefore reflect and radiate light into any room.
Where do we source our silk from?
All of our silk is sourced from the finest cultivators in China. The exceptional quality is reflected in our strong and lustrous yarns and in the magnificent sheen and durability of the final designs.
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Sunray Pink
Mary Katrantzou -
Tundra
Adam Hunter
Project by Sarah Delaney Design
Featuring Staccato by Kelly Wearstler
Project by Nicoline Beerkens
Featuring a bespoke Deco Diamond by Tim Gosling
The Benefits of Using Silk in Rugs
High Sheen and Lustre:
Its high sheen and lustre will illuminate any room
Softness and Texture:
Provides super soft texture underfoot and to the touch
Resilience and Durability:
Despite its delicate appearance, silk is a highly resilient and durable material, so can withstand foot traffic
Hypoallergenic:
Does not attract dust mites or moths
Adapts to heat:
Cool to the touch when warm and warm when cold
Natural:
It’s a natural material made using zero harmful chemicals
Its high sheen and lustre will illuminate any room
Softness and Texture:
Provides super soft texture underfoot and to the touch
Resilience and Durability:
Despite its delicate appearance, silk is a highly resilient and durable material, so can withstand foot traffic
Hypoallergenic:
Does not attract dust mites or moths
Adapts to heat:
Cool to the touch when warm and warm when cold
Natural:
It’s a natural material made using zero harmful chemicals
Good to know
Silk has a yellow undertone and does not bleach in the same way as wool, which is something to bear in mind if you’re wanting to achieve a stark white rug
The pile in handknotted rugs always leans in one direction because of the way that the weavers work. Therefore from one side of the rug silk colours will look light and bright, but moving round the rug and facing the pile towards the base of the knot, the colour will saturate and darken
When choosing a shade of colour, be conscious that silk is highly lustrous, so if you’re wanting a darker, more saturated tone choose wool, as colours always appear lighter in silk
The pile in handknotted rugs always leans in one direction because of the way that the weavers work. Therefore from one side of the rug silk colours will look light and bright, but moving round the rug and facing the pile towards the base of the knot, the colour will saturate and darken
When choosing a shade of colour, be conscious that silk is highly lustrous, so if you’re wanting a darker, more saturated tone choose wool, as colours always appear lighter in silk
Silk Rugs
Is there anything chicer or more luxurious than an all-silk rug? Our all silk designs are highly coveted and come in rich jewel tones, as well as shimmering neutrals.
Climbing Leopard
Diane Von Furstenberg
Monarch Fire
Alexander McQueen
How to care for silk rugs
Our silk rugs should last you a lifetime with the correct care. Should a stain occur, the one main rule is that you should never ever clean the rug with chemical based cleaners as this will damage the material and colour. Cool soapy water (ph neutral soap like a wool silk hand wash) is best applied liberally using a soft clean cloth to clean around all the fibres, and then use a clean dry towel to blot the excess liquid out. Professional cleaning is recommended once a year.
![Deco Diamond Dark by Tim Gosling - Flatshot
[ROOMVO]](https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-la3glidorj/images/stencil/960w/products/5006/15766/4319-timgosling-decodiamonddark-rug-1200x1800-flatshot__30312.1724079893.png)
