A Peaceful Alternative

Silk, cashmere, leather, these are some of the most valued and appreciated materials on the market for many reasons. They are softer, warmer, durable or simply more beautiful than other fabrics. But what is the process for producing these goods? Silk in particular, is a textile that’s origin often goes unconsidered, because it may be slightly less obvious than the origin of a material like leather. But where does silk come from?

The silk worm; a little guy we’ve all heard of, who does a very big job. It is amazing to think that all silk products result from the work of these tiny worms. In preparation for its metamorphosis, the silkworm spins a cocoon made of one continuous strand of saliva. These cocoon strands are unraveled and reeled to result in what we know as a silk strand. And while it is easy to marvel at the concept of this process, there is an unfortunate and cruel aspect that is often unknown. Traditionally, once a silk worm spins its single-stranded cocoon, its life is the cost of collection. To avoid breaking the strand, the cocoons are boiled with the worms still inside, both to kill the worm and to soften the silk. According to animal rights groups, a single pound of silk can cost around 3,000 worms lives to. And while the silk worm may not be fluffy, fuzzy, cute, or cuddly, we believe there is value in its life.

You may have noticed our new home goods labeled as “peace” silk. Because fortunately, there is a cruelty free alternative to traditional harvesting methods, which spares the life of the silk worm while still yielding a beautiful and luxurious fabric. Peace silk, also known as “Eri” silk, is harvested after the Eri silk worms of India have completed metamorphosis and left their cocoons as moths. The natural escape of the moths causes the single strand of the cocoon to be broken, and therefore in need of repair. The repair process results in a silk strand that contains small “nubs” where the strands are reconnected; the nubby strands are then spun like other fiber rather than reeled. Through this process, a soft, cozy and highly valued silk yarn is made and yields a unique texture to the. We choose this beautiful and humane fabric to make luxuriant home accessories and apparel. This assures these silk products not only feel good, but also that you can feel good about them. From here on out, when you read the words “peace silk” you can rest assured that it means, “No silk worms were harmed in the making of this product”.

Sources:

http://thekindlife.com/blog/2012/09/alicia-silverstone-what-is-peace-silk/

http://greenopedia.com/wild-peace-silk/