The Silk Story

Between the Sheets  - Manufacturers of Pure Silk Bed Linen

We have been manufacturing our Beautiful Bed linen in the UK for over 15 years. We use only the finest 100% Pure Mulberry Silk which we personally select from our suppliers in Sichuan China.

Our silk is 19 momme and has a beautiful soft Satin finish.

The History of Silk
Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China, possibly as early as 6000 BC and definitely by 3000 BC. Legend gives credit to a Chinese empress, Xi Ling-Shi (Hsi-Ling-Shih, Lei-tzu). Silks were originally reserved for the Emperors of China for their own use and gifts to others, but spread gradually through Chinese culture both geographically and socially, and then to many regions of Asia.

 Silk rapidly became a popular luxury fabric in the many areas accessible to Chinese merchants because of its texture and luster. Silk was in great demand, and became a staple of pre-industrial international trade. In July of 2007, archeologists discovered intricately woven and dyed silk textiles in a tomb of Jiangxi province that are dated to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, roughly 2,500 years ago. Ultimately the silk trade reached as far as the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. This trade was so extensive that the major set of trade routes between Europe and Asia has become known as the Silk Road.

The Emperors of China strove to keep knowledge of sericulture secret to maintain the Chinese monopoly. Nonetheless sericulture reached Korea around 200 BC and by AD 300 the practice had been established in India.

Silk - a Natural Product
Silk is a natural protein fibre, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons made by the larvae of the mulberrysilkwormBombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture). The shimmering appearance for which silk is prized comes from the fibres' triangular prism-like structure which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles.

Silk moths lay eggs on specially prepared paper. The eggs hatch and the caterpillars (silkworms) are fed fresh mulberry leaves. After about 35 days and 4 moltings, the caterpillars are 10,000 times heavier than when hatched, and are ready to begin spinning a cocoon. A straw frame is placed over the tray of caterpillars, and each caterpillar begins spinning a cocoon by moving its head in a "figure 8" pattern. Two glands produce liquid silk and force it through openings in the head called spinnerets. Liquid silk is coated in sericin, a water-soluble protective gum, and solidifies on contact with the air. Within 2-3 days, the caterpillar spins about 1 mile of filament and is completely encased in a cocoon.

Each cocoon yields 1000 yards of silk filament, known as raw silk, or silk-in-the gum, fibre. Several filaments are combined to form a yarn. As fibres are combined and wrapped into the reel, they can be twisted to stay together.

Unique properties
Silk is a natural protein based fibre containing 18 amino acids, the same building blocks of human skin. The silk protein fibres are strong and resistant to stretching and they have strong peptide bonds which will not break.

Silk's good absorbency makes it comfortable in warm weather. Its low conductivity keeps warm air close to the skin during cold weather. Silk's elegant, soft luster and beautiful drape makes it perfect for bed linen and soft furnishings.

Silk fibres have a triangular cross section with rounded corners. This allows light to hit at many different angles, so silk is a bright fibre and has a natural shine. It has a smooth, soft texture that is not slippery, unlike many synthetic fibres.

Pure Silk Sheets are excellent for people with sensitive skin and allergy problems. Many people use Pure Silk  Pillow Cases as they are beneficial in preventing the formation of wrinkles and keeps your hairstyle looking its best. Hair and skin slide over silk  unlike cotton based fabrics which catch and pull.

Silk Quality
There are many types of Silk and very many qualities. Our silk is 100% Pure Mulberry Silk. The finest there is. Our Chinese suppliers are expert in producing beautiful silk fabrics in a stunning range of colours. Our silk is 19 momme. An excellent weight for bed linen.

Mommes (mm) is a unit of weight traditionally used to measure the density of silk. It is similar to the use of thread count for cotton fabrics. Mommes express the weight in pounds, of a piece of material of size 45 inches by 100 yards.

Silk is measured by weight either by grams or by momme (mm). 28 grams = 1 ounce. 8 momme = 1 oz.

BETWEEN THE SHEETS
Beacon Business Centre   Hopton Park  Devizes  Wiltshire  SN10 2EY   United Kingdom
email contact@betweenthesheets.co.uk

Tel 01380 739789 / 739234  Fax 01380 739456

©2005. All images and the contents of this site are the property of Between the Sheets
and may not be copied or reproduced without the permission of the company.