Peace silk. Doesn’t that sound so . . . peaceful?
A recent article I wrote discussed organic and natural fabrics and what to look for with brands and other details. Silk, although from a natural origin, cannot at this point be considered an organic fabric. It is also, for the most part, not a humane fabric.
Silk cocoons are tossed into boiling water to kill the growing moth before it destroys the silk fibers. This moth species, after so much cross breeding and domestication, only survives for a limited time. It’s life cycle, short as it is, is cut even shorter when the scalding water appears. Domesticated now for one purpose only, the majority never have a chance at true freedom.
That’s where peace silk comes in. Some farmers do not destroy the moth, and they let it emerge from the cocoon even though that action leaves a gaping hole. The empty cocoon is placed in boiling water to remove the sericin coating, and it is then spun like other natural fibers. While the finished silk product has a mildly different texture, it is nearly as strong as the original.
A beautiful piece of fabric is still created for wearing or selling, and the moth has a full journey in life. How beautiful is that?
Emily Clayton 