Thailand

Shopping / Thai Silk

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It is believed that the Chinese were the first to develop the technique of producing silk fabric some 4,000 years ago. The secret was closely guarded for centuries and gave rise to the overland trade route known as the Silk Road. Exportation of the cocoons or the hiring from abroad of craftsmen skilled in the art of making silk was banned. But eventually some cocoons with the information about the technique were smuggled out of China.

In China at the time of Confucius, it seems that silk was, curiously enough, cheaper and more easily obtainable than cotton-type fabrics. To the contrary, in most other countries silk was long regarded as being suitable only for royalty, nobles and celebrities. It stood out among all fabrics and has retained its unrivalled position as Queen of Textiles up to the present.

Archaeological evidence found among the relics of Ban Chiang (a human settlement site in today's northeast Thailand dating back in it's origin some 5,000 to 7,000 years and existing probably for several thousand years) proves that the people who lived in the Northeastern part of Thailand were already using silk cloth in prehistoric times. Though it is not clear whether the silk used then was of the Mutmee type, there are indications that some of it was; the typical patterns of Mutmee silk are among the most ancient patterns to appear on cloth, and these patterns have great similarity to the ancient cloth designs found in Russia and many other countries.

While the people living in Thailand several thousand years back were ethnically not Thais, the Thai silk home industry nevertheless dates back many hundreds of years. Manufacture of silk was for a long time an important traditional occupation of Thai girls. Following the steps of their mothers and their mothers' mothers, Thai maidens used to rear their own silkworms, produce fibers and weave fabrics for their families. The masterpiece of their weaving was naturally their own wedding costume.

The caterpillar (silkworm) spins a yellow cocoon consisting of up to 1000m (3300ft) of reelable filament. The caterpillar, after stuffing itself with mulberry leaves, weaves the cocoon around itself as a protection during its metamorphosis into a moth. The filaments from tens of thousands of cocoons are reeled together into strands making raw silk for the spinning and production of the fabric.

As Thai silk is hand-woven from hand-spun pure silk yarn, the resulting fabric is naturally uneven and knobby in texture. The weaving is done with great skill and care taken to retain a matching consistency. Authentic Thai silk cannot be mass-produced; no weaver can substitute for another's labour without damaging the yield.

Thai silk does not undergo mechanized finishing treatment. In its natural form, it catches light more effectively, giving off a lively glow of rich colors. It is costly if compared to other textiles because of the care taken to preserve standards and consistency.

Thai silk can be washed only with the mildest soap, then rinsed in tepid water as many times as necessary, but never wrung. In the last rinsing, a spoon of clear white vinegar can be added to retain the original luster. It should be allowed to drip dry in the shade.

Under no circumstances should Thai silk be put into a washing machine. Thai silk should be ironed on the inside just before it is dry or later only with a damp cloth over it.

It is recommended to shop for Thai silk only in stores that carry the approval signs either of the Thai Silk Association or the Tourism Authority of Thailand, as only in these places is the quality of Thai silk guaranteed.