Silk
Fiber — one of 29 in the glossary
A natural filament fibre produced by the silkworm as it spins its cocoon, and the only natural fibre that arrives as a continuous filament rather than as short staple. Its lustre comes from the fibre's triangular cross-section, which refracts light at different angles like a prism — an optical property of the fibre's shape, not a finish applied to it.
A prism, not a polish
Silk's shimmer is structural. The fibre has a roughly triangular cross-section, so light entering it is refracted at varying angles rather than reflected evenly.
That is why the colour of silk appears to shift as it moves, and why no finish on another fibre quite reproduces it.
It is also why damaged or abraded silk goes dull: the surface geometry is what produced the effect.
Filament, not staple
Every other natural fibre arrives as staple — short lengths that must be spun into yarn. Silk is reeled from the cocoon as a continuous filament, sometimes hundreds of metres long.
A filament yarn has almost no protruding ends, which is why silk is smooth and why it is strong for its weight.
Spun silk exists too, made from broken or short fibres, and it is duller and weaker than reeled filament silk.
Why it is rare in blanks
Cost, mainly, and care: silk is weakened by sunlight, perspiration and alkaline detergents, none of which suits a garment that will be printed and worn hard.
It also takes decoration poorly by blanks standards — heat and pressure damage it, and its smooth surface gives ink little to hold.
Where it appears in this trade at all, it is usually as a blend component or as a lining.
Common questions
- Why does silk shine?
- Because the fibre has a triangular cross-section that refracts light at different angles, like a prism. The lustre is the shape of the fibre rather than a finish.
- What is the difference between filament and staple fibre?
- Filament arrives as one continuous strand; staple is short lengths that must be spun together. Silk is the only natural filament fibre, which is why it is so smooth.
- Can you print on silk?
- Poorly, by blanks standards. Heat and pressure damage it and its smooth surface gives ink little to grip. It is rare in printable blanks for cost and care reasons as well.
See also
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