Menu
Menu
Silk is a natural fiber obtained from silkworms. The production of this fiber arises from an activity called sericulture, which consists of the production of silkworms.
The fiber from silkworm rearing is one of the noblest and most luxurious raw materials on the market, mainly because of its shine and feel. In addition, silk is a durable raw material with good moisture and sweat absorption.
This fiber is suitable for the hottest climates or “mid-season”, due to its lightness and freshness, since it has excellent thermal regulation derived from its multi-pores.
It is considered one of the most expensive fibers in the world because it is extremely soft, smooth, luminous, and delicate. In addition, its production process is meticulous.
Not all silk fibers are environmentally friendly, as traditional silk production is not cruelty-free, as 6,500 cocoons are killed to produce just 2 kilograms of silk.
In traditional production, when the silkworms consume enough mulberry leaves, they naturally start making their cocoon, taking between 3 to 6 days. During this time, the silkworm begins to release a sticky protein called fibron. The fibron hardens in contact with air and thus the cocoon is born, and, in turn, the silk, which is made by removing the cocoon in hot water.
Besides traditional production, there are even cruder productions. In some cases, farmers boil the silkworms alive to make the process easier and more efficient, which in turn creates a more cruel silk product in the end. In some cases, they may also be gassed alive.
Antonio Salgado gives its customers the ability to obtain cruelty-free silk products. The process of making ethical and cruelty-free silk is much more time-consuming and expensive than the traditional process. Instead of boiling the live animals, most cruelty-free silk companies allow the silk fibers to come out naturally.
Regular silk, using cruel methods, takes about 15 minutes to produce. Cruelty-free silk, on the other hand, can take up to two weeks long, which is more expensive in terms of production costs and labor.