Monday, 6 June 2011

Silk Toronto Still Going Strong After Many Setbacks

By Rosemarie Harrell


Silk Toronto has a very old and rich history. According to Chinese tradition, the fabric started being used in the 27th century BCE. It was confined to China until the second half of the first millennium BCE when the Silk Road opened.

China however kept what could be called a monopoly on the use of thus fabric for a thousand years. The Chinese people did not only use it to make clothes. It had served many purposes in their culture, including to be used in writing. The color of the material was an indication of social class in the years of the Tang Dynasty.

The Japanese started cultivating this material in 300 CE and the Byzantines joined them in 522 CE soon after they laid their hand on silkworm eggs. The Arabs also started to produce this material at this time. Demands for the Chinese exports dropped, but they still dominated the market with their superior products.

Time went by and Western Europe became aware of the product in the time of the Crusades. The Italian states started importing the fabric and found that they were financially very successful when exporting it to other countries in Europe. In the Middle Ages technology came into play in its production. The spinning wheel was developed and the speed of production increased. Many other countries tried to take a slice of the market, but none were successful apart from France. The French eventually established themselves as a successful trading nation alongside Italy.

Many changes happened in Europe during the time of the Industrial Revolution. The spinning of cotton was a great innovation for the fabric industry. This was a cheaper process and as a result it took over from the expensive materials. New weaving technologies and the Jacquard loom for embroidery boosted efficiency in fabric production. The European silkworms were attacked by diseases and this was a blow particularly to the French market.

Today the biggest supplier of yarn is still China. Then comes India. Many say the finest and best comes from France and Italy. China has a long process of development to get to the quality material that they produce today.

Silk Toronto is comfortable and great to wear in warm weather. It is also suited for the active person. During cold weather it has a low conductivity that keeps the warm air close to the skin. It is worn by most people on the planet and it is used in almost all types of clothing. From shirts to dressing gowns silk can be found in the majority even in small quantities.

Silk Toronto




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