silk

Silk is a proteine fiber, made from the long fine threads (filaments) that are secreted by the silkworm (Bombyx mori), with which it spins before turning into a pupa. Before the caterpillar develops into a butterfly, the threads are unwound from the cocoons.
Silk is a luxurious natural product and has good properties that increase the wearing comfort. Silk fibers are temperature regulating, they feel warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The soft shiny fabric is very elastic, breathable, absorbent and well insulating. In addition, silk has a natural protection against dirt and does not need to be washed often. Usually, just airing it is enough. Silk is also fire resistant and hardly creases.
Silk can absorb a lot of moisture before it feels wet, up to a third of the weight of the fabric.

Organic silk

GOTS-certified silk also exists. This mainly concerns the mulberry trees, the leaves of which are eaten by the silkworms. These mulberry trees are grown organically. However, the GOTS certification does not only relate to the raw material used, but mainly to the way it is processed into textiles. This means that the entire production process of the fabric has been carried out conform the highest ecological and social standards.
In addition to organic silk, there is also 'peace silk'. While in the regular production process the butterflies are killed before they come out of the cocoon and before the filaments are unwound, in the so called peace silk the butterflies stay alive. However, this has consequences for the filaments, which are damaged by the butterfly emerging from the cocoon.

At the moment, the range of GOTS-certified silk fabrics and peace silk is very small.