Villages near Ubon Rachatani and Ubon Thani produce fine silks. In other words, the purchase of your Thai silk was actually the first step toward having something special made . Hi Jeff, [1] The latter is by far the larger silk producer of the two. However, silk produced on the Khorat plateau was generally only used for private consumption, with the Thai court preferring to purchase Chinese silk imports. Advertising these threads as “Metallic Thai silk” is false advertising that the vendor probably isn’t even aware of. In sericulture (the production of silk) the silkworm must be killed before leaving its cocoon to preserve the unbroken length of the cocoon’s single silk filament. Raw Thai silk is still made the old fashioned way in Thailand. (That’s because it isn’t sold at a tourist market.) This is a village in Kalasin Province where the famous Praewa silk is woven. You can simply park your car and started walking from shop to shop. Rearing of wild silk from the available caterpillars or worms was a popular culture then. Large Scarves $30-$100. Mudmee silk (also known as ikat weaving) is the oldest form of pattern weaving in The Kingdom. If in Bangkok, I highly recommend visiting the The Queen Sirikit Museum of Thai Textiles. They may also procure and haul needed materials for weaving (fabric is very heavy), but the actual creation of silk fabric is a woman’s world. A new strain of Thai silk has been developed more square body shape like a Kamfa but their eyes can be red, yellow and white. This is a great blog post. This especially applies to Thai silk certified by the Royal Peacock brand for all four types of Thai silk, including the Royal silk of Peacock brand in colour of gold, silver, blue and green. From the photo, this fabric does not appear to be Thai silk. In contrast, artificial silk is machine woven, which means that every part of the fabric is identical and has the same color. Thai silk (Thai: ผ้าไหมไทย) is produced from the cocoons of Thai silkworms. sold at many venues. If you find yourself with a silk seller that suddenly drops the price of a bolt after trying to get you to buy it at a higher price-run for the door. Is the color(s) consistent across the bolt? The southern states along with Jammu Kashmir and West Bengal are considered to be the highest producer… The price test is really nothing more than using basic common sense. Most of the Thai silk I buy is for making Thai pillows. Golden Monkey Flowerhorn; 4. Eri silk is darker and heavier than other silks and blends well with wool and cotton. I wrote a blog article with lots of photos about brocaded silk entitled “A Silk Safari to Ban Ta-Sa-Wang“. A final word of warning: I would be very cautious of buying Thai silk on either Amazon or Ebay. You will find a central silk market in town and fabric shops. No one is certain. Ian Brown, "Government Initiative and Peasant Response in the Siamese Silk Industry, 1901–1913", Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Down and Silk: Birds and Insects Exploited for Feathers and Fabric", International Sericultural Commission: Thailand, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thai_silk&oldid=980492796, Articles needing additional references from May 2008, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 September 2020, at 20:40. Best regards and thanks for everything. Also, knowing some basics about your silk purchase will make you enjoy and appreciate this fabric even more. Created by Irene Sharaff, the production served to promote the material to the American audience and fueled interest in the country.[6]. As the fabric is woven, the tie-dyed (2-5 different colors) weft yarn will create the pattern. [1], In 2006, US$14,540,325 worth of silk was exported from Thailand. Rather, it was American tourists who sustained the local development of a silk industry in Thailand. This town is located about an 8 hour drive from Bangkok. (For more info about Jim Thompson see my post: Jim Thompson. Do you think this is really silk? Its color will change when viewed at varying angles to light. I have run my fingers over myriad pieces of Thai silk over the years, and I can tell within seconds if the fabric is authentic. It is believed to be the crossbred between the Texas Cichlid, white tigers and … On the Main Street of this small town are lots of silk shops. (Some complicated brocades are handwoven at a rate of about 3-4 centimeters a day!). Always look to the edges of the fabric and make sure they’re rough and uneven. (If so leave.). Generally, Thai silk is not bargained for. Spun silk is made from the remnants of reeled silk or defective silk cocoons. This seller is admitting to you that he was trying to rip you off. The silk yarn is probably from China. I read, repeatedly that silk is too hot and sweaty to wear here but Thai style silk jackets look thick and are often worn. Throughout the 1950s, silk shops opened up across Bangkok. Go there! I’m Jeff the fabric blogger. You will find dedicated silk shops throughout Thailand in the silk weaving provinces. Most of the silk shops I list have mail order available. I speak little thai so I am able to communicate over phone if thers no webshop. Kamfa Flowerhorn; 2. I wrote my silk tutorial so you can shop with confidence. Am in Thailand right now, but unfortunatelly I left Bangkok asking all over without any luck. Skilled Thai dressmakers (or tailors) will make for you a variety of Thai silk apparel including professional business suits, evening jackets, skirts, and depending on the proper drape, an array of dresses and blouses. Hi! You can find silk yarn (It’s probably not Thai silk) in most sewing notions stores. But the “Silk Zone” is probably your best venue. I got all her body measurings to give it to a tailor but I don’t know to which. Use as a guide for reference. Undulate the fabric-does it shimmer? I don’t know if they speak English (or if you speak Thai), but you can call them and see. Brocaded silks are often found in Northern Thailand and they’re known for their delicate, pastel colors. Chonobot. I would like to find spools of it, but so far I’ve only been able to find cut pieces like these: (It may be silk, just not Thai silk.) In 1951, The King and I opened on Broadway, featuring a depiction of the Thai court in the mid-19th century in which the costumes were all made using Thai silk. So quality simply presents itself as the following question: How complicated was the weave; how well accomplished was that weave; and what is the quality of the silk yarns used by the weaver? Would you be able to recommend a store where I can buy silk yarns? Brocaded Dressmakers Bolt (4 meters) $200-$1,500. Natural dyes (plant dyes) are not colorfast and cannot be washed at all without severely degrading the color. It very rarely will exceed that dimension because very few wooden looms can weave greater width. I have sold naturally dyed mudmee silk pillows that customers complain bleed onto their clothing. Discussions about different weights, feel, drape are all equally confusing. Put this tutorial to work for you: Inspect the edges (selvages). Good luck. Is the pattern complex and precisely duplicated across the bolt? It also belongs to the family saturnidae and produces silk in East-Asia. In terms of price, Thai silk is usually 10 times more expensive than artificial silk. Surin. How common are the flaws? The smallest cones have 2,000-3,000 meters of silk yarn on them. and send me a link so I can see it? An online webpage to interact with basically. It’s even more info about avoiding silk scams. These shops often carry an inventory of very good quality Thai silk especially plain weaves. This village is close enough to Chonobot so that you could visit both places in a single day. Since 1997, their company has expanded into overseas markets and now locally employs 300 individuals. The village silk weaving cooperative certainly knows the value of their silk. The silk weaving villages use all the silk they produce and don’t sell it. Reeled silk is made from long, unbroken filaments of silk which not only have the highest luster, but are also the strongest. The bolt will have consistent color. The “metallic” thread you provided links to is neither metallic nor silk. THANK YOU! Making silk yarn that is fit for weaving is quite complicated, involving many steps. They might be perfect for your project.). Best of luck. Below is a simple, yet comprehensive overview as to how both traditional Thai silk and Thai silk yarn (thread) are produced. Mudmee Thai silk (more on this type of silk later) often does not shimmer. Plain weave Thai silk is a smooth (not soft!) The above photo shows unbleached, raw Thai silk from Chonobot. Silk Dupioni by far is the most interesting and elegant fabric, with slubby texture and subtle chic. If you made it through this tutorial, I officially declare you an educated Thai silk buyer. Many silk enthusiasts covet mudmee more than any other Thai silk. Not sure if the image attached, but I’m referring the the one with this caption below it: “This is 100% Thai silk fabric that appears to shimmer without undulating it. The above list of places to buy silk in Isaan is nowhere near exclusive. I plan to go to the Silk Zone and visit a Tailor/Dressmaker there. Many Thai silk fabrics will shimmer; but many won’t as the weaver chose to use the same color wend and warp yarns. Great question. It’s famous for its bright colors, beautiful designs and gorgeous quality. Through his connections in New York, he began marketing the product as a traditional Siamese fabric. I’ve merely touched on a few of the “biggies”. May your future silk safaris be successful and you journey as rewarding as your destination. The Weave: Thai silk is handwoven. Please check out this amazing, informative blogpost to learn more about Thai Silk (there are many counterfeits out there). (I wrote an entire post about it here.) (Remember China first developed silk almost 5,000 years ago.). Weaving a brocade is more complicated than weaving most dupioni. Great blog, such detail. I’ll assume you want to make pillowcases from plain weave Thai silk (although mudmee or other weaves could work). Tussah Silk Tussah silk, also known as ‘shantung,’ is a type of wild silk, that is produced by tussah silkworms that feed on oak and juniper leaves. The best bet (safest) is always hand wash in cool water, gently wring, and dry without direct sunlight. The Feel (Thai Silk’s Handle or Hand): Thai silk is often a slightly scratchy, somewhat stiff, sturdy fabric. Are you in Bangkok or a silk weaving region? Brocaded silks are often used in making the finest Thai silk couture and can command very high prices. What about slubbing (small nits/bumps in the fabric caused by hand-spun silk yarns), especially near the edges? There are a couple big silk yarn producers in Thailand, but they sell commercially. This color card will provide you with a sample of the 51 colors of 44" silk dupioni we carry in stock year round in our stores. The Bombyx mori usually produces silk thread of varying colors, ranging from light gold to very light green, with lengths varying from 500 to 1,500 yards per cocoon. Does it have a large inventory of Thai silk (at a minimum dozens and dozens of bolts)? Make sure to have your seamstress line your Thai silk curtains for protection from the sun. I also recommend Khomkham Thai Silk at http://www.khomkhamthaisilk.com in Chonobot (Instagram #khomkhan_thaisilk) and Jamnay Thai Silk located in Surin (Instagram #surin_thaisilk) Both those silk shops have excellent quality Thai silk at fair prices. And all silk aficionados also agree that Praewa silk weaving is as intricate as any in The Kingdom, combining both complex brocades and embroidery. Before the silk worm can leave it’s cocoon and metamorphose into a moth, the pods are collected and heated, killing the silk worm inside. Most importantly, always keep in mind that with Thai silk, the journey is always as valuable as the destination. It’s extremely rare and extremely costly today (if you can even find it.) How obvious are the flaws? There are four types of natural silk which are commercially known and produced in the world. Often the purpose of buying a bolt of Thai silk is so you can take the fabric to a dressmaker in Thailand (or in your home country) to have custom apparel made. -Jeff. A dupion silk cocoon is where two silkworms often jointed together inhabit a single cocoon. Ban Sawai, Ban Chan Rom, Ban Sinarin are all silk weaving villages near Surin. Shop only at established silk botiques where you can trust the business. textured fabric, unlike brocaded silk. In weaving Thai silk, a different colored silk yarn is often used for the horizontal and vertical yarns. Best of luck to you. A yellow cocoon is short, rough, yellow and about 20-30 meters long. Thai silk will usually shimmer, although this is the most unreliable attribute for determining authenticity. Study carefully the actual weave. Who wears Thai silk Silk can be worn in many ways, such as tailored into a blouse or skirt, or as a scarf or sarong. This village weaves the finest brocades in Thailand in my opinion. So why would they sell their Thai silk at a tourist market at 1/10th the price that they could sell it elsewhere? For complex reasons, dupion cocoons produce a very rough silk filament and so yarns made with dupion are rough and uneven. Jim Thompson. If you have the time and a sense of adventure, then going on a silk safari to Esaan is the best way to purchase Thai silk. Handwoven fabrics have rough, uneven edges. You’ll be easy prey for even a rookie silk shark. To be able to identify genuine Thai silk easily, Thailand's Agriculture Ministry uses a peacock emblem to authenticate Thai silk and protect it from imitations. The Quality of the Silk Yarn. Best of luck! At most, the owner of a shop may give you a slight discount if you’re purchasing a significant amount. Of course if you’re buying scarves or shawls, the weaver obviously used a much narrower fabric format. Thanks a lot! reviving the Thai silk industry in the 1950s/1960s. I usually look for this particular type of silk, but I don’t know the actual name for it, so it’s hard to tell anyone on the ground who can help me source it. It’s 15-20 independent silk vendors grouped together in a shopping plaza in central Bangkok. Plains weaves are the most economical of all Thai silk fabric because of the simplicity of its weave. Treenway Silks will give you a good selection at a good price. (I’m being polite.) I am 99.9% sure it’s polyester or another synthetic fiber. I’ll explain in layman’s terms the different types of silk fabrics; how to recognize counterfeit silk (buyer beware! There are four types of Thai Silk: Plain Weave, Brocaded, Dupioni, and Mudmee. No slubs is an indicator of machine woven fabric-therefore not Thai silk. Hi Jeff, Classic dupioni silk is woven from silk yarns made from the dupion silk cocoon. I mistakenly washed it and when the fabric came out of the washing machine it was ruined, with almost all it’s natural dyes gone. Your recommendations will keep me busy for some time by the looks of it. Thai silk Flowerhorn; Tank Requirements for Flowerhorn. A post shared by Silklovers (ไหมไทยงาม) (@maithaingamthaisilk) on Feb 8, 2019 at 10:47pm PST. Thai weavers separate the completed cocoons from the mulberry bush and soak them in a vat of boiling water to separate the silk thread from the caterpillar inside the cocoon. Also, if you wear or sit on a natural dyed fabric, the dye will rub off on you. Can you see slubbing anywhere on the fabric? There are four types of Thai Silk: Plain Weave, Brocaded, Dupioni, and Mudmee. Great question and the answer is YES! Big U.S. airbase there. More than that, simply by showing an interest in buying, you’re quickly identifying yourself to a silk shark as someone who doesn’t know anything about Thai silk. Solid color dupioni is sold by the yard $15-$40/yard. If your only reason for going on a silk safari to Isaan is to get a better price, then you’re better off canceling your trip. You can quickly develop a feel for authentic Thai silk also. But maybe it can be still done – ideally I would like to order couple of different colors (5-10) in 5m-15m of each color, (usually there is only couple of cm use per fly so I dont need terribly lot). These fabric inconsistencies are called slubs and are crucial to recognizing authentic Thai silk from its counterfeits. Thanks for contacting me. By the time you factor in hotels and transportation costs, you’ll quickly realize that you saved precious little. A single thread filament is too thin to use on its own, so Thai women combine many threads to produce a thicker, usable fiber. I would image they would agree to sell you a small amount. You’re about to be ripped off. Remember with Thai silk the journey is as rewarding as the destination. Fine brocaded Thai silk will always be considered “better” quality than a dupioni weave, just based on the expertise required. 1. It was introduced in Thailand in the 1970s from South Asia. When the flame is removed, Thai silk immediately stops burning. Declared dead in absentia by a Thai court in 1974: Citizenship: American: Alma mater: Princeton University University of Pennsylvania: Occupation: Co-founder of the thai silk company limited: Known for: being a spy during the Second World War. An experienced weaver can produce on a hand loom approximately 12-15 meters a day. 1. I’d go to Chonobot if I were trying to source unbleached silk thread. I just don’t believe it’s Thai silk. Slubbing occurs with fabric that has been handwoven from a silk yarn that’s made with rough, uneven silk filament. Thai silk will soften with washing, but new Thai silk should feel like the rough-tough fabric it is. Please go to my following blog posts: Buying Thai Silk in Bangkok and A Compendium of Thai Silk Shops on Instagram. I have checked them out and connected on Instagram. This video was produced by The Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. Hand Woven in Siam Hi, my name is Dave and I am looking for silk yarns that I would like to use in fly tying. Thai silk bolts are also commonly sold in “sarong bolts” which are approximately 1.5 meters in length-just the length needed to make a custom sarong with or without pleats. (But beware of very cheap dupioni as it may not be 100% silk or woven with a low grade, spun silk yarn (called noi silk). Often the Chonobot silk shops will have large amounts of raw silk in back of their store. Weaving ) is always as valuable as the destination that post, i recommend website. 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