Silk fabric
Silk is a smooth, lightweight protein fibre that naturally regulates temperature, feeling cool in heat and warm in cold. The garment form (degummed silk) suits sensitive skin, but it is delicate and energy-intensive to produce.
On your skin
Degummed silk, the usual garment form, suits atopic and sensitive skin. Raw silk that still contains sericin can be allergenic for some people.
Comfort and performance
Smooth, light, and naturally thermoregulating. It feels luxurious against the skin.
Durability
Delicate: silk loses around 20 percent of its strength when wet and fades in sunlight. Hand wash gently or dry clean.
Environmental impact
Natural and biodegradable, but production is energy-intensive with a high impact score. Buy to keep for years.
See what your clothes are really made of
Scan any care label. ClothTrace reads the real fibre, decodes the wash symbols, and flags what it puts against your skin. Free to scan.
Download for iPhoneSilk FAQ
Is silk hypoallergenic?
Degummed silk used in clothing is generally well tolerated, including by people with eczema. Raw silk with sericin is more likely to irritate.
How do you wash silk?
Hand wash gently in cool water with a silk-safe detergent, or dry clean. Keep it out of direct sun.
Is silk sustainable?
It is natural and biodegradable but energy-intensive to produce, so longevity matters most.
- Sources
- Koller / Zallmann dermatology on degummed silk.
- Vollrath & Astudillo (2014), life cycle assessment of silk.