Over the past several years there has been a drive for us all to become healthier, eat better more natural food, exercise more and improve the quality of our life. Consumer awareness about the environment has increased manifold. They have realized that even their individual effort shall go a long way in helping the planet. Therefore, they have started demanding natural goods. Many retail fields are experiencing this ‘back to nature’ phenomenon. Manufacturers are also standing up to the need of the hour and introducing natural products.
Silk Bedding
The bedding world has not remained unaffected by this trend. The conventional synthetic fibers like polyester are being replaced by natural fibers such as cotton, silk, down and wool. The natural fibers always had there proponents, but they were rare and expensive. However, modern manufacturing techniques have brought there price down significantly, making them affordable and popular. Therefore, silk bedding consisting of silk sheets, comforters and pillow cases is back in fashion.
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into fabric. It has a shimmering appearance due to the triangular prism-like structure of the silk fiber which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles thus producing different colors. Silk makes an excellent choice for bedding. The texture, feel and look of silk bring class and opulence to the bedroom. It not only looks great but feels great as well. The comfort and luxury that one feels while sleeping on silk bedding is not the only thing it offers. There is a lot more to silk than its pleasant caress.
Benefits
Silk is a natural fiber. Since it is breathable, it feels cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Being hypo allergic, silk is the fabric of choice for those suffering from allergies or asthma. It contains amino acids like sericin which acts as a natural deterrent to common allergens like mold, mildew, fungi and dust mites. It does not even require insect repellants during storage. Silk is a strong fiber; it is fire retardant and lasts for a long time.
The natural amino acids in silk have a moisturizing effect on the skin. They soothe normal as well as sensitive skin. The silk fibers are a great aide in soothing bug bites, post surgery stitches, eczema, sunburns, Reynaud’s Disease, arthritis, psoriasis, rashes and nerves. Silk bedding is also said to aid reduction of wrinkles.
Most of us throw off our blankets or comforters at night, when they become too warm, and wake up with a cold. Heavy comforters and layers of blankets feel heavy during the winter months. Silk comforters can solve this problem. They are lightweight and breathable, keeping one warm in the winters and cool in summers. The light weight of the silk comforters allows one to sleep better. 
Types
Silk comes in two major varieties; natural or wild and cultivated. Wild silk is obtained from cocoons that silkworms produce in a natural, uncontrolled environment. Tussah, Noil, Duppioni etc are some of the kinds of wild silk. Tussah silk is dark in color, coarse in texture and cannot be bleached. Duppioni silk is produced when two silkworms spin cocoons that are joined together. Wild silk is also called spun silk because the filaments are not very long so the filaments are spun together to make it long.
Cultivated silk is made from cultivated worms in controlled environments. It costs more than wild silk but it is also more durable. Cultivated silk is also known as mulberry silk because the worms are fed on a steady diet of mulberry leaves. It is more expensive than wild silk and is also finer, smoother, rounder, more uniform in shape, size and color, and has longer thread filament.
The health benefits of silk bedding and the class and elegance that it brings into the bedroom make it a must have.
Posted in Luxury Bedding