Our Isabella Silk™

History of Silk

Silk was first discovered in China during the 4th millennium B.C., and the country quickly became the world’s leading producer of silk fabrics. Silk clothing was originally restricted to the wardrobe of the imperial family, but soon spread to the rest of upper society. Eventually, silk was used in the making of tools and musical instruments. Chinese artists even used silk paper as a canvas for paintings and writings. As the value of silk increased, the fabric became a standard of currency, with certain lengths of silk being used to pay government officials in the same way as certain weights of gold.

Even as silk spread to India, Europe, and the Middle East via the Silk Road, China remained at the forefront of the silk industry and produced the most desirable of luxury silks. For thousands of years, silk was both a symbol of luxury and a bridge between cultures. Although nylon and other synthetic fabrics have been developed as alternatives to silk, none quite match the feel and look of high quality silk.

Source: Barber, E. J. W. Prehistoric Textiles: The Development of Cloth in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages with Special Reference to the Aegean. Princeton University Press, 1999.

 

What is a Charmeuse Weave?

A charmeuse weave is a type of satin weave in which the lengthwise (“warp”) threads cross a high ratio of backing (“weft”) threads. “Silk charmeuse” refers to a charmeuse woven with silk, rather than a particular kind of silk.

This weaving pattern leaves the front of the fabric with a smooth finish and lustrous sheen in exchange for a dull backside. Charmeuse weaves drape beautifully, and are the perfect fit for products that only display one side of fabric (such as pillowcases!).

 

What is Mulberry Silk?

 

Mulberry silk is the highest quality silk available, with a pure, uniform color and long individual fibers. As the name suggests, mulberry silk comes from silkworms that feed exclusively on mulberry leaves. This specialized diet causes the silkworms to produce the refined mulberry silk that makes up our luxurious silk fabrics.

 

Comparatively, wild silks or other common silks like habutai silk lack the uniform color and perfect roundness of mulberry silk. These silks have shorter fibers and a less consistent texture.

Mulberry silk comes with added benefits, such as its hypoallergenic qualities, which makes it the perfect fabric for people with sensitive skin. Silk is also breathable and stays cool even while in use. The naturally smooth surface of a silk pillowcase also reduces friction between your hair and the fabric while sleeping, leading to less bedhead.

 

To create the highest quality product possible, we use 100% pure mulberry silk in our pillowcases. All of our silk is graded at a quality of 6 or 6A, which means the silk strands are the longest and softest available. With longer silk strands, less stitching is required, so your silk bedding is even more comfortable. This commitment to high-quality mulberry silk allows us to design smooth and durable products that live up to the Fishers Finery name. 

 

Source: Trevisan, Adrian Attard, et al. “Cocoon Silk: A Natural Architecture” Sense of Nature, 12 August. 2012

 

Low Impact Dyes

Here at Fishers Finery, we use exclusively low-impact dyes in all our products. The reason is simple: to keep our customers and our planet safe.

 

 

Low-impact dyes also greatly reduce waste during the manufacturing process due to their high absorption rates. While other dyes may absorb into the fabric at rates as low as 50%, low-impact dyes absorb at a rate of 70% or higher. This results in more dye staying in the fabric and not rinsing off as excess waste. Over many years of production, that waste quickly adds up!

Source: “Explaining low impact dyes.” Cattermole Consulting. Cattermole Consulting, Inc.

 

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®

The STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is an independent and international testing and certification system for textiles at all processing stages: from raw material to finished product. Because the textile industry is divided by many national borders and manufacturing stages, the OEKO-TEX® system acts as a unifying standard for the regulation of harmful substances and the implementation of environmentally-friendly practices. In many cases, the OEKO-TEX® standards go beyond the requirements of national or international regulations, insuring only the safest products reach consumers.

Fishers Finery insists that any manufacturer we work with be certified by the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, as well as to abide by other inspections and verifications related to product safety and environmental impact. When we purchase our silk, we value the peace of mind that comes with knowing the product is safe and eco-friendly. Our commitment to this value allow us to pass along that peace of mind to you, our customers.

Source: Oeko-Tex. Oeko-Tex Association.

 

Fishers Finery in the Press

Several of our silk products have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, including our 25 momme 100% mulberry silk pillowcase, which was also declared the “overall winner” of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s recent side-by-side comparison of silk pillowcases. All three of our momme (mm) options—from the outstanding value of our 19mm pillowcase to the unparalleled luxury of our 30mm Black Label Collection—are backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal.

However, it’s not just the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute who see the value in a Fishers Finery pillowcase. Our mulberry silk pillowcases were also mentioned by Cosmopolitan as one of their choices for quality silk pillowcases that won’t break the bank. We’ve also appeared in Life & Style, Closer, and Kim Kardashian’s KKW!