The Weight of it All: Choosing Silk
~by Nancy
Silk is a natural fiber made from the cocoons of the silk worm and can be woven into many varieties of fabrics, such as taffeta, dupioni, satin, mikado, voile, organza, chiffon and crepe. This is because different varieties of silk worms make different varieties of the silk thread. One would be used for dupioni, for example, and the other would be used to make a satin.
Polyester, on the other hand, is man-made. It is created from a derivative of plastic, and although it can be woven to look like silk (in the same weave), it still has all the properties of a man-made product.
Wedding gowns are made from fabrics that come from both of these fibers, and although there are positives to both, silk is still my personal favorite.
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Why choose a Polyester Gown?
*It is less expensive.
*It can usually be washed with water and is durable, whereas silk is more delicate and usually requires dry cleaning.
*It will last forever –literally! Plastic does not decompose.
*Although it doesn’t shimmer in the sunlight as nicely as silk, it is still very pretty.
Why choose a Silk Gown?
*Silk is only a fraction of the weight of polyester. The silk fibers are finer and less bulky on the body therefore it won’t weigh you down or exhaust you as you wear it. Polyester is 10 to 20 times heavier than silk!
*Silk has a natural shimmer which is enhanced in any lighting.
* I prefer to work with silk because it drapes more responsively, weighs less, responds to the press and to the tailor’s hand far better than any man made fibers.
*Silk is delicate and may require delicate care, but it is softer to the skin and more breathable. All of the natural fibers (including rayon, cotton, or linen) are more breathable compared to polyester fabrics so they are cooler and more comfortable.
*Because of it’s natural origins silk has a positive energy and response to the body when worn.
*Silk will last a long time; they have found beautiful silk fabrics in the pyramids of Egypt.
*When worn, silk will drape and form; it will not add bulk to the body. Because of this, silk is more flattering to wear.
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This is why I prefer to work with natural silk fibers at Avenía Bridal. The gowns breathe better, drape better, and weigh so little. Wearing a heavy gown is exhausting, but silk automatically rectifies this without effort because nothing flows more elegantly, shimmers more beautifully, yet weighs so little on the body as silk!