Natural vs. synthetic fibers

What comes to mind when you hear the word "satin"?

Satin is shiny and just what you would imagine.

Is the fabric polyester or silk?

 

"Satin silk" is silk itself, as the name includes the word "silk".

"Satin" is a type of weaving called satin weaving, so you need to look at the raw materials.

Satin is not the same as silk!

It could refer to polyester satin made to resemble satin silk, or it could be an abbreviation of "satin silk."

 

If you're a little mistaken, what you pick up as "satin" might actually be polyester...you can't tell by looking at it, but you can kind of tell by the feel.

 

It is unlikely that you would be able to distinguish it from the real thing by burning it, but once you do, the difference becomes clear.

Polyester is made from petroleum, so it is highly flammable and the fire spreads quickly. Chemical fibers burn at about 200 degrees and emit toxic gases, but silk does not burn until it reaches 300 to 400 degrees and does not emit toxic gases.

 

Also, if you touch and rub two pieces of fabric together, you will hear a squeaking sound called "silk noise." The shinier one is silk.

 

When we look at the different types of fabrics, synthetic fibers are well made to look like natural fibers.

Well, natural fibers of course have a longer history, so synthetic fibers have improved on their weaknesses and wrinkle resistance.

 

Acrylic is a material that resembles the natural fiber wool, and is also made from petroleum.

Acrylic also spreads flames the moment it catches fire, melting the fibers. If it comes into contact with the skin, it can cause severe burns.

 

After the war, along with the rapid economic growth, chemical fibers came to prominence, but the fact that harmful gases are released when clothes are thrown away and burned is a major problem. As I mentioned in a previous blog, it is unbearable if discarded items are becoming a major problem in some countries.

I myself have to be careful when I go shopping. I also need to think carefully before I throw something away.

 

It is true that, like with climate change, it is hard to feel like we have to do something about it unless we experience it for ourselves.

Recently, it seems like a lot of things are going back to basics, so I hope that we will see a trend towards an era where more of the spotlight is placed on silk and other natural fibers.

 

 

Azusa