Why is Silk Crucial in the Textile Industry?

Nowadays, the fashion and apparel industry is evolving rapidly in every coming season. People are paying more interest in embracing new trends at a faster pace. Currently, in the textile market, silk is one of the most trending and in-demand product. It is a natural fiber, which is broadly known for its shine, strength, luster, and durability. It adds elegance to the appearance and gives a royal feel. It is considered as an essence of luxury due to the high price value in its production. The continuous technological innovations in the sericulture is predicted to create enormous impact on the global silk market in the coming years. By 2028, the global silk market is expected to surpass $11,353.6 million, increasing from $6,621.5 million in 2020.  

In present day outfits, silk is used in many types for women’s as well as men’s apparel. For women, silk is utilized in wedding dresses, festive gowns, blouses, sarees (a traditional outfit), scarves, lingerie, and many more. While in the case of men, silk is used for various clothing such as dress suits, shirts, ties, high fashion clothes, robes, and many others. In addition, silk is also used in various household products like pillows, bed sheets, wall hangings, and others. Before moving ahead towards the pros and cons of using silk fabrics, let’s first know more about it.

What is Silk?

Basically, silk is produced by insects, which are commonly known as silkworms, as a material for making their nests and cocoons. Apart from silkworms, there are various other insects that also produce silk, like honeybees, beetles, bumblebees, weaver ants, and many more. As silk is composed of a protein called fibroin, it is well-known for its shine and softness.

What are the Major Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Silk?

Mostly, silk is widely known for its richness, absorbent nature, and beautiful drape, along with this there are various other advantages of using silk. Some of them are listed below:

• Texture Quality- Silk is famous for its incredible softness. It gives a luxurious and high-standard appearance publically.

• Greater Absorbency- Silk is extensively known for its high absorbent nature. Therefore, it is used as an item of clothing in warm weather as it absorbs moisture well and gives you a light feel, with a gorgeous look at the same time.
   
• Better Elasticity- Silk has greater flexibility, because of which it is ideal to use in various types of garments, both for men and women. 
   
• Better Durability- Silk is one of the best and strongest natural fibers. It can be blended with kinds of cotton and other fibers to add robustness. However, when it gets wet, it can lose some of its strength.

With a plethora of advantages, silk has some disadvantages as well. A few are listed below:

• The major disadvantage of using silk is its handling. Silk is delicate and difficult to clean. Mostly, dry cleaning is preferred.

• Tearing and discoloring of silk is quite often, and so high maintenance is required. Carelessness in laundering can ruin silk in seconds.

• High exposure to sunlight and chemicals such as chlorine bleaches, can cause yellowing of silk and simultaneously weakens it.

The Future Landscape of Silk Market

With the growing demand for silk from textile industries, cosmetics companies, and medical business sectors, the global silk market is going to thrive at a greater pace in the near future. The global silk market is predicted to rise at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2028. Moreover, in the silk industry, there is no need for complex machines. As it is more labor concentrated, there is a need for development in the silk industry, which creates more opportunities in the market. However, due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the silk industry has faced various challenges like matching the demands of the products due to the unavailability of laborers and the shutdown of workshops for a prolonged period.

Key Message!

Currently, many textile companies are incorporating new technologies like the industrial internet of things (IIOT) to develop, transform, and innovate for coping up with new market trends and strategies. Due to the increasing demand for using silk in various apparels, the silk industry is going to boom in near future.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.