Sea Silk is a rare, extremely fine, and pricey type of silk. Only a few people continue to harvest and manufacture sea silk, which is in danger of extinction. Finest quality sea silk is made from the deep-sea silkworm. This species of silk thread can only be found in the deep waters of Delfino Island in the Mediterranean. It’s nearly impossible to locate sea silk on land, but then only a few people are able to make it even if they are capable of doing so. So it’s valuable and rare because it’s not easily accessible, and needs highly skilled hands to handle them and make them into beautiful clothing.
Purpose:
Sea Silk is made from the silkworm’s cocoon. But it’s the cocoon that becomes valuable, not the silk itself. The sea silk is woven onto a special type of yarn, which can be made out of cotton or alpaca, and then dyed and treated in various ways. The results are a smooth, luxurious material with an amazing texture that can’t be imitated by any other kind of fabric. It is also quite pliable when first formed into threads but after several days it becomes much harder and more durable, needing to be creased instead of ironed like other fabrics.
Where is sea silk made?
The pen shell grows on the rocky cliffs of Delfino Island, a small and rugged island in the Mediterranean. The shell also contains a little bit of sweet venom that makes the pen a dangerous weapon if used as a spearhead. To make it into a fabric, the cocoon of the seasilk is removed from the rock and dried in the sun. It is then taken to shops and workshops where skilled artisans take it apart and prepare the fiber into threads or yarns. The warp can take several days to be completed while each thread or yarn requires 10-20 days to dry completely. Afterwards, they are dyed in different colors depending on their use.
What are the uses of sea silk?
Sea silk is used to make high-quality clothing, carpets and decorative items. When it’s dyed it takes on different colors. For example, the beautiful purple color is made by oxidizing the thread, giving it a softer color and more beautiful nuances. Sea silk can also be used for making belts and scarves. It can also be sponged onto felt for making hats, scarves and rugs. Sea silk has a beautiful texture and softness; it looks and feels like wool although it is much softer than wool. It can be used for making clothing for both men and women.
Uses of Sea silk:
There are many accessories made from sea silk. Also, wedding dresses, evening gowns, and evening wraps that give a blushing-rose appearance are made from sea silk. In Turkey special handbags are made using this silk. Different versions of the scarf were used in ancient times but the use of this product declined due to changing fashion trends and because the fabric was difficult to handle.