For centuries silk has had a reputation as a luxurious and sensuous fabric – the one associated with wealth and success. Silk is one of the oldest textile fibers known to man. The Chinese have used it since the 27th century BC. Silk is mentioned by Aristotle and became a valuable commodity both in Greece and Rome . During the Roman Empire , silk was sold for its weight in gold. Today, silk is yet another word for elegance, and silk garments are prized for their versatility, wear-ability and comfort.

Silk, is the strongest natural fiber. A steel filament of the same diameter as silk will break before a filament of silk. Silk absorbs moisture, which makes it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Because of its high absorbency, it is easily dyed in many deep colors. Silk retains its shape, drapes well, caresses the figure, and shimmers with a luster all its own.

Contemporary silk garments range from eveningwear to sports wear. A silk suit can go to the office and, with a change of accessories and a blouse, transform into an elegant dinner ensemble. Silk garments can be worn for all seasons.

Silk — elegant, versatile and washable. In the past, owning a silk garment meant not only the initial price of the garment but also the cost of dry cleaning. All silk is washable. Silk is a natural protein fiber, like human hair, taken from the cocoon of the silkworm. The natural glue, sericin, secreted by silkworms and not totally removed during manufacturing of the silk, is a natural sizing which is brought out when washing in warm water.

Silk fabrics can be hand washed. Technically, silk does not shrink like other fibers. If the fabric is not tightly woven, washing a silk with tightens up the weave... thus; lighter weights of silk (say a crepe de chine of 14 mm) can be improved by washing, as it will tighten up the weave.

Always dry-wash your silks or wash them with a good gentle soap in cold water.

Give a final rinse in limejuice solution for sheen and stiffness.

Dry your silks in the shade. Drying white silks in the sun turns them yellow. Keep your silk clothes in cool places, where strong light cannot fade the colour.

Iron silks when damp. Never iron jari, as the pile flattens and permanently damages the fabric.

Envelop your sarees in white cotton cloth and refold them at regular intervals of time.

Use clove sticks while stacking silk fabrics and sarees, as it keeps the moths at bay.

Get sandwash silks cleaned only by professionals. To remove surface stains, brush the article frequently with a soft brush.