When we think of silk, we tend to imagine a textile as lustrous as the pearl earring in Vermeer’s painting; not glittering – or ostentatious – like gold, but with a luminosity that speaks of wealth and sophistication. In modern interiors, a whisper of silk can imbue a room with textural elegance, subtle iridescence or reflective highlights that intrigue the eye.
Created from the cocoons of silk moths, silk has long-held associations with transformation and rebirth. Each cocoon produces a single thread of around 900 metres. Collection and spinning are dexterous and timeconsuming and artisan skill is rightly reflected in the more exclusive nature of pure silk cloth; however, modern blends featuring other natural fibres, such as cotton, linen or wool, give much of the lustre at less cost.
