https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:23:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141531 Sun, 30 Aug 2020 12:29:00 +0000 cindysmith 2141531@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love learning things like this! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141478 Sun, 30 Aug 2020 02:21:19 +0000 Jaime 2141478@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great information, thank you! I wash my silk tops in my Euro washer on the silk setting and they come out fine - or perish! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141346 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 10:14:09 +0000 Staysfit 2141346@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have learned something new for the day! &nbsp;Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141335 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 08:04:20 +0000 deb 2141335@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Ginger and Gaylene!! I have washed most of my silk pieces excluding jackets and taffeta. I just could not find what washing silk was. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141324 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 04:19:09 +0000 slim cat 2141324@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting and educational - thank you!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141321 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 04:10:25 +0000 rachylou 2141321@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>All right. I have been educated! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141297 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 01:47:55 +0000 Gaylene 2141297@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Silk is an amazingly versatile fibre which can be turned into a vast array of fabrics. The term “washing silk” is a bit nebulous since it could refer to <ul> <li><i><b>washable </b></i><b>silk</b><i> </i>meaning a silk which can be wet cleaned as Ginger describes</li> <li><i><b>silk noil</b></i>&nbsp;which is a low sheen, slightly bulky silk fabric with a nubby&nbsp;texture which resembles a pebbly cotton and can be laundered in a similar fashion.</li> <li><i><b>sandwashed/oil-washed/sueded/pebbled </b></i><b>silk</b><i></i><i></i>&nbsp;which can be any woven silk subjected to various laundering techniques to create a particular texture or finish</li> <li><i><b>watered</b></i><b> silk</b> with a watermark-like design woven, or imprinted, into the fabric</li> </ul> OR <ul> <li>any number of <b></b>designer-created/trademarked<b> <i>water</i>-</b><i><b>finished&nbsp;</b></i><b>silk&nbsp;</b>fabrics which would need to be dry cleaned!</li> </ul> Silk fabric can be gossamer delicate or tweed-like hardy depending on the source, manufacturing and weaving techniques, and finishes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141280 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 00:18:47 +0000 Kate 2141280@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Stylefan, I too had a chocolate brown washable silk shirt in the 80s. I loved that shirt—it got tons of wear. Mine was actually a body suit (bottom part was fine woven cotton and elastane) from DK. I wish I still had it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141260 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 22:15:43 +0000 Ginger 2141260@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aww, thank you all! I’m glad to be helpful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141224 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:43:19 +0000 JAileen 2141224@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had no idea what the term referred to. &nbsp;I think we’re pretty lucky to have experts like Ginger on this website! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141222 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:40:52 +0000 Style Fan 2141222@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ginger, thanks for the info.&nbsp; Very interesting.</p> <p>Joy, I had a washable silk shirt in the 80s.&nbsp; It was chocolate brown.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141188 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:36:44 +0000 Anonymous 2141188@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In the 1980’s washable silk was a big thing where I lived. I wash all my silk unless it is lined with acetate. I hand wash in cold water, baby shampoo and air dry.<br /> The washable silk outfits that I had wear fairly thick and a bit sanded. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141152 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:52:26 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 2141152@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Ginger</b>, this answer was wonderful. I am echoing Bijou's comment.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141137 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:15:55 +0000 Bijou 2141137@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@ Ginger, thank you for your great explanation. Learning things like this is one of the reasons why a check on the forum Is one of my daily pleasures. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141134 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:58:39 +0000 Carla 2141134@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>DH has a couple Tommy Bahama shirts that are silk with a firm hand, like a fine cotton. &nbsp;I wash them in the machine and hang to dry, after which DH gives them a light press with the iron. &nbsp;They are easy care and durable. &nbsp;The fabric is divine, and I’ve scoured the TB site for a dress in similar fabric - to no avail. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141132 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:33:01 +0000 Ginger 2141132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've seen the term in historical contexts a number of times through the years, but haven't found a good definition. So I asked a friend* who is extremely knowledgeable about this period of fashion history in particular.</p> <p>"Washing silk" is simply a silk that can be wet cleaned. Probably the equivalent of a hand wash now. Regular laundry practices of the day were pretty rough, wash tubs/boards and wringers/manglers. Something delicate and pretty like a peignoir wouldn't have been subjected to that kind of treatment, but it would still need more real washing.</p> <p>The distinction was important because many silks water spot and are otherwise never the same when they get wet. Taffeta in particular gets part of its crisp hand from how it's woven, but there's also residual chemicals left on it from the silkworm cocoons that significantly contribute to this and to its sheen. If it is washed, the hand and sheen permanently change. It still has a little body to it - it's not limp and clingy - but it will never be crisp again and it doesn't have the same appearance.</p> <p>Sometimes this is done deliberately to change that hand. That is called "washed silk" and it can be done to get just the right flow in the fabric. Or it is approximated by actually sanding the surface so it's a little faded and soft instead of lustrous.</p> <p>* known as the Virtuous Courtesan on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/virtuouscourtesan/?hl=en">Instagram</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/VirtuousCourtesan/">Facebook</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-is-washing-silk#post-2141077 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 05:48:30 +0000 deb 2141077@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In todays <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/2020/08/27/link-love-a-shift-in-fashion-consumption-habits/">Link Love</a>, Vildy added an <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/aug/04/what-frenchwomen-wear-in-the-intimacy-of-the-home-1913">article</a> about house dresses of yore. In the article (from 1913) they speak about "washing silk" (noun not a verb) and I am unable to find what the fabric actually was. Do any of you know? </p>