It’s All About the Silk

How do we get the Shimmer in ShimmerZ ?

• Many have asked us how silk can be produced in so many different colors. The following will explain the process of coloring, texturing and metallic weighting which is part of the process that produces the prismatic effect that some of our SIlkShimmerZ colors exhibit.
• As the silk filaments are reeled onto bobbins, they are twisted in a particular manner to achieve a certain texture of yarn. For instance, “singles” consist of several filaments which are twisted together in one direction. They are turned tightly for sheer fabrics and loosely for thicker fabrics. Combinations of singles and untwisted fibers may be twisted together in certain patterns to achieve desired textures of fabrics such as crepe de chine, voile, or tram. Fibers may also be manufactured in different patterns for use in the nap of fabrics, for the outside, or for the inside of the fabric.

Finishing ShimmerZ Fibers

• After initial processing, all silk yarn is an “off” white color. At this stage, dies are chosen according to the color thread or yarn desired. The silk industry makes a distinction between pure-dye silk and what is called weighted silk. In the pure-dye process, the silk is colored with dye and may be finished with natural, water-soluble substances. To produce weighted silk, metallic substances are added to the fabric during the dying process. After dyeing, silk fabric may be finished by additional processes, such as embossing, steaming, or stiffening. Embossing gives each fiber a microscopic design which shows as us as the sparkle seen when Silk ShimmerZ catches the light.

Silk ShimmerZ fibers are put through rollers to increase their reflective surface area. The fibers are then inspected, packaged, and ready to be shipped to our customers.