How to Take Care of Japanese Silk Fabric

The tradition of manufacturing Japanese silk fabric dates back to the sixteenth century. The Japanese people made silk imitating the silk weaving style from their Chinese and Korean neighbors. Over the period of time the Japanese have studied the art religiously and has taken to such heights that today their skill in making silken handicrafts is known the world over.

The silk produced in Japan is raw and is of very high quality which often makes it a widely sought after materials. This silk is used not only to manufacture traditional garments like shantung and habutai, but also different kinds of silk painting, scarfs and different materials for various uses. Since the silk is of very fine texture extra care should be taken to ensure that they are preserved as per the instructions specified in the guidelines.

Here we shall discuss about some measures which should be undertaken to ensure that the quality of the fabric does not deteriorate.

Washing Time

Whenever you are washing Japanese silken garments, make sure that the garments are not kept in the washer for more than 10 minutes. Longer than that will only decrease the overall shelf life of the garment

Soap and Detergent

Too much of soap which causes suds is not necessary for cleaning Japanese silk. Since they are delicate, home ingredients like vinegar or very mild soap with the right pH balance would be preferred.

Water Temperature

Japanese silk fabric dyes are very sensitive and prone to bleeding if exposed to a water temperature above 16°C. So always use cold water, as it prevents color loss and winkles caused due to hard wash. Lastly, Japanese silken fabrics should not be over dried as it may cause static cling

Traditionally people resort too dry cleaning when they want to clean their expensive garments. However it has been found that instead of resorting to dry cleaning, simpler methods of cleaning the silken fabric and then keeping it in a refrigerator under folds for sometime before ironing them yields better results.

Things to Avoid

Perfumes and cologne should be avoided during the cleaning process to ensure that the color of the garment is not disturbed. While ironing care should be taken to ensure that only the very lightly heated iron should be used, and the garment should be ironed only on the inner side to ensure no harm is done to the handcrafted work displayed on the exterior

Storing Tips

Japanese silken garments are very delicate and they are stored best if they are hung in the cupboard. Folding them can cause creases and the garment has a high chances of getting torn from the folded angles. Care should be taken to ensure that these garments are not crushed with other cloths. Covering the silken cloths with a muslin silks adds on to its shelf life,

Japanese silk is still considered as one of the most expensive and finest quality silk produced in the entire world. However, taking care of a silken garment doesn’t take too much effort, time and money. With little care the Japanese silk can be kept looking fresh, soft and new for years to come.