If you look in your bedroom, odds are you'll find a silk product. If your pyjamas or pillowcase aren't silk, check your shampoo! Silk is well-known for its therapeutic benefits, but did you know that it is typically reared following cruel and cloudy practices?
Silkworm rearing process
A silkworm multiplies x10,000 its size in just one month thanks to the sheer volume of mulberry leaves that it eats.
This growth rate is more than any other animal, and equal to a new-born baby growing to 33,000kg in 30 days!
After this time, the silkworm spins its cocoon using 1,000m of continuous thread (pure silk) to protect itself from external threats as it enters metamorphosis.
After 14 days are up, it will emerge from its cocoon and reveal itself to the world as a silk-moth.
Fun fact: Silk is nature's lightest but also strongest fibre.
How are silk rearing practices cruel?
Remember how we said earlier that the "silkworm spins its cocoon with 1,000m of continuous thread"? While incredible, this amazing feature unfortunately leads to the premature death of the silkworm.
Silk farms typically boil their cocoons 8 days after they have been spun. They do this to preserve the single, continuous strand which makes it easier for them to unravel and spin in to your favourite garments. This, however leads to the premature death of the silkworm which is effectively boiled alive inside its cocoon.
China produces over 80% of the world's silk, and optimum rearing practices are a closely guarded secret.
Read more on the history of silk and find out more on why rearing practices are such a closely guarded state secret by following the link here.
But it doesn't have to be this way! Indian manufacturers (inspired by Gandhi) are leading a new form of silkworm rearing known as "ahimsa" which is a non-violent method of silk rearing where the silkworms are able to live their natural life-cycle uninterrupted.
The environmental impact of silk rearing
"Silk has by far the worst impact on the environment of any other textile", thanks largely to the massive water requirements needed in hot climates to meet the needs of silkworm's only food source: the mulberry tree.
Does silk need to be cruel and at a cost to the local environment?
Seresilk offers the benefits of silk skincare in a cruelty-free, Australian-made and eco-friendly 4-step night routine.
Seresilk founder, Taylor Battistella started his first business working with silk at the age of 12. Growing his business for over 13 years, the number of silk by-products in production steadily grew to the point that he was left with enough waste silk to include in his new skincare brand... Seresilk.
Thanks to the synergies between Battistella's silkworm rearing business and Seresilk, the silk input no longer needs to go to waste.
Additionally, all food sources for the silkworms are existing mulberry trees that do not require any form of pesticide or irrigation thanks to the pristine natural environment that we are so blessed to have in Australia.
Not only does Seresilk offer a chance to prevent the waste of precious silk, but it also meant that no silkworms are being harmed in the rearing process, as silk-moths are allowed to emerge, mate and lay eggs which are later distributed to schools across the country!
Featured Product - Silk Night Serum
Seresilk’s Silk Night Serum hydrates the skin through infusions of nourishment while optimising and normalising your skin's protective barrier.
Crafted with a concentrated blend of Hydrolysed Silk, Vitamin A, and Hyaluronic Acid, the Silk Night Serum works tirelessly to refine pores, smooth the skin's texture, and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Check out the product by following this link here.
We will continue to zero-in on the topics explored briefly in this story. Interested in finding out more about silk in skincare? Join the Seresilk mailing list and message content@seresilk.com.au for any topics you'd like to see covered in future articles.