Handmade, starting with the silkworm cocoon all the way to the dyeing of the yarn and weaving of the scarf.
These are from a woman-owned business in Northern Thailand.
Great weight for all seasons!
Caring for Silk Scarves and Shawls
This beautiful hand woven silk scarf is made by a women’s cooperative in Northern Thailand sourced directly from the village for you by Harmonique. Silk is protein fiber, more similar to wool than to cotton. It is very similar to human hair. Remembering this will help when you think about how to wash or clean it. A silk scarf is a beautiful and elegant accessory for any wardrobe. The most common method to cleaning silk is dry cleaning. However in addition to the environmentally unfriendly nature of the chemicals used, the costs can be prohibitive and the color of the fabric will also fade after time. To save on those expensive dry cleaning bills and preserve the original color and beauty of your silk scarf there are other possibilities for washing your scarves by hand but only if done carefully.
Step 1 – You can use dishwashing detergent such as Ivory liquid or gentle shampoo. Test the detergent you have chosen on a small portion of the silk scarf to determine the colorfastness of the scarf. Most scarf stains are from grease (skin and make-up) and as a mild detergent specifically made to clean grease is an effective choice for cleaning silk scarves. If the color of the silk changes in any way, consider using a small amount of specialized delicate fabric soap like Woolite or hair shampoo.
Step 2 - Soak the scarf in mixture of 1 qt. of lukewarm water, 1 tbsp. of table salt and a 1 cap full of the detergent for two minutes. The table salt will help prevent the colors from bleeding.
Step 3 - Squeeze out the excess water and rinse the scarf with cold water until the soap is washed out.
Step 4 - Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to a sink full of water and rinse the scarf again with cold water. The vinegar will help brighten the color and shine of the silk.
Step 5 - Roll the scarf in a dry, clean towel and softly squeeze it to remove excess water. Do not twist.
Step 6 - Unroll the scarf and lay it flat on another towel to completely dry or Iron dry with steam on a very LOW setting. It is best to lay a linen dish towel on top of the scarf when ironing to prevent scorching. Always iron the silk scarf on its dull color side. Do not dry under direct sunlight as sun will “eat” the silk fiber and literally destroy it.
Step 7 - Gently fold scarves and store them in linen boxes or breathable containers. Line the box with acid-free tissue paper for long-term storage. Note that moths are NOT friends of your silk scarves as they become their dinner, so protect them accordingly!