Production of Dupioni Silk

Dupioni silk is a 100% natural product. Its yarn used originates from worms producing it in order to envelop themselves into the yarn. In this way, a cocoon is created that serves as a protection for the caterpillar until it has converted to a butterfly and is slipping through the cocoon into freedom.

In order to produce Dupioni silk, the filament of the cocoon is winded off (reel off). At its maximum it can reach up to 3.000 meters length; however, it usually reaches a few hundred meters (approx. 300-800). Dupioni Silk is characterized by its slight irregularities (think & thin filament), caused by the dupioni cocoons (e.g. resulting from 2 worms in 1 cocoon).

Once reeled-off, the silk filament is surrounded by silk glue (bast) which is the typical characteristics of Raw Silk. It is rough, hard and has a certain dull brilliance. The raw silk is then cooked to remove the bast and afterwards enriched with artificial rosin. The resulting filament can now be dyed and woven on either hand looms or automatic looms.