★ SILK HISTORY：
In Legend,'Rasing silk & Obtain silk' is first invented by Yellow Emperor's wife Lei Zu, but actually when it is invented is debatable. According to archaeological discover,about 5000-6000 years ago, in the middle of Neolithic Age, Chinese people had started this. And silk industry began to take shape in Shang Dynasty, and had very good technological level.
Between Zhou Dynasty & Warring States, silk was prevailling in China, and different kinds became, normally for Spun silk, damask and brocade.Silk industry got a rapid increase in Qin & Han Dynasty, the flourishing silk trade developed and "SILK ROAD" was created in West Han Dynasty which gave countries better Economy and Culture communication. The road started from Ancient Chang'an, via GanSu, XinJiang Province to the west, through Middle Asia, West Asia and reached Europe finally.
And later, due to long wartime, silk industry gradually moved from Yellow River to Changjiang River.
Tang Dynasty is a flouring period to silk, output, quality and kinds have reached highest level. And external trade got a rapid development, and 'SILK ROAD' also increasted to three.
Brocade & lamed fabric were invented in Song & Yuan Period, and lots of technicals in silk production came out.
With seed of capitalistic became in Ming & Qing Dynasty, silk production and trade changed a lot: commercialization is prevailing and overseas trade got a rapid increase. But, Feudalism is big block to productivity.
After foundation of P.R. OF CHINA, silk industry entered into a new period. In the decade of Year 1980 to 1990, Chinese raw silk output increased from 36 thousand tons to 57 thousand tons; silk fabrics consumption were increased from 0.4 billion to 1.22 billions meters; There were 80% raw silk and 50% fabric exported from China. After several years, Chinese silk is performing leading role in world trading.
★ SILK CULTURE：The flourishing of the silk brings a new era for China silk dress. In human history, extensive economy & culture exchange between Eastern and Western people due to silk trading, which perform a great influence to people's civilization.
China is the cradle of cultivated silk, there are lots of myth and legend, such as Can'ma Myth, Lei'zu teaching, Goddess Marriage, which artistically summarized people's acquaintance of silk, and reflected the emotion of Chinese ancient people to silk.
★ SILK ROAD
In 7th century BC, silk was a treasure gifted to foreign guest. In 5th century BC, silk was spreaded to the western coutries such as Greece. West Han Dynasty (about 2th century BC), ZhangQian got through to Western Regions, who opened a land passage from Chang'an (current Xi'an city), via Gan'su, Xin'jiang Province, to Central Asia, West Asia, which linked the countries around Mediterranean Sea, and this is called to be wprld famous North Silk Road, and this is also the longest silk road. It got through Asia, and reached the capital of Ancient Roma Constantinople, about 15,000KM long and 2000 years history.
Ancient Silk Road, started from Chang'an (current Xi'an city), which is the capital of Han & Tang Dynasty. At that time, the silk and other commodities gathered in Chang'an, and a bundle of raw silk and fabric was packed by the merchant of various countries, then climbed Shan'Gan highland, through WuShao Moutain, via Wu'wei in Gan'su, get through He'xi Corridor, and reached Dun'huang. And the road through Qin'hai Province was also an important passageThe Silk Road is a general name for all the routes between China and the West countries, not only one road. The 1st one is along Kun'lun Moutain to An'xi (current Iran), until Indian Ocean, which was called South Road. The 2nd one is along south of Tian Mountain, through Pamirs , reached Central Asia and the Persian Gulf, which was called to be North Road. After West Han Dynasty, the 3rd one was added from north of Tian Mountain to Mediterranean, was called to be North Road, and previous North Road was changed to be Middle Road.。Besides these road, there are some other "Silk Roads": 1）South Silk Road: Chang'an -- ChengDu -- BaoShan -- Burma -- India -- Europe 2）Maritime Silk Road: YangZhou, QuanZhou, ZhuHai -- Malacca -- Europe
★ EASY WAY TO IDENTIFY SILK
1. Hand feel & Visual inspection：
1) Visual inspection, silk has pearl-like shine & soft, while chemical fiber has bright & dazzling shine. 2) Silk fiber is slender & long, cotton fiber is short, wool fiber is crimp, and chemical fiber trims well. 3) Hand feel: Silk hand feel is very soft, smooth and comfort, similar as skin. 2. Burning: 1) Silk has similar smell as feather when burning, and can't burn without fire, and will be quenched. Ash is fragile, fluffy and black. 2) Rayon (viscose) has paper with chemical smell when burning, and with very fast afterflame. Ash is very little and cinereus. 3) Nylon and polyester has very weak sweet smell when burning, with poor afterflame. The ash is round and stiff in black, like pearl. 4) Cotton and linen have same smell as paper when burning. The ash is soft, and in charcoal greay. 5) Wool burning is similar as silk burning. But they can be identified in visual inspection.★ THE CHARACTER OF SILK
Silk can be made into various superior garments and decoration, due to its special character: 1) Comfort. Silk is consist of azelon, which has the least rub coefficient to body, only 7.4%. So it is called to be "Second skin". 2) Good hygroscopicity and moisture releasability. Silk yarn is full of hydrophily gene, and with porosity, which is easy for hydrone spreading, so it can absorb and emit moisture in air, and keep certain moisture. In normal temperature, it can help skin to keep certain water and avoid skin too dry. And in summer, silk can help to send out perspiration and heat. Besides, silk can keep warm, as its special fiber struction . 3) Sound, dust absorption and heat resistance. 4) Uvioresistant. Tryptophan and tyrosine in fibroin can absorb ultraviolet rays.