I'm absolutely loving this series on materials, finding it immensely useful. Great research.
So interesting that silk has the highest environmental impact on any fabric.
As a vegan who loves dressing dapper, I usually go for polyester pocket squares. Whilst polyester shirts and suits are shitty, I am sceptical that most people can tell if …
I'm absolutely loving this series on materials, finding it immensely useful. Great research.
So interesting that silk has the highest environmental impact on any fabric.
As a vegan who loves dressing dapper, I usually go for polyester pocket squares. Whilst polyester shirts and suits are shitty, I am sceptical that most people can tell if my pocket square is silk vs polyester.
1. I'm actually very surprised it only takes a thousand silkworms to produce an entire shirt!
2. I found the comment that the mulberry plantations emit carbon because it fertilizes it to be a bit strange. Obviously the mulberry plants themselves are going to suck carbon from the atmosphere, and I'd be very surprised if the outcome of mulberry plantations meant more carbon.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment – we’re glad you found the materials series insightful!
You're right, the numbers are surprising. PETA reports that 1,700 to 2,000 silk cocoons are needed for a single dress, with each cocoon producing a 100-meter silk thread. It takes about 6,600 cocoons to make 1 kg of silk, and while sources vary, it generally takes about 1,000 cocoons to make a silk shirt, depending on the size and design.
We appreciate your mention of mulberry plantation emissions. You’re absolutely correct that while industrial inputs like fertilizers and pesticides contribute to indirect carbon emissions, the carbon sequestration from mulberry trees through photosynthesis helps offset these emissions. We’ve updated the article to clarify this point.
I'm absolutely loving this series on materials, finding it immensely useful. Great research.
So interesting that silk has the highest environmental impact on any fabric.
As a vegan who loves dressing dapper, I usually go for polyester pocket squares. Whilst polyester shirts and suits are shitty, I am sceptical that most people can tell if my pocket square is silk vs polyester.
1. I'm actually very surprised it only takes a thousand silkworms to produce an entire shirt!
2. I found the comment that the mulberry plantations emit carbon because it fertilizes it to be a bit strange. Obviously the mulberry plants themselves are going to suck carbon from the atmosphere, and I'd be very surprised if the outcome of mulberry plantations meant more carbon.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment – we’re glad you found the materials series insightful!
You're right, the numbers are surprising. PETA reports that 1,700 to 2,000 silk cocoons are needed for a single dress, with each cocoon producing a 100-meter silk thread. It takes about 6,600 cocoons to make 1 kg of silk, and while sources vary, it generally takes about 1,000 cocoons to make a silk shirt, depending on the size and design.
We appreciate your mention of mulberry plantation emissions. You’re absolutely correct that while industrial inputs like fertilizers and pesticides contribute to indirect carbon emissions, the carbon sequestration from mulberry trees through photosynthesis helps offset these emissions. We’ve updated the article to clarify this point.
Thanks again for your support!