Silk is a type of fabric made from natural fibers derived from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori. Each cocoon consists of a single thread that is about 1300 meters long. This single thread is too fragile so 8 threads are twisted together to form a sturdy yarn that can be used for weaving the fabric.
Fabrics made of natural silk are known for their softness, luster and insulating properties. They are highly-priced because production is very laborious. It takes approximately 650 silkworm cocoons and 100 labor hours to produce sufficient silk fabric to make one blouse. Apart from garments, silk fabric is used to make other luxury items such as beddings, curtains, and furniture upholstery.
Silk is a delicate fabric that must be handled with care to avoid any damage during shipping. Here are some tips on how to properly pack and ship silk fabric or garments to avoid unsightly wrinkles, stains, and damage from natural elements.
When shipping a silk garment, fold it neatly with pieces of tissue paper between folds to minimize wrinkles. Then, wrap the garment in tissue paper before placing inside a plastic bag. The paper and the bag will protect the silk from damage in case it gets accidentally exposed to the elements such as moisture and sunlight.
Place the wrapped garment in a sturdy shipping box. Fill any empty spaces within the box with packing materials such as crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap to keep the item from moving around during transit.
Silk fabrics are best shipped rolled to prevent wrinkling. Roll the silk fabric in a clean cardboard tube or the PVC pipe and wrap the entire roll of fabric in clear plastic and secure with tape. Wrap it again in a couple of layers of bubble wrap for more protection and insert inside a tube box or triangular tube box which are available in most shipping supply stores or the post office. If your rolled fabric is longer than the boxes, you may combine two tube boxes together.
Fill empty spaces with more bubble wrap or packing peanuts to prevent the content from shifting. Close the tube box and seal ends with packaging tape. Address the package and take to your shipping company or post office.