One of the rarest fabrics across the world. Lotus silk is gaining popularity among international fashion designers to create high fashion products.
What Is Lotus Silk?
Lotus silk is one of the rarest fabrics in the world. This natural fiber is produced from the stem of the lotus flower, with every single strand of silk being extracted from the lotus stem by hand.
Where Is Lotus Silk Produced?
This pale yellow silk is produced only on a very small scale across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
How Is Lotus Silk Produced?
Lotus plants are available only from April — October for harvesting. Lotus stems are selected and picked by hand, to extract the silk thread. each stem contains thin and sticky fibers which are rolled together by hand and then dried.
The stems are harvested each day as the processing of threads should be done within 24 hrs to avoid breaking of fibers due to drying. The extracted fibers to very delicate and are spooled by hand. Thereafter these are put on the loom. Once woven these silk threads are as durable as silk.
Properties of Lotus Silk:
- It is one of the rarest fabrics in the world.
- Lotus silk is softer and more flexible than traditional silk.
- The silk is moderately elastic with the breathability of linen.
Why Is Lotus Silk So Expensive?
This silk is produced in very small quantities across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is extracted by only a few skilled craftsmen across the world.
It requires 9200 lotus stems and can take up to 2 months to extract enough silk for just one 25 cms scarf. While a traditional silk scarf costs $20, a lotus silk scarf can cost up to 10 times more than traditional silk.
This silk is picking up popularity among international fashion designers and tourists with a taste for rare souvenirs.
