The Artisan Silk Scarf: Wearing a Thousand Years of History
Trinh HaiQuick answer: An artisan silk scarf is one where the hand shows on the cloth. Ours are hand-printed in Hanoi through both faces of the silk, one screen per color, with edges rolled and stitched by hand. The designs come from the Ly Dynasty and are printed on 16 momme mulberry silk.
What makes a silk scarf an artisan piece?
Someone made decisions by hand. For our scarves that means three things you can check on the cloth: the design is hand-printed in Hanoi, one screen for each color, the print goes through both faces of the silk, and the edge is rolled and stitched by hand with thread pulled to match the ground.
Turn the scarf over and look at the back. If the pattern is nearly as strong as on the front, the color went through the fabric rather than sitting on the surface. It is the quickest honest test in any shop.
What do the motifs mean?
Our designs are drawn from the Ly Dynasty (1009 to 1225), when the court at Thang Long, today's Hanoi, filled its halls with carved dragons, phoenixes and lotus. Each design on a scarf is a repeat of those shapes, not a picture of them.
- Dragon Dreams: four dragon heads at the corners turn toward a bodhi leaf, with a border of Xi Van, a creature said to guard against fire. It is a design for protection and for continuity. See the Dragon Dreams scarves.
- Dragon of Grace: eight small dragons around a bodhi leaf and lotus, from the story of the dragon girl offering a pearl. It stands for strength, wisdom and good fortune. See the Dragon of Grace scarves.
- Imperial Lotus: lotus from the royal lake of Thang Long, with butterflies and dragonflies, a wish for purity and for rising above hard years. See the Imperial Lotus scarves.
For the full reading of each, What Vietnamese Silk Motifs Mean and Vietnamese Lotus Symbolism go deeper.
Picture a mother retiring after thirty years on a hospital ward. A lotus is a quiet way to say that she bloomed where the work was hardest, and the Imperial Lotus scarves carry that image on 16 momme mulberry silk, in sizes from 22 to 44 inches. If a stronger, more storied figure suits the person better, the Dragon of Grace designs sit beside them. Quote BLOG5 at checkout for 5% off.
Why does a hand-printed scarf make a good gift?
Because it gives the person something to say about it. A scarf that comes with a design story is easy to receive: no sizing, no obligation, and it arrives in a rigid gift box with a story card and, if you leave a message at checkout, a handwritten note in your words.
It also asks very little of the giver. If you are unsure, choose the 26 in (65 cm) square at $97, which folds into a band, a neck knot or a bag tie. Our honest limit is price: this is not a gift for every budget, and the twilly at $57 is the gentler place to begin.
Is a slower scarf the more responsible choice?
It is a more durable one. A scarf you wear for ten years is one you did not replace three times. The silk is 100% mulberry, 16 momme (about 69 g/m2), and the weight and the 5A grade of the raw thread are what our supplier specifies, not a lab result. The only independent lab reports we hold are thread-density counts on three designs, and we cite them for those and no others. You can read more about Folk Form and who makes it.
How do you care for it for an artisan scarf?
Dry cleaning is the safest route. At home, wash it by hand in cool water with a little mild shampoo, never soak or wring it, dry it in the shade and iron the reverse on low heat while it is still damp. Keep it away from perfume and cosmetics. The full routine is in How to Care for a Silk Scarf and How to Wash a Silk Scarf by Hand.
Which size should you choose for an artisan scarf?
A twilly is 2.6 x 59 in (6.5 x 150 cm) at $57. Squares are 22 in (55 cm) at $75, 26 in (65 cm) at $97, 36 in (90 cm) at $153 and 44 in (110 cm) at $197. The 36 in is the most flexible, and the 44 in is large enough to wear over the shoulders. Browse every size in the silk scarf collection, and compare printing methods in Hand Screen-Printed vs Digital. For the silk itself, see How Is Silk Made?
Orders leave Hanoi in 1 to 3 business days and reach the US 9 to 15 business days later, with import duty already paid. Shipping is free from $90 and returns are open for 30 days.
Quick answers on The Artisan Silk Scarf
What does the lotus mean on a silk scarf?
The lotus stands for purity and for rising clean out of mud, which is why it suits someone who has come through hard work. Our Imperial Lotus design draws on the lotus of the royal lake at Thang Long.
What is the Ly Dynasty dragon on silk?
It is a soft, curving dragon from Vietnam's Ly Dynasty (1009 to 1225), drawn without scales. On our scarves it stands for strength, wisdom and good fortune rather than fierce power.
What sizes do Imperial Lotus silk scarves come in?
Our scarves are 16 momme mulberry silk in squares of 22, 26, 36 and 44 inches. Square prices run from $75 for 22 in to $197 for 44 in, and the twilly is $57.
How should I wash a silk scarf?
Dry cleaning is safest. At home, wash by hand in cool water with a little mild shampoo, never soak or wring it, and dry it in the shade. Iron the reverse on low heat while it is damp.
