Why a Handmade Mulberry Silk Scarf Makes a Lasting Gift
Trinh HaiQuick answer: A handmade mulberry silk scarf is a lasting gift because the work is visible: each color is hand-printed through both faces of the silk, and every edge is rolled and stitched by hand in Hanoi. Silk is also the traditional 12th anniversary gift. Our 26 in scarf is $97, with free shipping from $90.
Why is a handmade silk scarf a good gift?
Because the work is visible, and it leaves the recipient with something to say. Handwork on a scarf is not a slogan. It is a set of things you can check: the print goes through both faces of the silk, the edge is rolled and stitched by hand, and the design is a repeat drawn from a real object.
It is also an easy gift to receive. No size, no upkeep, no obligation, and with a sentence on the card it asks nothing more of her than to wear it.
What is mulberry silk, and why 16 momme?
Mulberry silk is spun by silkworms raised on mulberry leaves, which gives a long, even thread. Momme is the weight of the cloth: ours is 16 momme, about 69 g/m2, a weight that holds a knot and still drapes. The raw thread is 5A grade, second from the top of the GB/T 1797-2008 standard. The weight and the grade are what our supplier specifies, not lab results. Mulberry silk benefits explains more.
How is it made?
A designer redraws the pattern from historical sources, one screen is made for each color, and the silk is printed by hand in Hanoi through both faces. The edge is rolled and stitched by hand, and each piece is checked before it is boxed. The printing method is compared in Hand Screen-Printed vs Digital.
A word on budget, since handwork has a price. The twilly begins at $57, a 22 inch square is $75, and the 26 inch square at $97 is where most gift-givers settle; shipping is free from $90, with import duty already paid. Each scarf arrives in a rigid gift box with a story card and, if you leave a message at checkout, a handwritten note. BLOG5 at checkout takes 5% off the order, and you can choose by pattern in our 26 inch silk scarf collection or begin with the silk twillies.
What is the heritage behind it?
The patterns come 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. The Dragon Dreams design turns four dragons toward a bodhi leaf; the Phoenix Dance design sets a phoenix among royal clouds. You can read about who makes them about Folk Form.
How can you tell genuine silk?
Three checks. Luster: silk glows and shifts with the angle, where polyester looks flat. Feel: smooth and slightly cool. Burn test: pull a loose thread, burn it over a sink away from anything flammable, and silk smells like burnt hair and leaves soft ash, while polyester melts into a hard bead. Every box includes a small cutting of silk for the test. More in What Makes a Luxury Silk Scarf.
Which scarf should you choose?
A twilly, 2.6 x 59 in (6.5 x 150 cm), is $57. A 22 in (55 cm) square is $75. The 26 in (65 cm) square at $97 is where most gift-givers settle, and it is our pick if you are unsure. See the 26 inch scarves, the scarf collection and the clothing collection. Silk is also the traditional gift for the 12th anniversary.
How do you care for it?
Dry cleaning is safest. By hand, use cool water and a little mild shampoo, never soak or wring, and dry in the shade. See How to Wash a Silk Scarf by Hand, the silk scarf gift guide and all our guides.
Orders leave Hanoi in 1 to 3 business days and reach a US address 9 to 15 business days later. Import duty is already paid, shipping is free from $90, and returns are open for 30 days.
Why a Handmade Mulberry Silk Scarf Makes a Lasting Gift: what people ask
Is silk the traditional anniversary gift?
Yes, silk is the traditional gift for the 12th wedding anniversary. The idea is that many fine threads woven together make a strong cloth, much like a marriage built over twelve years.
How much does a handmade silk scarf cost?
A twilly is $57, a 22 in square is $75, and the 26 in square at $97 is where most gift-givers settle. Shipping is free from $90, and import duty is already paid.
How can I tell real silk from polyester?
Real silk glows and shifts with the angle, and it feels smooth and slightly cool. A loose thread burned over a sink, away from anything flammable, smells like burnt hair and leaves soft ash, while polyester melts into a hard bead.
How is a hand screen-printed scarf different from a machine-printed one?
Hand screen printing uses one screen for each color and carries the design through both faces of the silk, so the pattern shows on either side. Machine printing is often on one face and leaves the back pale.
