100% organic biodynamically cultivated mulberry bourette silk - it is organically certified by IMO to GOTS standards.
Bourette silk has a natural, earthy, slightly knobbly texture in contrast to filament silk. This gives it good warmth for its very light weight, and is still soft on the skin.
The mulberry leaves which form the diet of the Bombix Mori silkworm are organically grown, and the combination of the high-quality diet and traditional community skills creates excellent silk.
All silk is excellent for the skin - it's gentle, insulating and breathable, and known for generations and across cultures as the ideal next-to-the-skin layer.
This silk is "bourette" silk which is a spun silk. It does not have the silky-smooth shiny quality of filament silk (we also have filament silk clothes for your family if that's more your style!). After the finest silk is harvested, the pieces that remain are collected, combed and spun together into the Bourette silk fibre.
The silk of this garment is not only organic but biodynamic silk. A Demeter advisor worked with the group researching compost, plant-based preparations and efficient management following biodynamic guidelines and the projects have been very successful.
We also value the emphasis the Sichuan Alkena projects have placed on community and social responsibility. For example, fixed prices and supply contracts are in place to avoid exploitation and ensure stability. The organically-grown mulberry bushes flourish on less productive land, and so the business brought in by the project brings economic benefits without displacing land set aside for
food crops. Environmentally, the project is encouraging biodiversity and has already planted hundreds of fruit trees and over 5000 other trees alongside the mulberry bushes.
So this silk is not only high quality, nurturing and healthy for your skin, but is making a positive difference to the world.
