The Wonder of Silk
Silk is in itself a whole world with mythological origins. Once so precious and rare, the secret of its origin was so closely guarded that anyone revealing it did so on pain of death. But once unleashed, silk went on to shape the world as it know it today.
And still, it continues to compel us. This magical molecule, so rich in history and storytelling, is now at the forefront of pioneering medical innovation. It serves as a powerful and enduring reminder of our connection with the natural world.
The History of Silk
Fittingly for such a beautiful substance, the origin of how we discovered silk is shrouded in romance and mythology. Myth has it that the Empress Leizu was drinking her customary tea underneath a tree when a silk cocoon fell into her cup. The hot water softened the cocoon and as she unravelled it, she was struck by the shimmering and soft filament which she then learned to weave into silk cloth.
To this day, silk production is still a labour of love, a labour intensive process that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.
A Tale of Adventure and Discovery
Silk has always wielded power over us. The desire for it was so great, that the first trading routes linking East and West were travelled in order to trade in silk - The Old Silk Roads. Travel is effortless nowadays, but before our modern creature comforts, travel was long, arduous and fraught with risk. It was only for the most adventurous of souls, often on horseback, across mountain ranges and perilous.
And yet, as the human spirit and desire to discover is unquenchable, the first travellers to trade on the Old Silk Roads carried with them their ideas, their customs and their cultures. And these cultures and customs were exchanged alongside the silks and spices, spreading knowledge and enriching human experience along the way.
Silk in Surgery
Silk is one of the world’s oldest medical materials. It was used by Galen of Pergamon around 1500 BC to help heal the wounds of gladiators, and used as sutures in the 19th century.
Even today, with medical technological innovation evolving at pace, silk is still the preferred material used in complex eye surgeries and owing to its natural reparative qualities, it is being used to repair nerves within the body and investigated for a myriad of conditions, including heart muscle repair.
The Mystery of Silk
One of the most compelling facts about silk is that although the world’s finest minds have studied it, and although it is understood well enough to use in complex surgery, it is still not known how it is made in the way it is, with all these qualities that are so beneficial to our health.
In that respect and many others, it is much like the miracle of life - much appreciated, much revered, but one of the mysteries of the universe, inspiring awe and wonder.
More About Us
Learn about our founder and our approach to skin care using the science of Silk.
As a company based on a highly renewable, natural resource, we are compelled to draw inspiration from the Earth and have processes in place to respect it.