History of silk reveals some
clues to itis modern-day appeal

CHARACTERIZED BY its delicate strength, lustrous col-
ors and luxurious feel, silk.is increasingly becoming the

fabric of choice for men and women.

The appeal of silk is not a

modern phenomenon. It was worn
as long as 4,000 years ago in the
Far East.
* Closer to home, references to
this precious cloth are scattered
throughout English titerature. ‘Phe
18th-century poct William Blake
wrote about getting dressed in
‘My silks and fine array.”

“What is new about silk is its
affordability and wide selection,”
says North Vancouver clothing

- retailer Linda Rasmussen.

Much ‘of the silk found in
North American stores. comes
-from China, This country recently
‘expanded ‘both its manufacture
and. export of silk garments.

‘Greater selection and lower
prices have led to more North
American consumers «discovering
the benefits of silk.

“Among .these benefits is the

© surprising strength of this fine

fabric.

“Silk is light dnd- warm in
combination with other fabrics;
‘hence, it’s popular as underwear
for skiing.

It's also cool in the summer and

* for this reason is worn in tropical

“and desert climates. In fact, Saudi

By Zeak Baker
Contributing Writer

Arabia is one of the world's
leading consumers of silk.

Silk is also surprisingly casy to

care for, explains Rasmussen,

In the beginning, silk was
washed by hand in rivers and then
hung on bushes to dry. (After all,
dry cleaning came into existence
only in this century!).

As long as there were no pro-
longed periods of direct sunlight,
garments were not damaged,

Today, laundering silk is even
easier with the help of a little
technology.

Good quality silk is machine
washable in mild detergent and
cool water. After a few minutes in
the dryer on a cool setting, just
hang it up to finish drying.

Some. sitks can be completely
dried in the dryer with no fear of
shrinkage. Ironing may not be
needed at all. Colors will not fade
away any more than denims or
cotton.

The wide selection of Silk today
extends to not only garments and
colors, but ‘also types of silk

fabrics.

“The most popular is habotai
sitk which is a plain straight yarn
when woven,'’ says Rasmussen.
“This is the type most people are
familiar with.”

Others include crepe de chine
which is twisted as it’s woven,
Jacquard is part twisted and part
woven,

Tassah, which comes from
Northern China, is coarser and
warmer because the silk worm
weaves its cocoon to protect itself
from the cool environment.

A knowledgeable salesperson
can advise you on the specific

benefits of each type of silk, adds *

Rasmussen,

When shopping for silk in Van-
couver, you're likely to come
across garments manufactured by
Chinese businessman Ian Cheng,
who has resided in Vancouver for
the past three years.

With four factories in China,
Cheng is Canada’s Jargest im-
porter of quality silks.

If you’re interested in locally
manufactured silk. garments, be
sure to check out the Carol Little
line which is produced here in
Vancouver by Jacobo Kajomovitz.

Available at fine clothing stores,
this line features a large number
of quality silk items.

- Young girls accepting ‘slim

_ stress’ at alarmingly early age

From page 18 :

‘can, women: are ‘from ethnic and

minority ‘backgrounds. And* the
majority: of, : Jewish, “Spanish,
“ Italian, Portiguese,: East Andian,
‘Greek, Chinese.-and Afro-
American’ ‘cultures do not have the
“physical capabilities’ to “look like
‘Sigcurney - Weaver!” so, how are
they to cope with the realiy that,

» from “birth, novmatter: hu. hard.

“they: try, they can never have me. ae

han below-standard beauty? -

A psychologist’ reveals that the .
ideal cultural: image expressed by’

her female clients is very clearly a

: Super Woman.

‘= This image is tall, thin, carries
herself: perfectly, ‘does exactly
what she ‘wants; ‘is independent,

“has a lover but doesn’t need him,
and she has status.

The psychologist continues by
- condemning this commercially
created. beauty image..as,.‘'a
‘ brilliant: form .of political oppres-
sion,’”’..reasoning that ‘it is not

ee
“Veta

invite all Brides-To-Be
-& guest to attend a Free

coincidental that, at the same time
women are told they have equal
opportunities in career and their
personal lives, there is a. hidden

-elause stating they can have equal
‘ opportunity as long as they have a
‘body size that very few women

could possibly achieve,.and main-
tain, as they seek equal oppor-
tunities. co

Women of ‘all ages are at fected
and young “girls are accepting

-. slim-stress at an alarmingly early
age.

Ina California study, 80% of

“ fourth-grade girls (aged nine and
10) have been on their first. diet,-

and girls in first and second grade
know the. weights of: all their
classmates because they have ask-
ed.

It is obvious that they are al-'
ready defining their worth in these
terms. Similar statistics, the film
reports, have been reached in
other cities. in the U.S. and

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MARGE 275.1558

The Famine Within was broad-
cast on ‘various Canadian —net-
works and ‘is distributed to
schoolboards. If you would like

more information about the film, ©

or would like to buy your own
copy of the 90-minute documen-
tary, contact Kandor Productions
Ltd., 76 Marion St., Toronto,
Ontario M6R JE7. _

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