Research

As part of our focus on innovation and research-based design, we have a close relationship with the University of Otago’s Clothing and Textile Research Centre. We have collaborated on several studies of Silkbody fabrics and comparisons of their properties with other natural fibres.

A study commissioned by Silkbody® in October 2007 at the Research Centre on “Properties of selected dry and wet silk and silk blend knitted fabrics” showed the following results:

• Silkbody’s baselayer fabrics, Silkspun™ and Puresilk™, dry faster than fabrics with more wool in the blend. This is true for both on and off the body drying. There appears to be a critical level at which the inclusion of wool in a blended fabric increases drying time and the amount of water held in the fabric. Silkspun™’s 13% wool seems to be below the critical level.
• The 15% cotton component of Silkspun™ also did not negatively affect the dry time when compared to Puresilk™ fabrics with no cotton included.
• Silkbody’s baselayer fabric Silkspun™ is an improvement over traditional 100% silk baselayers, being warmer and more insulating while still retaining silk’s moisture-absorptive but quick-dry properties.

See the full report : SilkbodySummaryofResearch19-12-08.pdf (296KB, PDF)

Research projects at the Centre involving Silkbody fabrics are ongoing. Further relevant results will be reported as they come to hand.