The legend about silk dates back to 2640 BC. This is the way to stay in top shape in the 21st century

Last modified on Friday, December 3, 2021 12.20 EST

More important than other fabrics, the history of silk is shrouded in mystery and folklore, and it feels very suitable for fibers extracted from silkworm cocoons. Its legend began with the yellow emperor's girl wife.

Sometime in 2640 BC, when a cocoon fell into her cup, she was drinking tea under the mulberry tree in the garden. When she pulled it out, the cocoon dissolved into a long, translucent line. The teenage queen studied and experimented with thread until she finally invented a reel and loom so that she could teach court ladies to weave long threads into fabric. In the past few thousand years, the practice of sericulture has been refined and spread globally.

We asked some experts for advice on the best way to maintain this ancient fabric.

Georgia McCorkill is a fashion lecturer at RMIT University. She said that because the silk filaments are very delicate, they can be woven into very lightweight transparent fabrics to make beautiful evening wear, such as georgette, chiffon or taffeta. But be careful, these fabrics can "hang and hook on jewelry or rough surfaces," so be sure to consider your accessories and what you sit or lean against while wearing silk.

The care label of most silk garments will state "Dry clean only". McCorkill said that although you can wash silk by hand sometimes, dry cleaning "is the best way to maintain the natural luster and drape of the fabric."

Dry cleaning is also the best way to care for silk garments with linings and interfaces, such as jackets or structured dresses, because it prevents uneven shrinkage, which can cause deformation of the lining or shoulders. This also applies to garments with beaded decorations-McCorkill said these should be taken to a "professional wear dry cleaner, because the beading and sequins can be damaged by standard dry cleaning chemicals."

Katie Kolodinski, founder and creative director of Silk Laundry, agreed. She said that if the clothes are made of fine silk such as chiffon or georgette, dry cleaning is particularly important because these fabrics tend to shrink. She added: “For items with structure and tailoring (such as silk blazers and items with shoulder pads or detailed designs), finding a trusted dry cleaner is really great.”

If you find dry cleaning inconvenient or expensive, McCorkill says, “softer clothing such as underwear and tops can usually be washed by hand,” even if they only have a dry cleaning label. But be aware that she said hand washing may cause the fabric to lose some luster, shrink or color loss.

Therefore, if you are considering hand washing, please consider care instructions, assess how complex the garment is constructed, and avoid hand washing fine silks or patterned silks that may not easily change color.

If you are brave enough to try to wash your hands, Kolodinski recommends starting with simple silk pieces. She said to fill a bucket of water with cold water and a minimal amount of delicate lotion, like this one in The Laundress. She recommends washing one piece at a time, "from the lightest color to the darkest color." Shake each piece of clothing in water for about a minute to squeeze out the excess water, but be careful not to knock it, "because this will damage the fibers. "Instead, lay the clothes flat on the towel, and then roll the towel together with the clothes to absorb excess moisture. Then lay it flat to dry or hang it in direct sunlight, as this will damage the silk.

Since silk is a very delicate fiber, it responds well to steam and ironing. Kolodinski said it is worth buying a personal steamer that does not take up too much space or cost too much money. If you use an iron, she will say "Iron the back and use the silk setting".

But be careful, McCorkill warns that “silk doesn’t need too much heat to remove creases and cannot tolerate high temperatures.” She said: “The steam produced in the shower is an excellent gentle way to promote the disappearance of wrinkles.”

If you find that you don't have an iron or steamer (steam from a freshly boiling kettle), Kolodinski also offers a tip for removing wrinkles. "Open the lid and put your clothes on it. If you are in the office and plan to go out after get off work, it will be very effective."

When wearing silk, pay attention to the amount of sweat and the deodorant used, because sweat and deodorant will leave sneaky marks on the silk fabric. McCorkill said they were usually not obvious at the time because silk did not retain the smell like synthetic fibers. "But over time, the deodorant or oil in the sweat can damage the fabric and change its color, and I often wear a good-looking dress and find that it has some terrible sweat loops." She recommends washing or discoloring it in time. Dry-clean silk products to prevent stains from damaging the fabric.

Kolodinski believes that this can be partially solved by suitable and choosing deodorants. She said that it is best not to let the silk "too close to your armpits" and suggested finding a suitable deodorant, which she uses is a kind of Dr. Organic.

Do you have any clothing care problems that you hope this column will solve? Send a request to australia.lifestyle@theguardian.com.