The Allure and Spiritual Significance of Lotus Silk

Lotus Fibre

Lotus silk is produced in only a few locations around the world, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the state of Manipur in India. Even in these areas, only a handful of skilled artisans possess the knowledge to extract fibre from the lotus stem to create one of the world's most delicate fabrics. The extraction process began on a small scale at the start of the 20th century. In Asian cultures, the lotus holds significant Buddhist symbolism, representing purity and enlightenment, which is why lotus cultivation is widespread in these regions. By chance, a drought in 2008 severely affected Cambodia, prompting traditional silk weavers to explore lotus silk further. The drought made it nearly impossible to cultivate mulberry, essential for silkworm rearing, leading to the remarkable innovation of lotus silk.

The Silk Making

The grace of this silk conceals the arduous process behind its creation. To gather enough lotus silk threads for a small scarf, a single weaver requires 2-3 months of work. Woven from fibres extracted from the lotus stem (rather than the flower itself), lotus silk must be produced swiftly because the threads need to be extracted within 24 hours of harvest, or they become brittle and break. The stems are harvested daily. Workers handle 5-6 stems at a time, snap them, and separate the strands. The fibre, flexible enough to withstand being pulled and stretched, can be drawn out from inside the stem to a certain length, providing strands long enough for weaving.

The fibre filaments are combined into a single thread and dried. Once dried, the threads are spun into yarn and hand-spooled using a bamboo spinning frame and bamboo bobbins. The lotus yarns are woven on traditional looms, with the main distinction from traditional silk production being the frequent moistening of the threads. Additionally, the traditional handlooms are slightly modified to accommodate this unique fibre.

Coloured with natural dyes, these gossamer threads form part of the most coveted wear all over the world. Sometimes the threads are mixed with cotton or traditional silk while used in clothing.

The First Ever Natural Microfibre

Lotus silk costs ten times more than regular silk and is the first natural microfibre in the world. A microfibre is defined as a fibre with a linear density of less than one gram per ten thousand metres of yarn. This silk has a glowing texture and feels luxurious to the touch. It is also slightly elastic, breathable, and extremely comfortable to wear. Creating a scarf measuring 36 centimetres by 1.75 metres requires lotus fibre extracted from approximately 9,200 stems. Although the lotus threads are delicate and fragile, once woven, they match traditional silk in durability and strength.

Commercial Advent of Lotus Silk

Phan The Thuan, a traditional weaver from Vietnam, introduced lotus silk to her country only five years ago. She has educated many villagers in the skill of extracting the fibre, resulting in a swiftly expanding lotus silk industry in Vietnam. Samatoa, an eco-friendly textile mill and design company, has partnered with Cambodian lotus fibre weavers to bring lotus silk to the global market and enhance the weavers' quality of life.

Now, this silk is sought after by the top fashion designers of the world, and the supply is never able to meet the demand with only a handful of experts in the field and the laborious process involved. Samatoa has its lotus farm and silk production unit in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Samatoa calls lotus silk the most spiritual fabric in the world.

In 2003, Cambodian entrepreneur Vannari San established Lotus Silk to aid the silk-producing communities in Cambodia, with a particular focus on supporting women weavers. The workers in Cambodia earn around 150 dollars per month for their work in silk production. The farmers get 10 cents for one lotus stem.

The Samatoa website lists the properties of lotus fibre as below:

• Lightweight

• Soft-touch

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• Silky hand

• Especially breathable

• Wrinkle resistant

• Pilling resistance

• Tearing and tensile strength

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Fabric Care

The lotus fibre fabric should be hand-washed and dried in the shade. Avoid soaking it for extended periods, and use a mild soap during washing. Do not twist the fabric to remove water. It can be dry cleaned using petroleum solvents only. There is no need to iron it, as it is naturally wrinkle-free. This fabric represents the future of silk, offering a sustainable livelihood for numerous Asian communities and providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional synthetic clothing. By boosting production, the cost can be reduced, making it accessible to the general public.

References

Lotus Silk: A Sacred Luxury, Aayushi Dokania, onlineclothingstudy.com

Why Lotus Silk is So Expensive, Business Insider, YouTube.

Lotus Silk: A Luxury Fabric Out of Lotus Stem, The Hindu, YouTube.

Visit Our Lotus Farm Siem reap, Cambodia. samatoa.lotus-flower-fabric.com

Lotus Silk, lotus-silk.com

If Silk Isn’t The First Natural Microfiber, Then Lotus Fiber Certainly Is, India Gustin, lampoonmagazine.com