By: Ananya Sharma
Beneath the sea’s vast expanse,
Lies a treasure that we chance,
A golden thread that shimmers bright,
Woven by clams, a stunning sight.
This sea silk soft and yet so strong,
Is a wonder that can’t be wronged,
Lemon juice can brighten its hue,
Pure, natural, and simply true.
A symbol of wealth, grace, and lore,
It’s origins, mollusks, we adore,
Let’s cherish this rare gift of the sea,
A true marvel for all to see.
Sea silk, a legendary and elusive treasure, is harvested from rare clams hidden deep in the sea. With its golden threads flashing in the sunlight and its weight almost imperceptible, this fiber comes shrouded in misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and misinformation. However, the Pinna nobilis mollusk, a magnificent bivalve found in the Mediterranean Sea, holds the secret to this rare and remarkable material. Its exquisite byssus, secreted from a gland in its foot, is a strong and resilient material comprising thousands of delicate threads, woven together to create a flexible and durable cord of extraordinary beauty and properties. Throughout history, humans have been captivated by the byssus of Pinna nobilis, highly prized for its multitude of purposes, including textile production. The fine threads of this material were expertly woven into fabrics of unparalleled softness and durability, enhanced by a striking sheen that caught the eye of discerning fashionistas. Indeed, the enduring allure of this natural wonder is a testament to the exquisite beauty and quality of sea silk, a true treasure of the deep sea.
In 2004, the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Cultures Basel held a joint exhibition showcasing over 20 sea-silk objects dating from the 14th to 20th centuries. The exhibition catalog, “Muschelseide – Goldene Fäden vom Meeresgrund,” was the first illustrated book on the subject and was written in German and Italian. Most sea-silk items are found in natural history museums across Europe, as they were often gifted between elites or purchased as souvenirs by Italian travelers on the Grand Tour. In the US, sea-silk items were presented at industrial exhibitions, with some eventually being sold to Marshall Field, founder of the Field’s Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
Sea-silk fibers can be identified through the use of polarized light microscopy, as they display a distinctive birefringence pattern due to the alignment of protein molecules in the fiber. Chemical tests are also useful in distinguishing sea silk from other fibers like silk or wool. By utilizing both methods, the identification of sea silk can be accomplished with confidence .
The fibers of sea silk have a sheath-core structure similar to that o f mulberry silk, comprising fibroin fibers embedded in a sticky resin called sericin. They are bi-component fibers and vary in diameter from 10-60 μm, which may also vary along a single fibre. The natural color of the cleaned and combed fiber beard of Pinna varies, depending on the location and age of the shell.
Sea silk has remarkable stretchability, making it ideal for flexible and movable clothing. However, its tensile strength is lower than that of other protein fibers and even weaker than wool. In a wet state, the tensile strength decreases by about 30%, which limits its suitability for applications that will be exposed to water or humidity.
Sea silk is made from tufts collected from a sea creature called a giant shell. Each tuft weighs approximately 1.5 grams and must be thoroughly washed in soft water to remove salt and increase elasticity. Traditionally, a 36-hour bath in cow urine was used to enhance the quality of the sea silk, but now lemon juice is used instead. After washing and drying, the tufts are carded using a fine metal brush and about 5/6 of the original weight is lost. The remaining fibers are spun into a delicate single thread using lead-weighted spindles. Historically, sea silk was used for weaving in Mesopotamia, Greece, and Persia. It takes around 250 grams of sea silk to be collected from one thousand giant shells. The end product is a thread suitable for embroidery or weaving, making sea silk a highly prized fabric.
Despite being made from the byssus of the endangered Pinna nobilis mollusk, a few skilled artisans still use sea silk today. Sardinia has a rich tradition of creating beautiful textiles with this rare material, but the population of Pinna nobilis has declined significantly due to various factors like overfishing, pollution, and loss of seagrass fields. As a result, the sea silk industry has almost vanished, and only a handful of women on the island of Sant’Antioco now preserve this art.
However, it is available in market at a high cost when blended with regular silk. This extraordinary textile is renowned for its remarkable fineness and warmth, making it finer than any other silk variety. To create a luxurious and soft fabric, sea silk is often blended with regular silk at a ratio of 30 to 35%. Despite its high price, many consider sea silk to be a valuable investment due to its rare and exquisite qualities.
It is difficult to obtain and process, requiring careful harvesting, cleaning, and spinning. This labor-intensive process makes them expensive to produce and limits their availability for commercial use.
Despite these limitations, researchers continue to explore the potential uses of sea silk in various fields. New technologies and techniques may eventually make it easier to obtain and process these fibers, leading to new applications and opportunities for this unique biomimetic material . The invention pertains to a chemically-modified sea silk fiber and wound dressing made from it, as well as a method for preparing the chemically-modified seacell fiber. The sea silk fiber’s cellulose components are chemically altered and made water-absorbent by adding perssad, transforming them into modified cellulose components. The substitution degree of the modified cellulose components is between 0.05 and 0.5, the sea silk fiber’s linear density is between 0.5 and 5 dtex, and the fiber length is between 5 and 180 mm. This one-step modification technology endows the sea silk fiber with hygroscopicity and gelling properties while preserving the marine algae particles’ active ingredients. Thus, a moist and nutrient-rich healing environment can be provided for wounds, enhancing the sea silk fiber’s effectiveness and expanding its application range.
Morwover to this ,in recent years, researchers have become interested in the potential uses of byssus threads as a biomimetic material for engineering and medical purposes.The unique properties of byssus threads make them an attractive material for various applications. They are incredibly strong and flexible, and can withstand the rigors of the marine environment. Additionally, byssus threads are biocompatible, meaning they do not trigger an immune response when introduced into the body. This property makes them an ideal material for medical implants
While it may appear environmentally responsible to reject the use of sea silk, the production of synthetic fabrics entails its own environmental hazards. The manufacturing process for synthetic fabrics releases toxic chemicals into the environment and relies heavily on petroleum, both of which can inflict harm on marine ecosystems. Conversely, small-scale harvesting of sea silk could prove more sustainable in terms of its environmental, social, and economic impact. However, ethical concerns regarding the harvesting of live organisms and the risk of over-exploitation and ecological damage raise controversy surrounding the production and utilization of sea silk. Thus, a judicious and equitable approach is necessary to weigh the environmental and ethical implications of both synthetic fabrics and sea silk production and use.
In conclusion, sea silk is a truly remarkable textile that embodies the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world. Its centuries-old legacy and unique properties continue to capture the imagination of designers, artisans, and fashion lovers alike. While its production remains a highly specialized and challenging process, the sustainable and ethical potential of sea silk offers a glimmer of hope for the future of the fashion industry. By prioritizing the use of natural and renewable resources, we can embrace a more mindful and responsible approach to fashion that honors the rich history and beauty of materials like sea silk. As we continue to navigate the complexities of the modern world, sea silk reminds us of the power of nature and the enduring allure of the finest things in life.