Author: Mary Schoeser
Source/Format: Library borrowed; Hardcover
More Details: Fabric, fiber, history
Publisher/ Release date: Yale University Press, May 28 2007
Goodreads
Synopsis from Goodreads:
This gorgeously illustrated volume not only offers a tour through the fascinating history of silk but also a glimpse into the future, when imaginative designers and textile producers will be changing the boundaries of what is possible with this extraordinary material. Textile expert Mary Schoeser presents an authoritative account of the development of silk, its properties and practical uses, and its role in some of the greatest achievements in the history of fashion design.
What I Thought:
Silk by Mary Schoeser is basically a big book about… silk. Due to the small text and large pictures, it’s not overly long, but it definitely was more in-depth than I thought it would be. From the historical aspects, to the process of weaving silk into fabric from start to finish, Silk pretty much covers it all. As mentioned above, there were a lot of large but gorgeous and high quality photos peppered throughout the book. I found that this only added to my enjoyment. And to boot, the last section without pictures, entitled The Science of Silk, talks about the scientific properties of silk as a fiber –right down to the microscopic portions and cellular structures. I personally found this part interesting and cool. To be honest, I haven’t read many fabric oriented books that break it down that much.
What can I say? It talked about history, manufacturing, fashion uses, and scientific properties. I thoroughly enjoyed Silk. If you want to learn more about the fine details of silk, I suggest you pick this one up.
Thanks for reading.