So, spun Sea Silk? Seems simply stunning!
Ancient, endangered fiber is finer than silk
Sea silk is the name given to yarn spun from the attachment threads of pen shells (a mollusc). The history of the fiber and fabric made from it is recorded in texts dating to biblical times, possibly including the Rosetta Stone (more details here). We see a lot of fiber in our daily routine – but never yet have we crossed paths with sea silk. There is an increasing awareness of the extraordinary nature and value of sea silk. The BBC has a wonderful article about Chiara Vigo, the last person to harvest, dye, spin, weave, knit, and embroider the fiber using traditional methods. She harvests the threads herself from the sea, under the watch of the Italian Coast Guard, as the pen shells are endangered and protected. From the BBC article: “it is extraordinarily light. Chiara Vigo asked me to close my eyes and extend my hand. I knew what she was going to do, but still I could not tell when a small square of the cloth touched my skin.”
