Fabric & Craft: Raw Silk

Raw silk is woven from the shorter, less uniform fibres left over after the finer threads are reeled off, which is what gives it that slightly uneven, textured surface — and why it behaves so differently from the smooth silks most people picture.

It holds structure well, which makes it a good match for pieces like the Atelier Kurta that need to keep their shape through a day of wear rather than cling or crease.

In the atelier, we cut raw silk slightly more generously than other fabrics to allow for its particular drape, and we always test a swatch before committing a full length of fabric to a pattern.