Lotus silk
The lotus flower, symbolising purity and wisdom, possessing various valuable components. Notably, the lotus stems yield prized fibres that are used to create a fabric known as "Lotus Silk," boasting silk-like properties.
The tradition of extracting fibres from lotus stems dates back to 1910. In the 1990s, Japanese designers established workshops to introduce this unique fabric to foreign markets. However, due to limited demand, lotus fibre fabric remained rare and handcrafted.
Lotus silk production predominantly occurs in countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and certain parts of Manipur. This exclusive fabric is among the world's most precious and costly due to its intricate and manual manufacturing process, involving skilled craftspeople.
Lotus silk production predominantly occurs in countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and certain parts of Manipur. This exclusive fabric is among the world's most precious and costly due to its intricate and manual manufacturing process, involving skilled craftspeople.
The extraction process begins with younger women gathering lotus flower stems in the mornings. These stems are meticulously cut, snapped, and twisted to reveal delicate white filaments of fibre. These filaments are carefully drawn out, dried, and rolled into long threads. The labour-intensive process requires around 25 thread makers to keep a single weaver busy.
The extracted fibres are spun into yarn, prepared on bamboo spinning frames, and transferred onto winders for warping. The weaving process is performed on traditional looms, involving frequent moistening of the threads to maintain coolness. The resulting fabric, woven in 100-yard batches, takes about a month and a half to complete. Approximately 32,000 lotus stems are needed for just 1.09 yards of fabric, showcasing the exclusivity of this textile.
Natural dyes derived from tree bark, flower petals, leaves, and fruits are used on lotus fibre. Dyed yarns are dried in sunlight. Lotus fabric, known as the world's first natural microfiber and an ecologically friendly choice, comes in various types suited for different garments. Due to the meticulous thread-making process, pure lotus cloth is rare and expensive, often retailing up to 400 USD per piece. It is occasionally blended with cotton or silk.
In summary, the lotus flower's transformation into exquisite Lotus Silk involves a painstaking extraction and weaving process, yielding an exclusive and environmentally conscious fabric with remarkable properties.
