Top 2 Spider Silk

Fibre doesn't have to be made out of plants, like hemp, cotton, bark etc. Being innovative in textile design, we need to consider textile in different aspect. Textile is no longer as simple as yarn and fabric, it's a field for us to consider the existing resources and being creative to create new materials out of them. From the last lesson, we have talked about different bio-fibres that surprising me. For example, Spider Silk, Hack Fish, Milk, Honeybee silk etc. I have never expected insects can be used to create fibre and the fibre that they created are incredibly delicate.

Spider is known for its strong spider webs, their webs are used for protecting themselves and eggs and also for hunting. Spider silk is quite vary, due to the fact that spider is wild insect which is not controllable by human. However, Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley have used 3 years to create a piece of golden spider silk garment which has been shown in V&A 2012. This golden cape has used 1.2 million of spiders especially the Madagascar to create the silks in 3 years. Although it is not efficient, it is art and gives us an idea how spider can contribute in the textile industry.

golden cape by Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley

The spider silk has reminded me of the spider web in the shop that I work. It is light, it swings in the breeze. It looks fluffy and thick, like the filling of the duvet.  

Brick lane shop 'Iconoclast' 

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/g/golden-spider-silk/
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/09/spider-silk/
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2012/01/the-science-of-the-spider-silk.html