Our Story
We are a young and flourishing brand specializing in silk, especially mulberry silk sleep masks. Our origin is rooted in the owner’s great grandfather’s generation. We aren’t just a brand offering mulberry silk eye masks, but we are also silk industry experts. For generations, we have been involved in silk production and quality control of mulberry silk.
We are a young and flourishing brand specializing in silk, especially mulberry silk sleep masks. However, our origin is rooted in the owner’s great grandfather’s generation. We aren’t just a brand offering mulberry silk eye masks, but we are also silk industry experts. For generations, we have been involved in silk production and quality control of mulberry silk.
However, with the change of tide and time, we have entered the silk market ourselves with Yanser Sleep Masks. Our sleep masks are 100% mulberry silk, ensuring that you have a comfortable sleep and wake up refreshed. Our mulberry silk is 100% natural, hypoallergenic and odourless.
At Yanser, we offer comfort that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Silk Industry of China
Though silk has its roots in China in the 4th millennium BC, it remained confined to the region until the Silk Road. The Chinese kept the mystery of the silk industry a closely guarded secret for more than two thousand years.
Our Values
The credit for the invention of silk goes to Lady Hsi-Ling-Shih, wife of the mythical Yellow Emperor, who is said to have ruled China in 3000 BC. Lady Hsi-Ling-Shih introduced the craft of silkworm rearing. She is also credited with the invention of the silk loom.
This information is backed by archaeological evidence unearthed in 1927 and subsequent excavations. However, silk thread, spinning tools, and silk fabric found along the archaeological sites along the lower Yangzi River reveal the origin to be much earlier.
The Silk Road
The mulberry silk was a precious commodity sought by other regions well before the development of the silk road. However, such was its popularity that the silk trade was well established when the silk road was operational in the mid-second century BC. The earliest evidence of the silk trade was from 1070 BC when an Egyptian female mummy was found wearing silk in the village of Deir el-Medina near Thebes and the Valley of the Kings.
The silk road is not a single road but a network of roads extending from China to Korea and Japan in the east, India in the south and Turkey and Italy in the west. It spanned over 6,400 kilometres or 4000 miles, the length of the entire Asian continent. Though the silk road mainly was land, it also had a few sea trading routes.
Having existed for over 2000 years, the routes occasionally changed over time. While the silk road existed for commercial purposes, it also acted as a social exchange between diverse people and cultures.
How Is Silk Made in China?
The key to China’s dominion in silk production lies in a blind flightless moth, Bombyx mori. The life of the moth is just 5-6 days, during which period it lays as many as 500 eggs. Close to 30,000 worms come out from one ounce of eggs. These silkworms eat a ton of mulberry leaves and, at the end of the cycle, produce 12 pounds of raw silk. The filaments of the Bombyx mori moth are more refined, rounder, and smoother than any other silk moth.
The Mystery of Chinese Sericulture
Sericulture or silk production has a colourful history not known to many. For the Chinese, it was a detailed process, perfected after centuries of experimentation to make the most delicate silk possible.
Sericulture is a lengthy process which involves precise timing and temperature. In addition, the silkworm itself is particular about the leaves it eats. It doesn’t prefer diseased or dead leaves while gorging on healthy, moist white mulberry leaves.
To produce high-quality silk, two factors come into play:
- First, prevent the moth from hatching out since this process breaks the thread.
- Perfect the diet for the silkworms,
both of which the Chinese manufacturers perfected. These factors affect the quality of the silk to a great extent.
The process of silk production is as follows:
- The eggs are kept at 65℉ and gradually increased to 77℉, after which they hatch. The emerging baby worms feed day and night every day on fresh mulberry leaves.
- Silkworms are supplied with chopped mulberry leaves every half an hour. A silkworm eats 40,000 times its weight in its lifetime.
- Additionally, they are also maintained at an optimal temperature throughout their life.
- The silkworms increase their weight by 10,000 times their birth weight within a month. It also sheds its skin several times and also changes colour.
- During this period, they are protected from strong smells, drafts, loud noises, and anything that might distress them.
- Once they have stored enough energy, the silkworms enter the cocoon stage. They produce a jelly-like substance from their silk glands which hardens in contact with air.
- The worms then spend 2-3 days spinning a cocoon around themselves. The final product is a white fluffy, cottony ball. After 8-9 days, the cocoon is ready to be unwound and spun into silk.
The Making of Silk
The cocoon is then steamed to kill the worms within. Then, they are dipped in hot water, loosening the tightly wound strands. This process slackens the strands, which are later unravelled onto a spool. Each cocoon has a single strand measuring 600m and 900m. Five to eight of these strands make one thread.
Finally, the silk threads are woven, dyed, and embroidered as needed. Silk clothes made using this process are cold in summer and hot in winter.
The Secret of Silk
The Chinese closely guarded the secret of silk production that people caught smuggling silkworms or eggs were punished by death. As a result, only fully woven silk goods left the region. This created a silk monopoly over the silk production but not for long.
People worldwide sought out silk produced in China due to its lustre, soft and strong nature. History reveals that silk had a civilising effect on the barbarians. When Alaric, a Goth, besieged Rome in 408 AD, he demanded 5000 pounds of gold, 30000 pounds of silver, 3000 pounds of pepper, and 4000 tunics made of fine silk. Such was the influence of mulberry silk on the mighty Roman empire.
Even though silk production was a closely guarded secret, the Chinese began to lose their monopoly after the migrants to Korea in 200 BC. By 300 BC, sericulture travelled westward, but no one knew how to make such fine silk until AD 550, when two monks brought silkworm eggs hidden in their hollow bamboo staves.
Benefits of Silk
Why is silk so expensive and highly sought after? One of the main reasons is its strength and durability. For example, mulberry silk, which originates in China, is the strongest natural fibre in the world. A mulberry silk fibre is stronger than a steel fibre of the same diameter.
Silk has stood the test of time and is equally popular as centuries ago. But what are the benefits of incorporating silk into your everyday life?
Hypoallergenic
Pure silk fabric is hypoallergenic and odourless, making it ideal for people with allergies and sensitive skin. Silk is derived from cocoons which itself is a protective layer. This natural origin helps to repel dust mites, mould and bacteria.
Thermoregulating
Silk is also thermoregulating, meaning it keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. The thin, lightweight strands allow for breathability and maintain ideal body heat.
Moisturizing
Silk being smooth and lustrous, doesn’t absorb moisture like the other fabrics, such as cotton. So, any moisturisers you leave on the skin stay as such overnight. In addition, since the silk material locks in hydration, it is also anti-inflammatory while being cool on the skin.
Soft, Sensual and Decadent
Silk has long held the reputation as the fabric of the royals. History texts reveal that silk was restricted to the royals. This is due to its smooth, wrinkle-free, and lustrous appearance.
Natural
Silk is derived from the cocoons of the silk moth and is hence a 100% natural fibre. It has a lustrous quality resulting from the protein “fibroin”. Moreover, it gives silk a luminous quality in the presence of light.
Sericin, another protein present in mulberry silk, reduces the likelihood of an allergic reaction.
Anti-Ageing
Due to its natural moisturising properties, silk is also said to have anti-ageing effects. The smooth texture of the silk doesn’t leave marks or pull on the skin. This reduces friction, thereby reducing premature ageing and wrinkles. Silk also helps increase cell turnover giving your skin a plump and youthful glow.
Sericulture is a lengthy process which involves precise timing and temperature. In addition, the silkworm itself is particular about the leaves it eats. It doesn’t prefer diseased or dead leaves while gorging on healthy, moist white mulberry leaves.
To produce high-quality silk, two factors come into play:
- First, prevent the moth from hatching out since this process breaks the thread.
- Perfect the diet for the silkworms,
both of which the Chinese manufacturers perfected. These factors affect the quality of the silk to a great extent.
The process of silk production is as follows:
- The eggs are kept at 65℉ and gradually increased to 77℉, after which they hatch. The emerging baby worms feed day and night every day on fresh mulberry leaves.
- Silkworms are supplied with chopped mulberry leaves every half an hour. A silkworm eats 40,000 times its weight in its lifetime.
- Additionally, they are also maintained at an optimal temperature throughout their life.
- The silkworms increase their weight by 10,000 times their birth weight within a month. It also sheds its skin several times and also changes colour.
- During this period, they are protected from strong smells, drafts, loud noises, and anything that might distress them.
- Once they have stored enough energy, the silkworms enter the cocoon stage. They produce a jelly-like substance from their silk glands which hardens in contact with air.
- The worms then spend 2-3 days spinning a cocoon around themselves. The final product is a white fluffy, cottony ball. After 8-9 days, the cocoon is ready to be unwound and spun into silk.
New Page for Yanser
Designed in-house, the Yanser sleep mask uses silk produced from our looms. After years of perfecting the silk production, we have now shifted our focus onto perfecting beauty and comfort. As a result, we are now bringing our silk production directly to our customers, starting with our Yanser Silk Sleep Mask.
With the changing times, we have decided to go online with our products and ship our silk directly to you. There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep, and that’s why we at Yanser Selection strive to bring you our silk sleep masks from 100% mulberry silk. Designed and manufactured by our in-house design team, Yanser silk sleep masks are ridiculously comfortable and of the highest quality material.
