Silk fabric is a natural, delicate textile, and silk fabric education and training will give you the knowledge to further your business. It takes skill and patience to work with silk and turn it into drapes or a nice scarf. Whether you plan on sewing, painting, or designing with silk or are a silk fabric supplier or silk fabric retailer, silk fabric education and training can make you more efficient at your job. Knowing how to work with and handle silk is important to your success.

There is a lot to know about silk from what type of wholesale silk fabric to buy to how to turn silk drapery into a masterpiece. Silk is not just used by artists and retailers; it is used by interior decorators, apparel designers, crafters and many others. Look to the following resources when learning about silk fabric:

1. The Internet is an endless resource for silk fabric education and training opportunities.

2. Taking classes dedicated to the use of silk can help you to learn detailed aspects of working with silk material.

3. Textile associations are full of silk fabric experts who can teach you tricks of the trade.

Action Steps
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Browse the Internet for information on everything from silk bolt to silk drapery fabric

The Internet is a great resource for you to find out all about the intricacies of silk. Learn about all the types of silk and what each is best used for. The Internet is a great starting point to learn the basics if you are just getting started with silk.

I recommend: Fabrics.net provides a silk glossary as well as background information that is important to know when working with silk print fabric. TexereSilk gives a detailed breakdown of the many types of silk material.

Attend classes dedicated to silk textile

Taking a class either online or in person is a great way to get personalized instruction on working with silk. Your instructor can provide you with a wealth of knowledge so make sure to take advantage of their assistance. It is important that once you develop skills from the class that you can use them to apply to future projects on your own.

I recommend: Design studios such as Two Creative Studios offer online classes that focus on working with silk fabrics. The Syzygy Gallery in Coral Bay offers one or two day workshops on silk painting techniques.

Join textile associations to develop your knowledge of silk textile

Organizations dedicated to textiles are a great way to network and learn from silk fabric experts. These types of groups provide an abundance of resources to their members including conferences and publications. Once you are a member of these organizations you are privy to industry information and access to textile professionals.

I recommend: The International Textile and Apparel Association can help you connect with experts on silk textile. Find local textile organizations like Textile Association of Los Angeles, that can help you network with others in the embroidered silk fabric business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you plan on working with silk fabric on a regular basis, begin to develop a business relationship with a silk fabric supplier who can sell you wholesale silk fabric. If you continue to work with the same suppliers they are more likely to clue you in to discounts and new fabrics.

Silk is generally considered an expensive luxury fabric, but you can get a jump on your competitors by finding and providing the finest silk drapery and silk fabrics to your customers at an affordable cost. The resources available to business owners today through the Internet make it easier than ever to compare prices between different suppliers and to find the best possible silk material for your customers.

As you look for a new silk fabric supplier or suppliers:

1. Don't dismiss any possibility offhand. Even if you would not normally go to a discount or wholesale silk fabric supplier, an organic or natural fabrics supplier, or any other specialty supplier of silk, be sure to thoroughly investigate all of your options before choosing only one or a few.

2. If you are in need of something more specific, such as embroidered silk fabric or silk drapery for decorating purposes, begin your search by looking through online directories specially geared toward what you need.

3. Learn about and consider the whole range of different silks, and not just the basic or most well-known types.

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Look in unusual or unconventional places for discount or wholesale silk fabric in order to save cash

While online discount emporiums or fabric warehouses might not seem like the most obvious place to find a luxury fabric like silk, it is possible to find excellent wholesale silk fabric options at many different websites out there.

I recommend: Websites such as Beautiful Fabric are a good place to start if you're looking for a silk bolt, silk drapery fabric or other affordable silks for home decorating purposes. Hyena is another quality silk retailer than often offers large amounts of silk fabrics for sale, frequently at great discounts.

Search through online directories for specific types of silk fabrics to suit your needs

Online directories offer an excellent way to skim through a large selection of different suppliers, all conveniently listed in one place. These directories are useful even if you're looking for something a little unusual or difficult to find, such as embroidered silk fabric or raw silk fabric. This makes it even easier for you to compare different suppliers, their products, and their prices, without having to spend hours searching all over the Internet.

I recommend: Look into directories such as TradeKey, which offer additional resources such as consultants to help their online users find exactly what they are looking for. Alibaba.com is another good website where you can look for a silk retailer to provide you with material. This site gives a large listing of international manufacturers and suppliers who supply a variety of products, from silk drapes to silk print fabric and embroidered silk fabric.

Find exotic and specialty silk fabric at reasonable prices online

Today, there are more websites than ever that focus on specialty and difficult to find silk fabric, such as silk velvet fabric, hand spun or hand woven fabrics, or raw silk fabric. Even these materials can be affordable if you know where to look for them.

I recommend: Websites such as Aurora Silk, where you can find all kinds of specialty silks and other fabrics, including those made with only natural dyes. Silk Road Textile Merchants is another great company offering silk textile and natural fabrics, as well as in-depth information on the types of fabrics they offer and how to care for them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Do not cheat yourself by ruling out any possibility before thoroughly looking into the details. Even if you think a certain type of silk fabric might be beyond your business's means, or that a certain kind of silk fabric retailer just isn't for you, learn the facts before making any decision.

There are many areas of commerce that might find a need for the luxurious qualities of silk fabric. From interior designers and clothing boutiques to artisans and party planners, the functions of silk fabric are as numerous as the types of silk fabric. To fully prepare for the introduction of silk to your business, it's important to have an understanding of some silk fabric key terms. Knowing these will be essential for making the right decisions about which silk fabrics will best serve the purpose of the business.

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Sheer silk fabric

There are several types of sheer, translucent silk fabrics; chiffon is the most lightweight, soft and sheer; organza is similar yet more crisp than soft; and georgette is the heaviest and least sheer.

I recommend: HartsFabric has a wide selection of sheer silk fabrics including chiffon, organza and georgette.

Silk dupioni

Silk dupioni is a medium-weight, shiny fabric used for formal jackets, dresses, drapes or slipcovers. It is recognized for its unique weave with horizontal lines and imperfections, or knobs, in the weave.

I recommend: Silk Road has an in-depth description of silk dupioni and the common uses of it, as well as links to swatches.

Silk brocade

Silk brocade is heavyweight silk often decoratively embroidered or printed with Asian motifs. It is brightly colored and usually used for formal and highly decorative clothing or in luxury decorating.

I recommend: See a description of how silk brocade is used at Changsha Xiangchu Silk Co.

Silk charmeuse

Silk charmeuse is a shiny, opaque, lightweight and extremely soft silk fabric used often for lightweight billowy dresses or blouses, undergarments, nightwear and scarves.

I recommend: Have an up-close look at the qualities and texture of silk charmeuse with the magnifying tool at the NY Fashion Center.

Silk velvet

Silk velvet is often blended with rayon to make a heavy, rich, luxurious and soft velvet fabric. It is used mostly for decorating or re-creating historic royal looks for creative purposes.

I recommend: Look at a description and samples of silk velvet at Hyena Productions.

Thai silk

Thai silk is manufactured in Thailand and due to the unique design patterns, bright colors and artisan craftsmanship of the highest quality, it is considered one of the finest and most luxurious fabrics in the world.

I recommend: Find out everything about Thai silk from World of Thai Silk.

Silk is one of the finest, most luxurious fabrics in the world. Many businesses may find it beneficial to introduce this exquisite textile to their collection. Silk drapery might be used by interior decorators, embroidered silk fabric may be used in formal clothing design and manufacture, or it might be a wise move to expand a current business to become a silk fabric retailer.

While silk fabric is one of the most expensive fabrics, the unique qualities and characteristics of silk make many willing to pay the price. Consider the following when looking into the pricing and costs of silk fabric:

1. Find information on the different weaves and weights of silk fabric to find the one that best fits your business needs.

2. Search for special discounts on silk textiles to save money.

3. Consider other alternatives with silk fabrics, such as blends, to save money.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find a wholesale silk fabric supplier

Search wholesale suppliers and distributors for discounts for buying in bulk. Much money can also be saved by buying directly from silk fabric manufacturers or importers.

I recommend: Find wholesale silk fabrics from Dharma Trading Co. for between $2 and $12 per yard, depending on the type of silk fabric and the amount ordered. Find plain silk fabrics wholesale from Exotic Silks for as low as $2 per yard and silk print fabric for between $10 and $15 per yard.

Buy fashion silk fabrics

Different types of silk fabrics can be used for clothing apparel and accessories. Some of the most common silk fabrics used for apparel are chiffon, organza, georgette, dupioni and charmeuse.

I recommend: Buy silk fabrics of all kinds for clothing from Fashion Fabrics Club for between $6 and $12 per yard. Find many different silk fabrics at Denver Fabrics for between $3 and $15 per yard.

Shop for home decor silk textile

Some common silk textiles used for home decor are heavy-weight silk brocades, silk velvet and silk dupioni.

I recommend: Find many home decor fabrics from Fabric Guru. Silk upholstery can cost upwards of $100 per yard, but drapery fabrics are much cheaper, starting around $5 per yard. Designer silk home decor fabric from Schindler's Fabric Shop range between $50 and $100 per yard, but find sale and closeout fabric for as low as $10 per yard.

Search for specialty silk fabrics

Specialty silk fabrics are the most expensive, but still discounts and deals can be found especially online. Find specialty silks like raw silk and hand woven.

I recommend: Find imported high-quality silks from Thailand for between $3 and $20 per yard from Thai Silks. Got Fabric offers raw silk fabric in various colors for about $8 per yard.