Gambiered Canton Silk (also known as Mud Silk) is a traditional and special silk fabric produced only in ShunDe Guangdong which is dyed with plant and then evenly coated with local natural and unpolluted mud. It is the only silk fabric made in 100% natural material in the wolrd. Completly zero chemical, 100% eco-friendly.
Gambiered Guangdong silk has two-tone colors, front side black(mud coating) and back side brown(plant dye). In Chinese it is also called Heijiao Chou, has a history of at least 500 years. Its coating technique has been included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
This old-fashioned manufacturing process requires up to six months and a complexity of methods, including dip-dyeing in dioscorea cirrhosa extract for 35 times and then spreading the silk on river mud and afterwards a direct exposure to sun. After that, it will be another 3-6 months before the silk can be finally used for making clothes. That makes gambiered Guangdong silk one of the most expensive silk.
It takes months to produce and each production is unique with limited metres. Due to its handmade procedure, all the fabrics will naturally have few black spots, white/brown marks, color stains, etc, especially on the back side of the silk. It also will have small holes, color difference and scratches on the 5cm fabric edges.
This special silk fabric is durable and easy to sew. A dream material for Summer/Autumn garments. Simple washing, anti-wrinkle so do not need iron.
Due to the mud and complex process this traditional and eco-friendly mud-coating technique is at the risk of extinction.
Nowadays designers make full use of it and reveal the folk wisdom inside.
