Many people think that silk is a “woman’s” fabric, but men have been wearing silk for centuries. It’s been the fabric of choice for royalty, peers of the realm, brides, and the wealthy for a long, long time. But in recent decades, silk has come down in price enough that even ordinary people can afford to have some silk garments in their wardrobe. While there are men who have discovered the great style and comfort of silk shirts and pants, most men incorporate silk into their wardrobes in the form of silk mens pajamas or boxer shorts.
When women give mens silk boxers or mens silk pajamas, it may be style she’s thinking of, but most men will appreciate the comfort most. They’re also very unlikely to provoke allergic reactions. And anyone who thinks of silk as a “girly” will quickly be disabused of this notion. Silk can be used to make very masculine garments.
Most of the silk that’s used for weaving into textiles comes from cocoons made by larvae of the Bombyx mori, or mulberry silkworm that’s raised in captivity. Silk has its lustrous appearance because of a prism-like structure of the fibers that refracts incoming light at several angles. Silk fabric was first made in China from as long ago as 3,500 BCE. Only kings could wear and give silk in ancient China, but use of the fabric eventually spread throughout Asia.
The silk trade was an international trade from 1,000 years or so B.C.E. It reached to India, North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The trade routes running from Europe to Asia were known collectively as the Silk Road. Though Chinese emperors tried to keep knowledge of the production of silk secret, the techniques nonetheless spread to Korea by 200 B.C.Eand by 300 C. E., silk was produced in India.
Today, India is second only to China in silk production, and India is the largest consumer of silk. Brides traditionally wear silk saris during marriage ceremonies in some parts of India, and silk is commonly worn to festive occasions in India.
The Roman Empire knew of the supremely comfortable fabric and traded it. Though the emperor Tiberius passed laws forbidding men to wear silk garments (because it was simply too luxurious and sophisticated), they did little to stop the wearing of silk.
Venice was a center of silk trade, and because of this many silk growers settled in Italy. By the 1200s C.E. Italian silk had a reputation as truly luxurious fabric. Silk made in the province of Como became the most valuable in the world, and by the late 19th century, Italy was the third largest producer of silk in the world, bested only by China and Japan.
American colonists attempted to grow silk in the 1600s, as did Shakers living in what is now Kentucky and some New England residents. In the 19th century, European workers in Paterson, New Jersey brought silk production there, making Paterson a center of U.S. production of silk.
Silk is strong because of the amount of the amino acid called glycine in it, which allows the fibers to pack tightly and strongly. Silk’s tensile strength is because of interceded hydrogen bonds, which resist even most acids. Sulfuric acid, however, will dissolve silk. Because of its wonderful properties, silk used to be used for making blanket filling, parachutes, and even bicycle tires.
The cultivation of silk involves silk moths laying eggs on special paper. When the eggs hatch, the larvae are given mulberry leaves to eat. After about five weeks, the larvae are ready to begin spinning their co coon, which they do on a straw frame placed over the tray where the larvae live. The silk is coated in a substance called seracin, and it solidifies as soon as it comes in contact with air. It only takes two or three days for a silkworm larva to spin a mile of filament into a cocoon, in which the larva is encased. The larvae are killed with heat, and the silk is harvested.
Silk is not as expensive a commodity as it used to be, and it can be found in just about every department store and even in some large discounters like Target, particularly around Father’s Day and Christmas. Mens silk boxers are an everyday luxury that many men can afford, and they are extremely comfortable. Outfitting yourself (or your significant other) with a selection of silk boxer shorts is a great investment in comfort.
Silk mens pajamas are another affordable luxury that can actually make a difference in your quality of life. They are so comfortable to sleep in because they help you maintain a steady body temperature, and because they’re so soft. The feel of silk against your skin is a relaxing sensation, and to sleep in silk mens pajamas is to feel pampered. Your sleeping partner will love the way they feel too. The only “problem” is that you (and your partner) will never want to go back to regular pajamas and boxer shorts after you’ve worn silk for a while.
Silk pajamas and boxers come in masculine stripes, solids, and prints, and there is nothing sissy or girly about them. Silk pajamas in a deep olive, burgundy, or black, or perhaps in a dark color with a pinstripe, are made to look great on men and feel great too.
Another pleasant surprise is that silk is a very durable fabric as long as you don’t abuse it. Cheap underwear and pajamas will lose their shape and wear out before too long, but silk that is properly cared for is very long lasting. When you break it down by how many times you wear it, and for how many years you can wear it, the cost per wearing for silk is very reasonable.
Because silk is an organic fiber, it has all the great properties that organic fibers have: it’s breathable, comes in a number of different weights, can be knit or blended with other fibers (silk and cashmere blends are wonderful!), and in warm weather, lightweight silk naturally wicks moisture away from the body. When it’s cold, heavy silk is not only soft and comfortable, but wonderfully warm too.
When you buy silk garments, you will often see tags that say “Dry Clean Only.” This is mostly a warning that’s there to protect the manufacturer from having to take them back if you should throw them in the washer and dryer with blue jeans and towels only to find them shredded after a couple of washes. While you can dry clean silk, you don’t have to. In fact, it’s easy to clean silk at home, and you’ll save a ton of money compared to the cost of dry cleaning.
It is mostly the agitation of the washer that causes problems with silk fabrics. Hot water is hard on silk, too. Therefore, if you use the gentlest agitation, cold water, and detergent or soap made especially for “delicates,” you’ll be able to clean your silk boxers and pajamas yourself and they will last for years and years.
Hand washing them in the sink with cold water and gentle detergent is ideal, but if you must use the machine, set it on its gentlest cycle and only use cold water. Mild soaps or detergents made for baby clothing (such as Dreft or Ivory Snow) are better than standard laundry detergent because they won’t strip the natural oils found in silk. Never use chlorine bleach on silk, and never use starch with it. Once you’ve gently swished the garments around in the sink, drain the sink and rinse in cold water.
Never wring or twist silk. Gently squeeze as much water out as possible, then lay the garment flat on a clean towel and gently roll it up. The towel will get some more of the water out. Never put silk in the dryer. Hang silk garments up to dry on plastic or wooden hangers, or on a clothesline. If you want to iron the silk garment, do so while it’s still a little damp.
To iron slightly damp silk, the iron temperature should be 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and you should not use high heat or steam on silk. Iron the fabric on the reverse side. It’s not good to expose the silk garments you’re washing to strong sun or dry heat for long because they will cause the fabric to fade. You can use an indoor clothes line or a wooden fold-up drying rack.
When storing silk, do not place garments in plastic bags. If you want to wear body lotion, cologne, or deodorant with a silk garment, apply it to your skin and then wait a few minutes before putting the garment on.
To remove stains from silk, act as quickly as possible so that the stain won’t have time to set in. Rinse with cool water first. You can remove grease by applying talcum powder. Then put blotting paper (or part of a brown paper sack if that’s all you have) below and above the stain. Gently iron through the blotter, and the paper should absorb most of the grease or oil.
Deodorant stains can be removed by rinsing the garment in cold water. Next, use a sponge to apply a 1:1 mixture of water and ammonia. Rinse afterwards with cold water. You can remove lipstick and some other makeup stains from silk by placing a bit of masking tape over the stain and quickly removing the tape. You can add a little talcum powder to get any remaining color off.
Silk has a long and storied history, and is a fabric that is loved the world over.
Silk mens pajamas and boxers are the most popular silk garments among western men. They make terrific gifts because of their simple luxury and wonderful feel. Even men who think of silk as being a “feminine” fabric quickly realize just how wonderfully this fabric can be incorporated into their own clothing.