Background of Shantung

Shantung is comprised of a weave that is actually quite plain and rough. The weave hails from silk fabric that is produced with uneven yarns in order to create an effect that is textured. The final result includes threads that are sometimes thicker in the filling or the weft. The actual name Shantung hails from a particular Chinese province where the fabric was originally produced.

Today Shantung is sometimes referred to as ‘raw silk’; although this is actually not an accurate term. Raw silk correctly refers to silk that has been de-gummed. This type of silk usually has an appearance that is far lustrous than other types of silk.

A true Shantung fabric is created from silk; however, there are actually many fabrics that can imitate the somewhat slubbed appearance of Shantung. Rayon and polyester are just two such examples. Both of these fabrics are synthetic; however, in many cases it can become difficult to distinguish these fabrics from the real silk fabric. There are tests which can help to make distinguishing between the two easier; however, to the naked eye they tend to look quite the same.

Dupioni

The term Dupioni is commonly used when referring to fabrics that are made only of silk. The word Dupioni actually means double. Therefore, this is silk fabric which has been produced using a double cocoon. The presence of somewhat irregular slubs on Dupioni makes it similar in nature to Shantung; however.

In most cases, the actual differences between Dupioni and Shantung are only subtle. Typically, the slubs on Shantung are a bit smaller than on Dupioni. Additionally, Shantung tends to have a luster that is just slightly higher than Dupioni. Despite these differences the terms have become interchangeable in the last few years. When the two terms are used separately from one another, Dupioni is usually used to refer to the same fabric that hails from India while the word Shantung is used to refer to fabric that hails from Japan, China or Italy.

It is important to keep in mind that while there may be some differences between Shantung and other silks, Shantung does tend to have some of the same problems. One of the most important of these problems is the fact that it tends to experience changes in color. When these fabrics are placed in sunlight they do tend to fade quite easily. Fabrics which are originally white in color may not fade; however, they will turn yellow. At this time there is no known treatment to combat these problems. The best method for reducing this problem as much as possible is to limit amount of sunlight exposure the fabric receives. When it is not possible to move the fabric away from direct sunlight exposure, light filtering blinds may be employed to reduce sunlight exposure. Keep in mind; however, that this method may not be 100% effective in preventing the fading or yellowing of fabrics.

Ringing is not as much of a problem with Shantung as it is with other silks; however, it can still prove to be problematic when it is necessary to spot clean the fabric. The key is to gently feather the areas they require spot cleaning in order to minimize the damage caused by rings. It is important to note that the ring itself may not be completely prevented; however, the hard edges along the outside of the stain can be minimized and overall the stain may be less noticeable.

Maintenance and Cleaning Tips for Shantung

When it comes to maintenance, Shantung does not require any different methods of maintenance than other silk fabrics. Most such fabrics can be cleaned using methods that are water-based. It should be noted that the use of alkaline cleaning agents is not recommended. All procedures and chemicals should actually be pre-tested in a small area to be certain of the results before applied to a larger area.

A protective treatment can help to reduce the natural absorbency of the fabric. This can assist the fabric in resisting problems such as staining as a result. When these problems are minimized the life of Shantung can be extended.