Natural silk has always enjoyed immense popularity, though in the past it was only accessible to the wealthy. Today, however, silk has become available to everyone. It is used not only for luxurious eveningwear but also for home textiles and everyday clothing. The fabric can be either 100% natural or blended with semi-synthetic fibers that enhance its strength and elasticity.
One of the leading suppliers of silk fabrics on the Russian market is Silkytex. We spoke with the company’s purchasing manager, Ulyana Filimonova, about the new arrivals showcased at the «INTERFABRIC-2025.Spring» exhibition.
– Our company has been working with China for over ten years – we source products for our clients and handle turnkey transactions. In the past five years, we’ve delved deeper into textiles, specializing in silk, as well as silk blends with cotton, bamboo, hemp, and wool.
– What distinguishes your company’s operations?
– First and foremost, our company offers clients unique terms: we provide dyeing starting from just one roll, or printing from as little as one roll – starting from fifty meters. This is truly a unique offer, as the typical minimum is between 200 and 500 kilograms. We also collaborate with young designers and fashion houses, giving them a platform to realize their creative ideas.
– What forms the core of your product range?
– We import a wide variety of fabrics, but at the heart of our range is silk thread, from which we produce different types of fabric: satin, crêpe de chine, and chiffon.
Today’s innovation in silk is habotai (100% silk, 34 g/m², width – 140 cm). We offer various finishes – digital printing, dyeing, washed silk, natural color with tailoring finish, and natural color prepared for printing. This is a Japanese fabric, made with dense weaving technology, traditionally used for garments such as kimonos and yukatas. Habotai, as a pure natural silk, is currently in exceptionally high demand, especially with the ongoing popularity of Asian trends.
As we know, there are many types of silk. The most familiar is probably satin silk, commonly known as "Armani silk," though the correct term is satin. There's also silk organza, often used for curtains, and silk velvet. Silk can even be processed to resemble woolen scarves if properly brushed. The possibilities with silk are truly limitless. It’s a high-class fabric, and thanks to our company, it’s now accessible to middle-income consumers. Our mission is, in fact, to bring silk to the masses.
– What new products did you bring to the exhibition?
– This time, we brought new woolen fabrics, as well as new blended fabrics: silk with hemp, silk with linen. One of the most popular is silk with linen – 22% silk and 78% linen – widely used for summer suits. Linen wrinkles easily, but silk helps it quickly regain its shape. Silk with hemp, containing 35% silk and 65% hemp, is typically used for home textiles – bedspreads, throws, and upholstery fabrics, especially for luxury furniture. It’s also ideal for restaurant tablecloths due to its water-repellent and easy-care properties.
We're also reviving the trend for crêpe de chine – a fabric our mothers and grandmothers loved. Crêpe de chine can be both synthetic and natural silk. In our company, you can also find silk blends with cotton, viscose, and linen – more practical, easier to care for and wear, and, of course, more affordable. This category offers a wide variety of colors, prints, and fabric types.
Crêpe georgette is a thin, slightly crinkled fabric, very pleasant and lightweight. It's commonly used for scarves, shawls, light skirts, and dresses.
Twill is usually purchased for men’s suits, blazers, and linings. Due to its twill weave, it has a ribbed texture that gives garments a refined, elegant look. It works beautifully for men’s jackets, shirts, and linings.
For home textiles, we offer silk with spandex – this fabric stretches well, and 10% spandex doesn’t compromise the unique qualities of silk. Silk with spandex offers the same comfort as natural silk, with a cozy, warm, and cool feel.
We also carry a rather exotic option – silk blended with wool. This includes blends with rabbit, camel, and sheep wool. The composition is typically 10% silk, 80% wool, and 10% polyester. The fabric is very soft, comfortable, waterproof, and pleasant to the touch. It’s mainly used for coats. Recently, it’s also been chosen for lightweight wool suits, where the ratio shifts to 45% silk and 55% wool. These fabrics are light and warm but breathable, allowing the skin to remain cool thanks to the silk content.
Another new direction is silk sleep masks and silk hair scrunchies – a current trend. These scrunchies prevent hair breakage, split ends, and keep hair smooth and well-groomed. Silk sleep masks promote relaxation and restful sleep.
– Why did you decide to participate in the INTERFABRIC exhibition? What are your plans for the next season?
– We’ve been participating in INTERFABRIC exhibitions for several years now. Without a doubt, the exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for visibility. It’s always a pleasure to see our regular clients and establish new partnerships with clothing manufacturers. We were very pleased with the exhibition this season and plan to continue participating in the future.
At the next exhibition, we plan to showcase silk sleep turbans, which we believe will be particularly in demand among women with long hair: they prevent static, and after wearing the turban, all that’s needed is a quick brush through the hair.
