According to Chinese legends, silk was discovered in 3,000 BC by Lady Hsi-Ling-Shi, wife of Emperor Huang Ti, when a silkworm kookoon accidentally dropped into her hot tea. Fine threads from the kookoon unraveled in the hot water and silk was discovered. When silk was first discovered, it was used exclusively by the emperor, his close relations, and the very highest of his dignitaries. Even Julius Caesar restricted the wearing of silk to himself and his favored officials. Noble and rich Roman and Greek families sought after this splendid textile. The great demand for silk from Europe created The Silk Road, built entirely to support its commerce. For centuries, silk had been as valuable as gold often use as currency in international trade. For more than 2,000 years, the Chinese tightly guarded the secrets of silk. Anyone revealing the secrets or smuggled the silk worm eggs or kookoons outside of China was punished by death.Today, silk continues to be a character of luxury and grandeur.

Saree is one of the most precious outfits in a women's wardrobe. Though purchasing is a big deal, but saree care and saree wash is something challengeable. Today, owning a silk sari meant not only the initial price of the garment but also the cost of dry cleaning. All silk sarees are washable. Most silk sarees can be hand washed. Technically, silk saree does not shrink like other fabric. A good shampoo works well for clean sari . It will remove oil and revitalize your silk saree.

Wrapping a sari is an art but maintaining the attire is something that require more attention. There are few suggestions to maintain your saris.

1. Dry-Cleaning is Preferable

Generally silk sarees should be dry-cleaned. In hand washing, the consistency of the silk may be altered, depending on the finishing treatment used to give it sheen and the colour may run. Chlorine bleach damages silk and causes it to yellow.

2. Washing Silks

Certain pre-wash techniques have made certain washable. Raw silk, china silk, India silk, crepe de chine, Pongee, Shantung, tussar, dupion and jacquard silks are safer to wash. After washing, one should roll in a towel to remove the excess moisture, and then hang on to dry on a padded hanger.

3. Stains

Stained silk sarees should be dry-cleaned as soon as possible. Dyes and sizings tend to discolour with moisture. Therefore attempting to remove stains with water is not recommended without first testing the silk for colour fastness. It is difficult to remove a concentrated food or beverage stain. Scrubbing or pressing could ruin the fabric.

Protein Stains: These stains include blood, deodorant, egg, meat juices and perspiration. To clear such stains, first detergent should be applied to the garment. Then it should be soaked in cool water and laundered. In case of persistent stains, rubbing a mixture of a few drops of Nh2 with hydrogen peroxide should be tried.

Combination Stains: These stains include chocolate, gravy, ice-cream and milk. First a dry-clean solvent should be applied and then dried. The protein part of the stain supplement can be treated by applying liquid detergent and rinsing with cool water. Then after using a prewash stain remover, the silk should be washed in the hottest water that it can stand.

Nailpolish Stain: This can be treated by rubbing acetone on the area.

Lipstick Stains: First Dry-cleaning fluids and then washing in soap and water can be used to remove lipstick stains.

Grease: These stains are usually caused by oils, butter, margarine, crayon, medicines and oil-based cosmetics. Dabbing on talc immediately will lift the stain. After brushing off the talc, a stain remover can be applied and the silk should be washed in the hottest water that it can stand.

Silkguard: Some manufacturers have developed a protective process using chemicals from 3 M corporation of US, which accidental spills (of tea, coffee, food particles, ketchup, oil, etc.) do not spoil the fabric. This treatment is effected at the yarn stage and hence the permeability of the fabric is not affected.

· Silk is made from the Bombyx Mori moth, which is blind and flightless.

· Silk, as a fiber, has amazing tensile strength which allows it to withstand great pulling pressure.

· Pure silk can be identified by a performing a "burn test". Burning silk produces an unpleasant smell and the fiber turns into a powdery ash. Silk behaves similarly to wool, in that when the source of flame is removed, the silk ceases to burn.

· Pure silk fibers dissolve in bleach. Therefore, the whiter the fibers, the silk are more refined and pure.

· Today the most popular silk is mulberry but then there are also wild varieties of silk known as tassar, munga and eri.

· There is a wide range of silk fabrics depending on the weight, manufacturing technique and peculiarities. The more popular are taffetas, crepes, chiffons, twills, satins, brocades and damasks.

· In many varieties, the fabric is woven with grey yarn and then dyed and in others, the yarn may be dyed before the fabric is woven.

· Silk has different uses like, women’s & men’s lingerie, garments - both for men and women, scarves, ties and interior decoration like furnishing, curtains and cushion covers.

· Silk is rightly called the queen of textiles because of its lustre, sensuousness and glamour. In India, silk has a special significance and is considered a pure fabric — a must for special occasions.