If I were to sell 100% silk products would you buy from me?

[Nutter50028]

Not really an AIBU but it’ll help loads if I get a response for business purposes!

I’ve Developed massive interest in manufacturing (I’m good with a sewing machine) silk products so pillow cases, scrunches, hair bonnets/turbans and eventually bed sheets etc.

However silk is very expensive And people don’t generally like to spend money lol. So would you buy those silk products if you had come across them?

I wouldn’t buy bedding only because I don’t want silk bed sheets, I might buy the hair bobbles though and maybe a pillow case.

Would depend on silk type, are you using ethical/ahimsa silk?

I would be much more likely to buy from a small company/individual who sourced their silk direct from say a rural community than a large industrial facility.
I don’t have an issue re the worms but I am interested in the human cost.

@UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername

Another no for ethical reasons.

Same here.

I am vegan, so no

No, I can't be bothered with the faff of hand-wash items.

Nope. I really don't like the feel of silk, yuck.

Also the care issues.

And never realised it was ethically dodgy before now but yikes - that doesn't sound nice! Also another general yuck factor at using something produced by insects. Nooooope. (Honey is an exception, because it's delicious and bees are cute).

I currently buy scrunchies and bedding from Slip,so yes,I would.

Another no. I wasn't aware of the ethical aspect and that would prevent me from buying; also, I want something which is easy wash and preferably no/minimal iron.

I had no idea about silkworms. Oh my god!

No because I'm vegan but from a business point of view I would say it's risky to put your money into an expensive product that is seen to be unethical.

Buyers will pay a premium price for ethical products and they will be future proof. In these days of SM you could lose your business over night. Look at plastic drinking straws!

@Takingontheworld

I had no idea about silkworms. Oh my god!

Me either! Wow, it's a no from me now I know!

No, another on ethical grounds.

TBH I always kind of assumed silk grew on trees like cotton and silkworms were worms that fed on those trees...

Oh crap, never knew all that about silk, that's another thing to cross off my list. Sorry, not helpful to you at all OP!

silk is cruel so no I wouldnt, sorry

No I don’t really like the feel of silk and now I know more about how it’s made..

I have zero moral objection to silk but I have too much stuff. Too many pillow cases already, not sure I'd know how to appreciate silk sheets. I'm trying to buy nothing never, so sadly wouldn't seek your stuff out, OP. When I do buy things it's usually charity shop potluck.

Gosh, the cost of silk sheets is . And then I'd spill chocolate on them, see. Just wouldn't work.

Not the items you listed, but I would buy silk underwear and nightwear from Etsy if it was well made and the designs were nice.

No because sill is cruel

@SquishySquirmy

I think that if you are trying to make money through handmade products, luxury materials are better! Because you can charge a better price for them. With cheaper materials there is a limit to how much you can add on for labour without reaching the maximum people will pay for a cotton scrunchie (for example).

Not everyone will want to pay more for silk, but that doesn't matter as long as you can reach and appeal to the market that will.

See, I'm happy to pay for the labour and individuality of a handmade item, but luxury materials are an added cost I don't necessarily want to pay unless it seriously adds to the aesthetic or function.

My dc wear sleep bonnets but they have had they same ones for years and tears, so not much returning trade.

I already have silk pillowcases.

I chuck them in the same wash as the sheets - they don't get special treatment and they're fine.

I feel this is the wrong site to ask this on, because parents are unlikely to want the faff of extra washing. If it won't survive the washing machine with the random sock that always gets in there, I'm not interested.

I have, in the past, bought "ethically produced" silk, which was allegedly made only when silkworms had hatched from their cocoons.
I wouldn't buy silk now for ethical reasons.