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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

106 replies

Nutter50028 · 01/10/2020 17:58

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?

OP posts:
plipplopwillywillyplopplop · 01/10/2020 20:12

Yes I would and have brought lots of silk ver the last couple of years.

Catlover77 · 01/10/2020 20:20

Another no on ethical grounds, I am vegetarian and would never buy silk

ExtenuatingCircumstances · 01/10/2020 20:24

No, I don’t like touching silk.

Boshmama · 01/10/2020 20:38

Nope another one for ethical grounds - I visited a silk factory in Vietnam having no idea how it was made and witnessed the silk worms being boiled alive. The smell was indescribably awful and I’ll never forget the sight of the big buckets full of boiling insects.

Vile vile fabric

Thatbliddywoman · 01/10/2020 20:42

The number of people who now know the truth about silk because of this thread (see what I did there) makes me happy.

And no OP, I wouldn't obviously. It's an unnecessary and cruel fabric.

Honeyandapple · 01/10/2020 20:46

No, I wouldn't risk paying a lot of money for an item to a small / 1 person business with limited protection for myself if there's some problem with the item or delivery.

I might order through Made or Not on the hightstreet or something like that, who host small sellers

KunekuneKristmasCake · 01/10/2020 20:47

No

fantasmasgoria1 · 01/10/2020 20:48

No I wouldn't. I am vegetarian edging towards vegan and I would not buy silk. I saw whilst away in this country 100% silk tops in a shop for £15 each . This is a shop with a really good reputation, I asked one of the owners if it was genuine for that price and she Said definitely yes. It looked and felt like the real thing. Mentioned that because you said it was expensive.

ThousandsAreSailing · 01/10/2020 20:50

I used to think it was a left over product
Now I've seen how it's collected I realise how cruel it is and would never buy silk

WellTidy · 01/10/2020 20:51

Not 100% silk, but I have a scarf that is a silk/wool mix and I absolutely love it. It is my favourite by far and I am always on the lookout for more.

Megan2018 · 01/10/2020 20:54

I don’t buy silk, it’s horrible to touch and too much faff. I also don’t like the ethics of it.

44PumpLane · 01/10/2020 20:56

Had no idea there was anything unethical about silk and from the snippets mentioned here I'm not about to Google it as it sounds awful.

I don't own anything silk and now I won't!!!

whiteroseredrose · 01/10/2020 20:57

Nowadays I don't buy silk because I'm going vegan.

In the days when I did buy silk it would depend on the quality. There is silk and silk. In the 80s I had some lovely shirts in a thick matt crepe de chine. But the thin cheapy stuff, no.

1Morewineplease · 01/10/2020 21:00

Silk can be difficult to maintain its good looks.

As more people are becoming ethical in their clothing/soft furnishings decisions, you might find that your market is rather more limited than if you used fine cotton eg lawn cotton.

YouveGotMeWhosGotYou · 01/10/2020 21:00

Poor silk worms. Awful

Howlooseisyourgoose · 01/10/2020 21:13

Yikes I had no idea it was unethical. I do own some silk things.

My local market has amazing bargains and I picked up 100% silk pillow cases for £1 each. I can tell silk from fake silk, but I wish the cases are fake now!

I also bought some eye masks and silk PJs on eBay.

Will only buy ethical silk from now on.

HoboSexualOnslow · 01/10/2020 21:16

Yes, I love my silk pillowcases and like to support local business. But they'd need to be reasonably priced compared to others.

Mum2jenny · 01/10/2020 21:17

Yes, as I love silk and the face masks I buy are 100% silk. And they are so comfortable.’

Mistymonday · 01/10/2020 21:18

No because I am ethical vegan and believe silk is an unethical product.

Chootchoot · 01/10/2020 21:23

Hi I suffer bad eczema and for that reason buy silk and 100 % cotton clothing.
I would buy from you because I cant wear normal fabrics.
Also i find there are many sellers on ebay who list things as 'silk' when they are not at all. So a reputable seller would be good.

PreggoFeminist86 · 01/10/2020 21:33

I would! I actually ordered a couple of silk scrunchies made from 2nd-hand scarves this week (I sleep with my hair up) & I'm planning on investing in a silk pillowcase soon too.

FubsyRambler · 01/10/2020 21:37

It’s not ethical, but the boiled silkworms are used as a high protein food source by many people, not just binned.
Seafood is often boiled alive in the West, isn’t it?

Defenbaker · 01/10/2020 21:46

princesssparklesea posted:

"No because the silkworms are boiled and gassed alive. This is a horrible practice and not something that I would want to pay for."

Same here. I don't see a problem with people buying vintage items made of silk, but I don't want to support the ongoing cruelty involved in the silk industry. Also, I prefer cotton.

thebiggestmoose · 01/10/2020 21:53

I wouldn't, but that's because I'm poor and buy my bed linen from asdaGrin

But I'm sure there is a market for people buying high quality silk products- nothing is going to appeal to everyone- target your market and I think you could do well

mamangelo · 01/10/2020 21:54

Oh my goodness I had no idea how silk was made! Thanks all for enlightening me. Sorry OP my original answer was going to be yes I would buy and would spend more if the quality of the fabric was justified but now understanding how silk is made I am appalled and will never buy it again.

Note to self... be more aware of what I am buying!