Fairy Feather: The World's Thinnest Silk

Revolutionizing Fabric Design with Ethereal Silk

The Fairy Feather project was inspired by the desire to capture the beauty, gloss, and poshness of silk, akin to the delicate feathers of a dragonfly or an angel. The designers were particular about the thinness of the silk, resulting in a fabric that is ethereal and reminiscent of the robes worn by heavenly nymphs in Japanese folk tales.

The uniqueness of Fairy Feather lies in its thinness and the use of ultra-fine silk threads. With a diameter of 8 denier, the threads are 1/6 of the diameter of a hair, making the fabric weightless yet soft to the touch. Thousands of these threads are woven into the warps on looms to produce an exquisite organdy, a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship involved.

The production process of Fairy Feather involves the use of 100% silk. The 8-denier silk thread is produced by silkworms that emit the thinnest fibers in the world. These threads are so thin that they feel virtually weightless in hand, giving the fabric a clean and fresh appearance. This unique silk thread is not available on the market, making Fairy Feather a prized treasure.

The project was carried out over a span of five years in Japan, starting in January 2011. It was announced by a bridal collection in 2014, creating a buzz in the fashion industry. The research and development phase took four years, during which the team continuously improved the looms to make the fabric mass-producible, non-breakable, and fuzz-free.

The Fairy Feather project faced several challenges, primarily dealing with the thin silk fabric. The super-fine threads required careful handling to prevent piling and imperfections in the weave. However, the team of skilled artisans overcame these challenges with their years of experience and knowledge.

In recognition of its innovation, Fairy Feather was awarded Silver in the A' Textile, Fabric, Textures, Patterns, and Cloth Design Award in 2017. This award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, further cementing Fairy Feather's place in the world of fabric design.