Skip to content

Silk filaments have a gummy outer layer called sericin. If the sericin is left on, the filament is called raw silk. The filament also is said to be “in the gum” or unprocessed. The sericin is removed either at the yarn- or fabric-making stage.

It is a misnomer to call a finished fabric raw silk—the term seems to be mistakenly applied most often to wild silk fabric, noil fabric and other textured silk textiles.