[Comfort]Spider Goats: Milking Goats for their Silk

At Utah State University,  a new kind of silk is being produced.  Professor Randy Lewis has been working on genetically modifying goats so they can produce spider silk.  Nicknamed “ spider goats ”,  these remarkable creatures are actually capable of producing silk.

Genetically Modified for Success

To get the goats to produce silk, Professor Randy Lewis added genes from spiders into the goats DNA. Although the goat looks like any other of its kind, it comes with a remarkable capability. These goats are milked like they normally would be and the goat’s milk appears to be exactly the same. If the milk is analyzed, there would be only one major difference.  Within the fresh milk, an extra protein enzyme normally found in spider silk can be found. Once this is produced, the milk can be processed so to make silk.

Reactions

Despite the controversy over genetically modified animals, the new breed of goats has helped to allay animal rights activists over the source of silk. Without causing any harm to the goat, silk is produced for clothes and industrial usage.

This new form of genetically altering animals is known as synthetic biology. To people like Randy Lewis, genetically mutating creatures is just the most recent advance in agriculture. Born into a farming family, he is accustomed to the demands of a farmer’s life. In order to create spider goats, Professor Lewis took a strand of genetic material from an orb-weaver spider and placed it within an egg from a female goat. Once the goat grew up, it was able to give off spider-silk protein when it lactated. After the milk is processed, it can be wound around a single glass rod and used to create any silk product.

Future Potential

Along with its well-known softness, silk is an exceptionally durable material. Scientists have already discovered that it can be extremely elastic and placed in the body for ligament repair. Unlike other substances, the human body does not react negatively to silk. This means that the medical field can use silk in humans without it causing inflammation or illness. As technology grows, scientists will be able to discover more unusual properties for this exceptional material.

Sources:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jan/14/synthetic-biology-spider-goat-genetics
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16554357

[Taste]Beautify is silkify

I was at a local mall one day looking for makeup brushes when I came across these curious little hollowed oval balls.  At first I thought they were a pack of cotton balls, but I was probing about the hollowed center, so I took a closer look before I recognized that it was a pack of empty cocoons.Silk cocoons!  I was not really sure what these were for, however my curiosity pushed me to purchase it, so I did. 

Still my curiosity would not die, so I looked it up and found out that silk proteins from the cocoons have sericin which is composed of amino acids that are easily absorbed through the human skin. Sericin's crystalline structure protects skin from harmful UV light.

These amino acids have antioxidant content that helps skin regeneration and helps reduce the amount of free radicals that cause skin problems.  The antibacterial properties helps prevent skin from breakouts and also speeds up the healing process of the skin, and it promotes the excellent moisture retention properties of the skin, thus making skin less prone to wrinkling making it look supple and younger.

As an avid wearer of silk clothing and completely intrigued by it all, I launched an online search of epic proportions and was pleasantly surprised with the results and the vast array of silk-related beauty products.

Another astonishing product is the silk facial mask that gently acts like a second layer to your skin.  It is light-weight and lets you experience the miraculous beauty effects.  The natural essence found in a mask boosts cell growth and restores damaged cells, whilst reducing fine lines and tightens skin.  The mask is made of natural silk content that brightens and whitens skin, and gives it radiance.  It is so simple, convenient and easy to apply and it contains multiple regenerative factors.

Naturally, silk is a high-quality protein and a high polymer compound made up from more than twenty types of amino acids.  Silk being founded in China many moons ago it actually did not surprise me that ancient oriental remedies already used it to beautify the skin.  In modern times and with the green revolution pushing our expenditure, consciousness and expectations it is the perfect natural product.

One of the latest cosmetic applications of silk is in the form of silk-fibroin, which is a water solution technology that means silk can be changed into a powder, film, or gel.  Silk helps to counter the natural decline of hyaluronic acid and retain a natural reservoir of moisture inside the skin.

Worth mentioning are its natural affinity with the skin and high biocompatibility, two properties that explain why silk has been used for so long as a material for surgical thread.  Newer applications for silk have been developed for artificial skin, contact lenses, and medical sensors.

[Comfort]Irrational Rationale

In our search for self-actualization we often endeavor on mysterious paths that lead to irrational behavior, seemingly rational at the time.

This poses a question which to me still remains unanswered:
Why do some people spend many hours and much money on being fashionable, whilst others seem to be content with whatever?

I think this dilemma is amplified when it comes to underwear, since it is worn under the clothes, mostly unseen and not-admired by others. Is it the way sexy and sensual underwear makes us feel or is it in the way we fashionably express ourselves without being scrutinized by the lurking and critical eyes of society?
Suggesting the feeling of temptation and the promise of passion to come, might not be far off.The amazing softness of silk and the comfort this unique fabric brings to its user might lead us to the answer.
Silk garments are often complimented with lace detail that adds to the allure of this highly sought after fabric. Often wearing silk lingerie, I have found it to be more arousing than any other fabric. High quality lingerie undoubtedly pleases the eye, but the confidence factor it provides the human psyche, I believe is yet unmatched.

Wearing silk underwear gives me a sense of accomplishment and pride, even though my body is definitely not on par with the Kims and the Julias of the world. It makes me feel content in an unexpected and inexplicable way, as if the world melts away in its own misery.

So, why do some people bluntly not care about this and others like me are completely hooked on it?
I guess you might have your own opinions on this and I wish we can unequivocally find the source of the phenomena. But for now I wish you to, if you are one of the unenlightened ones, take the chance and be brave.
Take a look at the amazing variety Narasilk offers and be good to yourself. They truly cater for any size or style and what is more, each product is made to order, delivering unmatched tailoring-precision and craftsmanship.

[Comfort]Stone, Bone and Silk Age

Time marches on and here it is: Fall 2012.  My birthday is October, stunned about how fast this year went by, I find myself miserable.

The other day I went through my closets and drawers, hopefully discovering the real me, or motivation to throw out the old stuff and reinvent myself.

I came across a really old silk baby doll, I guess 7 years old or so.  After ravaging my wardrobe and ending up with 2 piles; “out” or “in”, I indulged in a hot bath.  It was the kind of bath where the soap bubbles flooded on the floor with absolutely no regard to the poor me, diligently cleaning up afterwards.

After spending an hour in the bath and another 15 minutes cleaning up, duty called; dinner.  Without hesitation I grabbed the baby doll and slipped it on, it was on top of the “in” pile.

The combined softness of the garment and my “hotly bathed” body was magical.  I felt so sexy!  I was amazed that just 2 hours ago I was deeply down and irritated and here I was re-energized and positive.
I made a promise to myself never again to reach for the baggy T-shirt and sweatpants just because I am at home and nobody will see me.  Now I find myself explicitly and intentionally wearing this still fashionable baby doll.  I figured why save it only for special occasions?  Now every time I get home I look forward to the sensation on my skin and high feeling of self-worth it gives me.

There are many benefits to wearing Sexy Lingerie and Nightwear, the most obvious being the added sex appeal and allure. When you look sexy you feel sexy and your partner is most likely to act upon that.

So the “out” pile is out and I scavenged the web for replacement stuff.  Sitting once again in my silk baby doll, listening to Harry Belafonte’s “A Fool For You” with a great cup of coffee, thunder struck.  It was like a revelation; I discovered Narasilk and their fabulous product range.

Needless to say more…