Our know-how

At Soieries du Mékong, we receive skeins of raw silk. The silk is then degreased (cleaned), then we dye the threads by hand. This first manufacturing stage lasts nearly 8 hours and demonstrates true know-how demonstrated by the brilliance and depth of our colors.

This step consists of unwinding the silk from the dyed skeins using the spinning wheel and the winder. The silk spools will be used to prepare the warp (which represents the length of the scarves) on the one hand, and to prepare the weft bobbins (which represents the width of the scarves) for weaving on the other hand.

This step consists of winding on the warping machine, in parallel and in a precise order, the warp threads (in length) which will be installed on the loom. During this step, we define the width of the scarf and the number of threads that make it up, then we standardize the tension of the warp, essential for weaving.

Each silk thread is delicately slipped between the teeth of the comb.

There are different comb sizes with teeth more or less spaced apart, which helps determine the density of the warp threads. These threads are then stretched equally and tied onto the front beam.

The warp threads are separated by cotton heddles attached to different frames. The frames are linked together to the pulleys and attached to the pedals of the loom. They allow you to create different openings, which are necessary to pass the shuttle and thus weave. Knotting thus makes it possible to distinguish independent layers of threads and thus determine the type of weaving (the weave).

Once the loom is ready, it is the turn of the weavers to put their know-how to work. The weaving stage consists of making a complex interweaving of the warp threads (length direction) and weft threads (width direction), according to a repeating design. The weft thread is wound on a bobbin placed in a shuttle. The weaver passes the shuttle between the warp threads using the pedals of the loom. Each blade corresponds to a layer of wires. Once raised, these create an opening called a crowd, which allows the passage of the shuttle. The flap compresses the weft thread, which gradually forms the fabric. 

The scarves are washed, softened, the fringes are tied and the Soieries du Mékong logo is embroidered with silk thread by hand. Finally, we add a label with the name of the weaver who wove the scarf, signature of the craftswoman who made the product.