Pongee Silk

Pongee is a plain woven, thin, naturally tan fabric that has a rough weave effect. The fabric is very light, plain weave and sheer. The silk is mostly used for making scarves. Pongee is a traditional summer fabric and is also used for making blouses, summer suits, dresses and linings. The fabric is also widely used for making silk paintings.

Pongee silk is obtained either from low quality, unclean douppion cocoons that was a byproduct of silkworm rearing process or from wild tussah silk or other silk wastes. The fiber is spun and hand woven into a plain weave.

Production of Pongee Silk
The fabric has its origin in China, where it was known by the name Chinese penchi, meaning woven at home. Later the silk was also produced in Japan by the name Oshima Tsumugi. Now, Pongee is a high grade silk fabric in Japan. China is still the leading producer of Pongee silk in the world. Soft and lustrous pongee silk scarves and dress materials from China are exported to various countries all across the globe.