Sentia, fabric of 55% silk and 45% man-made fibres
The beautiful Sentia fabric offers all the benefits of silk (55%), but is enhanced by artificial silk (45%) so that the fabric is easier to maintain and reacts less intensely to heat and humidity fluctuations.
Silk is an incredibly wonderful, luxurious material that has a beautiful luster. Silk has a natural drape and takes colour very well. The feeling of silk on the skin is very light and soft. Silk is made from cocoon wires from a silk butterfly larva and consists of 100% natural material.
Sentia is a blend of 55% man-made fibre and 45% silk, guaranteeing the advantages of a man made fibre, but keeping the soft feel and the great looks of silk. The advantages of this blend are :
- Man-made fibre is more moisture-wicking while silk is more absorbent.
- Man-made fibre dries faster and does not wrinkle as easily as silk.
- Man-made fibre is stronger and does not shrink.
Washing instructions :
If you do opt to wash this silk and man-made fibre blend, always hand wash in cold water to avoid any dye bleeds. Use a mild detergent and gently work it into the fabric. Do not wring or squeeze the item so as not to stretch it. Rinse and shake out the water and hang it or lay it flat to dry.
Vestments made in Sentia can be taken to the dry cleaner, but clearly mention that they are a man-made fibre and silk mix and to require special attention.
Ironing
To iron silk fabrics, it’s important to start with a cool iron and move slowly and steadily over the fabric. Be sure to work on a flat, smooth surface and start pressing along one edge of the fabric, working your way steadily across the length. As you move, be sure to apply even pressure on the iron. When you reach an end or corner, carefully lift and reposition the iron without moving it on top of previously-pressed areas. And when you’re finished, give your silk a gentle shake to release any remaining wrinkles before hanging or folding.
Storing vestments
Keeping vestments clean and dry in storage is the most effective protection. In addition to this make sure that they are 100 percent dirt free before packing. Not only cloths but closets, trunks clean, and dresser drawers should also be clean. Please use a matching garment cover for protection.
Techniques
We offer several techniques that can be used to decorate the paraments. A technique also requires a specific washing instructions.
Please keep following in mind for maintance :
- Hand embroidery : hand wash only with lukewarm water, no bleach. Only very mild detergent. Parament can not be machine washed or taken to dry cleaner. Before washing any vintage or antique pieces, check the fiber content and test the fibers to see if they can withstand washing. Some fibers can't be washed in soap and water, and older pieces might not be sturdy enough. To test a piece, crinkle it gently in your hands while holding it up to your ear. On older pieces, you might hear a gentle crinkling noise as you handle the fabric, which indicates that fibers are breaking. Do not wash a piece that crinkles because this will cause further damage and the piece could disintegrate in the wash.
Newly completed embroidered projects in good condition that have been worked in cotton embroidery thread often need just minimal cleaning, or just need to be vacuumed using a clean piece of nylon cover placed over the vacuum hose (worn-out pantyhose and knee-high stockings are perfect for this). Heavily soiled items might need a mild bath. Hand embroidery that need a thorough cleaning can be freshened easily in room-temperature water with a mild soap like Orvus paste or sodium borate (aka borax) dissolved in water with a ratio of 1 teaspoon per gallon. Allow the piece to soak for 15 to 20 minutes to loosen and release dirt and accumulated debris. Rinse thoroughly after soaking at least twice with clean, room-temperature water.
- Machine embroidery : is machine washable or can be taken to a dry cleaner. However, the maintenance instructions of the fabric needs to be followed first. A machine embroidery on a vestment in Sentia f.ex. does require the washing instructions for Sentia.
- Application technique : give to a reliable dry cleaner only, can not be machine washed. Please always clearly ask that the parament is correctly cleaned according to the composition of the fabric.
- Digital printing : is machine washable or can be taken to a dry cleaner. However, the maintenance instructions of the fabric needs to be followed first. A digital printed symbol on a vestment in Sentia f.ex. does require the washing instructions for Sentia.
