From Huzhou to Toronto: The 90-Day Journey of a Mulberry Silk Baby Blanket

The city of Huzhou sits at the southern edge of Lake Tai in China's Zhejiang province. For over 4,700 years, this region has been the center of the world's finest silk production.

Today, a small number of Huzhou artisans still practice the traditional hand-reeling technique that produces the highest-grade Mulberry silk. And their work ends up in Toronto — in the cribs of Canadian babies.

This is the journey of one silk blanket.

Day 1-30: The Silkworms

It starts with Bombyx mori — the domesticated silkworm that feeds exclusively on mulberry leaves. Only the leaves from specific mulberry trees, grown without pesticides, produce the quality required for infant-grade silk.

Each silkworm spins a single cocoon over 3-5 days. The filament is 800-1,000 meters long — a single continuous thread of protein fiber.

For a double-cocoon silk duvet (the type used in baby bedding), two silkworms spin together, creating a thicker, more durable fiber. This is "double-cocoon" or "double-layer" silk — the gold standard for thermal bedding.

Day 30-35: The Harvest

Cocoons are harvested before the moth emerges (which would break the continuous filament). They're sorted by size, color, and quality. Only the top 15% of cocoons make it into premium baby-grade silk.

Day 35-45: Reeling and Spinning

This is where craftsmanship matters most. Traditional Huzhou reeling — a technique passed down through generations — involves:

1. Soaking cocoons in hot water to soften the sericin (natural gum)
2. Brushing to find the filament end
3. Reeling 6-8 filaments together into a single thread
4. Twisting to create the final yarn

Machine-reeled silk is faster but breaks more filaments. Hand-reeled silk retains longer fiber lengths, which means:

• Fewer loose threads
• Less pilling
• Higher tensile strength
• Longer lifespan

Day 45-60: Weaving

The silk yarn is woven into fabric on traditional wooden looms or modern equivalents set to artisan specifications. For baby bedding, the weave density targets 22 momme — the optimal balance of durability and breathability.

The fabric is then washed to remove remaining sericin (degumming), which gives silk its characteristic softness. Some sericin is retained in the weave for its natural antibacterial and skin-supporting properties.

Day 60-75: Certification and Quality Control

The finished fabric is tested:

• Oeko-Tex Standard 100 — no harmful chemicals
• Tensile strength — must withstand 200+ washes
• Color fastness — must not bleed or fade
• Friction coefficient — must be below threshold for infant skin

Day 75-85: Manufacturing

In a workshop in Zhejiang, artisans cut and sew the silk fabric into crib sheets, duvet covers, and sleep sacks. Each seam is double-stitched. Every edge is finished to prevent fraying.

Day 85-90: To Toronto

The finished product is packed, shipped by air freight to Vancouver or Toronto, and arrives at alanunu's warehouse. After final quality inspection, it ships to a Canadian family.

Total distance: approximately 11,000 kilometers. Total time: about 90 days. Result: a silk blanket that will be used for 730+ nights — and then passed to a second child.

Why This Matters

This isn't nostalgia. It's a direct benefit to your baby. The same hand-reeling technique that preserves long filaments creates a fabric that:

• Doesn't pill (fewer loose fibers = cleaner sleep surface)
• Maintains thermoregulation (long fibers = more consistent insulation)
• Lasts longer (means lower cost per use)

Q&A

Q: Is hand-reeled silk noticeably different from machine-reeled?

A: In terms of feel, most parents don't notice a difference. In terms of durability, hand-reeled silk lasts 30-50% longer because the fiber length is maintained.

Q: Is there a risk of pesticide residues from mulberry leaves?

A: Reputable producers use pesticide-free mulberry orchards. Oeko-Tex certification screens for pesticide residues.

Q: How does alanunu ensure ethical production?

A: alanunu works directly with Huzhou cooperatives that pay fair wages, preserve traditional techniques, and maintain transparent supply chains. The brand visits production sites personally.

Q: Is silk production cruel to silkworms?

A: In standard silk production, the pupa is killed before it emerges from the cocoon (otherwise the filament breaks). This is a valid ethical consideration for some families. "Peace silk" (Ahimsa silk) allows the moth to emerge, but the resulting fabric has shorter, broken filaments and lower quality.

Q: Can I trace my alanunu blanket back to Huzhou?

A: Yes. alanunu provides batch-level traceability for their silk bedding, including the region and weaving cooperative.

---

This article is for informational purposes only.