Lotus silk
Preamble
- The Lotus is called a sacred flower, and it is believed to bring good luck and has healing powers that remove diseases from the body and reduce headaches.
- Recently, entrepreneurs have found a way to use the lotus plant’s stems to obtain the fibres. This is popularly known as lotus silk.
- Historically, it was mainly used to make monastic robes for Buddha images and Buddhist monks as an offering.
Botanical information
- The scientific name of this gracious species is Nelumbo Nucifera, which belongs to the family of Nelumbonaceae and is cultivated in Asia, Australia, and Russia.
- It is a perennial aquatic plant.
- Interestingly, lotus plants are eudicots in view of the fact that they are dicots but also possess some characteristics of monocotyledonous plants, i.e., the plant has hairy roots, and the tap root does not grow.
Agroclimatic conditions for cultivation
- These plants flourish in marshy lands and shallow freshwater lakes having loamy soil and fine sand in the proportion of 1:3.
- While the lotus plant can grow in dark areas, it proliferates in warmer climates with full sunlight and a water temperature of 21oC (70oF).
- This adaptability allows the plant to thrive in range of environmental conditions, making it suitable for cultivation in various regions.
- Also, 35000-40000 rhizomes can be planted in one hectare of land.
Physical & Mechanical Properties
Staple Length
31 – 50 mm
Fineness
3.96 – 4.52 µm
Linear density
1.55 dtex
Elongation at break
2.75%
Breaking tenacity
3.44 cN/dtex
Moisture regain
12.3%
Initial Modulus
146.8 cN/dtex
Ratio of length to fineness
104
Crystallinity
48-50%
Features
- The extraction of lotus fibre is done using virgin plant manually by traditional method; thus, it is environmentally friendly, pollution-free, and carbon neutral.
- It also contains vegetable proteins and certain amino acids that replenish the skin making it kin to skin.
- The fabric produced using these fibres is breathable and moisture-absorbent, which helps to keep the skin comfortable.
- It is waterproof and sweatproof and adapts to almost all types of weather.
- It is soft, silky, and light in weight.
- Also, the fabric stands out as it is stain-resistant and pilling-resistant, with wrinkle-free features.
Typical Uses
- Different luxurious and eco-friendly garments, such as coats, shawls, dresses, pants, etc., are made from these fibres.
- These are also used to make summer wear, kids wear, and other fashion garments as they provide comfort, lustre, and soft feel.
- It can also be used for medicinal purposes due to its various healing properties.
