My 2nd day in Shanghai, I woke up early and commuted 2 hours outside of the city to meet with my silk vendors. It’s been a long time since my last visit, so I was pretty excited to check out my vendor’s new factory and see all the new silk developments. This was probably the longest day during my entire Asia trip. By the time I got back to my hotel I was so exhaaaaaausted!

JULY 10th, 2010: THE ART OF SILK PRINTING

It all begins with a silk screen. When the factory receive the art work, they make a screen for each color on a print! 5 colors on a print = 5 screens!

Colors are mixed and placed in buckets according to pantone colors or fabric swatch provided. I’m always amazed by how they match the colors so closely to what I picked.

MACHINE SILK PRINTING

Once the screens are made and colors are picked the first process begins with solid silk fabric placed in the machine.

Machine screening the fabric.

The air dries it along the way through the machine.

View from the end of the machine as the fabric comes out after being silk screened.

HAND SILK PRINTING
Once in a while when I give the factory a print with tons of colors, lots of details, or has a special fading technique which must be done by hand because it is too difficult for the machine to make. This is super cool. Check this out...

The guy was screening so fast! He's silk screening a print for a scarf.

Quality control! Double checking and fixing all the little details!

It's so fascinating to see this process!

Different sections of the factory...

Where all the screens are stored.

Finished fabrics.

This by far was my favorite part of the Shanghai portion of my Asia trip! I hope it will change the way you look at prints! Appreciate the hard work and time that goes into making your printed garments! :)