Silk Shawls and Scarves - Luxury Within Your Means

While most women do seem to take inordinate time preparing themselves to face the world, it is truly not all vanity. Hair, make-up, shopping and dress organization are merely part of an overall process that is both enjoyable and soothing. It is a pleasurable habit that expands with your budget. With more money available, a woman can increase the quality of the items she chooses to purchase. This brings satisfaction and adds to an individual’s fashion sense and awareness.

No everyone can indulge themselves. Expensive fashion whims must give way to common economic sense. Yet, in certain instances, fashion whims, quality and inexpensive are not incompatible. This is certainly true for women’s silk shawls and scarves. They provide excellent quality and versatility for moderate prices – if you know what to buy.

You can find printed silk shawls and scarves at many retail outlets. Yet, these items are expensive. This is particularly true of designer silk scarves. They are also not of the best quality - the grade of silk used is inferior. The selection is also finite – repetition of the same color combinations and patterns. While these scarves may wear the designer label, they, nevertheless, tend to look and feel cheaper than the asking price.

In contrast, you will find hand dyed silk scarves and hand painted shawls do not have that cheap, mass-made look and feel. These items are hand crafted from start to finish. The silk used is of the highest quality (100% silk, no blends) and the artists work hard to provide individuality to each accessory. The resultant product is sensuous. It flows across the shoulders and around the body in a manner different than that of its designer cousins.

Hand-dyed and crafted silk scarves and shawls are individualistic. The reputation of an artist rests on the quality of his or her work. The process begins with a piece of fabric stretched across a wooden frame. The artist then draws the pattern directly on the fabric utilizing a specific wax. The wax blocks out the design while acting like a barrier in the next step.

The artist subsequently applies the dye by hand onto the silk. The wax acts to block any excess flow of dye. What follows this is a steaming process. It fixes the colors in place while removing the wax barriers. Finally, craftspeople wash and dry the unique scar or shawl, making it ready for you to take home and wear.

What you obtain when you purchase a hand-painted and hand-dyed silk scarf or shawl is priceless. This is a piece of artwork you can wear. They are truly individualistic, yet, with costs comparable to than machine-made scarves. These hand-made luxury items are even less expensive than many designer versions. As a result, women have within the reach of a tight clothing budget, a little slip of silky style, an individual look achieved without compromises.

by Julie-Ann Amos, professional writer, and owner of international writing agency www.ExquisiteWriting.com

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