Sensuous silk is said to be spun from gold although it is cultivated from the cocoon of silk worms. Conjuring up images of it beginning as gold however is a more romantic thought. No matter where it comes from, silk has long been known as royalty among fabrics. Silk has great components; it takes color beautifully and has a range of possibilities with different textures for its finish. There is raw silk, which resembles a linen weave; dupioni with its "slubs" has great distinction; taffeta is bold and crisp; and silk duck is great for upholstery.

For silk curtains, fabrics need to be the lighter weaves. Dupioni, taffeta, and raw silk are favorites. Dupioni and taffeta are popular for another distinction known to silk: it's exquisite embroidered designs. These designs run the gammet from detailed, ancient designs to newer, contemporary designs like polka dots and stripes.

The negative aspects of silks, such as fading and rotting easily with sun exposure, are easily overcome for draperies by using durable linings. Silk require two linings to really hold up to the test of time. An inner lining will usually be a heavier weight "gimp" or cotton flannel in a good quality curtain construction. This will serve to give body to the silk in how it hangs and protection from fading by keeping the fabric away from the direct sunlight. It also serves as an insulation from the outside elements. The outer lining should be medium weight twill in cotton or synthetic. Outer lining helps keep lighter weight silks from dropping and makes for proper hanging of the curtain. It also helps to keep the silk from fading and rotting. Another purpose of the outer lining is to keep moisture away from silk, which may occur when windows "weep".

Silk curtains are usually quite an investment so consumers need to be sure they get a quality product with all the bells and whistles. Other details that add to longevity and appearance are of silk curtains are that they be hand sewn and have weighted hems.