Sea Silk

Sea Silk, also known as “marine silk,” is a rare fiber derived from the Pinna Nobilis, the largest bivalve shell in the Mediterranean. This shell secretes fine filaments, just 20 microns thick, to anchor itself to the seabed. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used sea silk to create luxury items for royalty. Collected, washed, spun by hand, and often dyed, sea silk was prized for its golden luster. As silk production grew in Europe, sea silk became an artisanal craft, still surviving in regions of Puglia and Sardinia. Since 1995, the Pinna Nobilis has been a protected species.