A soft, thin fabric made from raw silk, with a natural beige color and slightly irregular texture.
From Chinese 'běn jī' (本機) meaning 'own loom,' referring to silk woven at home on domestic looms rather than in commercial factories. This humble 'homespun' silk was originally considered inferior to factory-made varieties, but its natural irregularities and soft hand eventually made it highly prized. The name celebrates cottage industry and the unique character that comes from individual craftsmanship rather than mass production.
Pongee means 'own loom' in Chinese – it was the homemade silk that families wove for themselves! What started as the humble alternative to fancy factory silk became a luxury fabric precisely because of its handmade imperfections. It's a perfect example of how 'homespun' became 'high-end.'
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