Originally, silk curtains controlled light and privacy.

WSJ: How Less Became More

The Yuki-tsumugi technique is employed to produce pongee silk (also called raw silk) - a light and warm material with a characteristic stiffness and softness, traditionally used to make kimonos.

UNESCO: Culture

It stayed away from a high pressure zone with light winds off Nova Scotia, and built up a big enough lead to withstand the challenge from Silk Cut which was in the right place to benefit from the conditions in the second half of the leg.

BBC: Leg Eight: Toshiba snatches victory