How is Silver used in garments?

Written by Amy Cheyne

Did you know? | Silver is a chemical element with the atomic number 47 on the periodic table. Its chemical symbol is Ag, from the latin argentum 👌

We all know that silver is used in jewellery & cutlery (there's a reason it's still referred to as silverware!) - and some will know that it is used in medical settings - but how on earth is silver used in fabric?

To understand this, we need to know a little bit of history. The use of silver to control infections dates back millennia due to its antimicrobial properties. In the late 1800s, it became the treatment of choice for infections, though this was largely replaced by antibiotics from the 1940s. Silver is still found in some antiseptics & wound dressings.

So what does that have to do with fabric? Think about activewear & sports clothes - they can get awfully stinky, awfully quickly! This is caused by a buildup of bacteria in the fabric; as these bacteria reproduce & die, odour is emitted that we generally find to be a bit offensive.

Remember how we said silver was an antimicrobial? It turns out, adding nanoparticles of silver helps to slow the growth of this whiffy bacteria! It's added to fabrics in one of two ways - either woven in with the other fibres (the best option, as the antibacterial properties tend to last the life of the garment) or sprayed on to the fabric. With the second method, the effects of the silver will only last a few washes before it needs to be sprayed again.

We understand that silver-infused garments won't be to everyone's taste, but here's a good starting point in the House of Uniforms range if you're curious: