Art silk
A trade name for man-made fibre cloth sold as a cheaper stand-in for silk, usually viscose rayon, polyester or nylon.
Also: artificial silk, viscose, rayon, faux silk
Art silk stands for artificial silk. The fibre is man-made. Viscose rayon, made from plant cellulose such as wood pulp, is the oldest. Polyester and nylon are also used. The cloth can be given a sheen like silk, and it is often woven or printed with rich designs at a much lower price. It does not breathe as well as real silk and it can feel warm. The term is not exact, and some sellers use it loosely, so a label should say the fibre. Burn tests or a Silk Mark can separate real silk from art silk.