Fibres and textiles: silk
Silk is a fibre of animal origin, which was first produced in China about 4,000 years ago, but whose existence depends on a plant species, the mulberry, whose leaves feed the silkworms.
Female silk underwear was very popular among the richer classes from the 19th century onwards. Corset-suspender belt in the picture combines beige ilk with white elastic and four whalebone struts to give it shape: it integrates plant fibre and animal teeth.
Photo, David Serrano Pascual