Who orders custom silk in the United States?

Before the process, the people. The range of clients who come to LS Silk is broader than you might assume. Museum and gallery gift shops commission silk scarves to carry collection artworks beyond the gallery walls. A painting that has hung for decades becomes wearable, purchasable, a souvenir worth keeping. Artists and illustrators turn original work into limited-edition merchandise that reflects the quality of their practice rather than undercutting it. Schools mark milestones, commission art department projects, or create gifts that students and staff will actually treasure. Corporate teams choose silk for client gifting because, unlike almost everything else that arrives in a branded…

What happens at the brief stage?

Every project at LS Silk begins with a conversation. The brief does not need to be polished. It needs to be honest. What are you making, and why? Who will wear it, or receive it? When do you need it? What does the artwork look like, and how much flexibility do you have? These questions shape every decision that follows. Size, fabric, finishing method, quantity, and timeline are all connected. Pull on one and the others shift. A project with a hard exhibition date calls for very different choices than one with six months of breathing room. A museum commission intended for retail display has different requirements than a corporate gift going into a branded box. At LS Silk, we work through…

Why does sampling matter, and can it be skipped?

The sample is one of the most valuable parts of a custom silk project, and one of the most frequently skipped in the name of speed. It should not be. A color strike sample is produced on the actual fabric using the actual print process intended for the full run. It shows you precisely how the design translates onto silk: the color rendering, the scale, the way the fabric drapes with the print on it. It is the moment where intention meets material, where you can assess the result and make any adjustments before committing to production. For clients with tight timelines, the temptation is to move directly to bulk on the basis of a digital proof. A digital proof is a useful reference. It…

What happens at delivery?

Before any order leaves production, each piece is inspected individually. Color consistency, hem finish, cutting accuracy, print alignment: all checked against the approved sample. This matters particularly for institutional and retail orders, where thirty scarves need to look like thirty scarves from the same run, not like thirty slightly different interpretations of the same design. Delivery to the United States and Canada is tracked and fully insured. For projects tied to a fixed date, an exhibition opening, a product launch, a milestone event, we build the timeline backwards from delivery to ensure production begins at the right moment. We would rather have a frank conversation about what is…

The Complete Guide to Ordering Custom Silk Scarves in the United States

October 10, 2026

Quick answer: To order custom silk scarves in the United States, choose your size, silk, finish and quantity in the LS Silk Custom Studio, see your price, and upload your artwork. We review the artwork, you approve it, and production takes 4 to 5 weeks, followed by delivery by DHL Express. You can order a single finished sample, a small run of 2 to 20 pieces, or a production run of 30 to 100 pieces per design. Allow about 5 to 7 weeks in total, or 11 to 13 weeks if you want a finished sample first.

There is a moment in every custom silk project, usually when the finished pieces arrive and someone holds one up to the light, where the idea becomes real. This guide is everything that happens between the idea and that moment.

Somewhere between wanting and making, most people get stuck. They have an image in mind: a scarf carrying a collection artwork into the world, an artist's brushwork worn and not just framed, a gift that will actually be kept. But the path from that image to a finished silk piece feels opaque. What do you send? What will it cost? How long will it take?

The answer is simpler than most people expect.

Who orders custom silk scarves in the United States?

The range of customers is broader than you might assume, and each group has its own guide:

Museums and galleries turn collection artworks into gift shop scarves.
Artists and illustrators make limited editions of their own work.
Schools and universities mark graduations, anniversaries and art projects.
Businesses choose silk for client and staff gifts that get worn.
Couples give a scarf designed for their wedding as a favor.

What unites them is the same instinct: the thing they are making deserves a material equal to it.

What do I need to decide first?

Four things, all chosen in the Custom Studio, where the price updates as you go.

Size. Four squares: a 12.2 in (31 cm) pocket square, a 20.9 in (53 cm) small square, a 25.6 in (65 cm) classic square and a 35 in (89 cm) large square. See the size guide.
Silk. Silk twill at 14 or 16 momme, or crêpe de Chine at 14 momme. Twill is the classic scarf cloth, with a fine diagonal rib and enough body to hold a knot. Crêpe de Chine is softer and more fluid, with a matte surface. See the silk comparison guide and the momme weight guide.
Finish. A hand-rolled hem or a machine hem. See hand-rolled vs machine hems.
Quantity. One finished sample, a small run of 2 to 20, or a production run of 30 to 100 pieces per design. See what it costs.

The Custom Studio covers the choices most customers need. Silk chiffon, long and skinny scarves, other sizes, heavier silk, woven labels and gift packaging are available by quote: email support@lovesilk.com. If you would like to plan before you start, use our brief guide and template.

How should artwork be prepared for silk printing?

This is where the most common problems occur, and where good preparation makes the greatest difference.

Silk is printed digitally with dyes that bond into the fiber itself, so the color becomes part of the cloth. It also means the quality of the file decides the quality of the print. Prepare your design on a square canvas at a minimum of 300 DPI at the finished size. For a 35 in (89 cm) scarf that is roughly 10,600 × 10,600 pixels. Work in RGB color mode.

Vector files (AI, EPS, PDF or SVG) are ideal for graphic designs because they scale without loss. For painted or photographic work, use a high-resolution PSD, TIFF or PNG. In the Custom Studio you upload a JPEG or PNG preview and share a link to the full-resolution file.

If a brand or signature color is critical, give us a Pantone TCX reference, the textile system. Pantone C is made for coated paper and behaves differently on silk. We review every file before printing and tell you if anything needs attention.

Go deeper with these guides: preparing your artwork file, designing for silk, color accuracy, choosing a border and hem color and digital vs screen printing.

Do I need a sample?

A finished sample is optional, and often worth it. It is one complete scarf in your chosen silk and finish, so you can check the color, the scale and the way the fabric drapes before the full order is made. A screen cannot show how dye behaves on natural silk. A sample can.

For designs with bold, saturated color and a little flexibility, going straight to production is a reasonable choice. Where a navy must match an established brand, or a skin tone needs to hold true, order the sample. It takes 4 to 5 weeks.

What happens during production?

Once your artwork and production details are approved, production takes 4 to 5 weeks. The silk is printed on both sides at full strength, then steamed, which fixes the dye permanently into the fiber and deepens the color. It is washed, dried and inspected, and each scarf is cut and finished individually.

A hand-rolled hem is rolled by hand and secured with fine stitches, creating the soft, rounded border that makes a silk scarf feel like a silk scarf. A machine hem is flat, straight and consistent, and suits geometric borders especially well.

Before any order leaves, each piece is checked for color consistency, hem finish, cutting accuracy and print alignment, so that thirty scarves look like thirty scarves from the same run.

How is my order delivered?

By DHL Express, tracked, with duties paid, usually within 5 to 8 business days. If your project is tied to a fixed date, such as an exhibition opening, a launch or a graduation, read our timeline guide and plan backwards from the day you need the scarves in hand.

A repeat order of an approved design is simpler still. The artwork is already approved, so it goes straight to production.

What makes a custom silk project succeed?

The projects that turn out best share a few qualities. Artwork that arrives ready to print, or a customer open to the adjustments needed to get it there. A timeline that is realistic. And a clear idea of who the scarf is for.

Silk rewards care. It is a natural material with its own character, and the people who work with that character consistently end up with pieces that exceed what they imagined.

LS Silk is a New Zealand and Australian silk house, and works with galleries, artists, schools, businesses and couples across the United States and Canada.

Ready to start? Choose your size, silk and finish and see your price right away. Start your scarf in the Custom Studio →

Not sure yet, or need more than 100 pieces or something outside the standard range? Email support@lovesilk.com.

See finished projects

Our work: a gallery of recent custom silk projects.
A scarf and pocket square for an Australian school
African City for The Suter Art Gallery
Woodland Escape with artist Maggie Lam
Summer Bloom, an artist's own scarf
Abstract Escape and Mosaic Magic
How a museum scarf commission works, stage by stage

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum order for custom silk scarves in the United States?

One. You can order a single finished sample, a small run of 2 to 20 pieces, or a production run of 30 to 100 pieces per design. For more than 100 pieces, email support@lovesilk.com for a quote.

How long does a custom silk scarf order take?

Production takes 4 to 5 weeks once your artwork is approved, and delivery takes 5 to 8 business days. Allow about 5 to 7 weeks in total, or 11 to 13 weeks with a finished sample first.

What file should I send for custom silk printing?

A square design at 300 DPI at the finished size, in RGB. Use AI, EPS, PDF or SVG for graphic designs, and PSD, TIFF or PNG for painted or photographic artwork.

What silks can I choose?

Silk twill at 14 or 16 momme, or crêpe de Chine at 14 momme, all 100% mulberry silk. Silk chiffon and heavier silks are available by quote.

Can I order a sample before a full run?

Yes. A finished sample is optional and takes 4 to 5 weeks. We recommend it when color is critical.

How much do custom silk scarves cost?

A 25.6 in (65 cm) silk twill scarf with a hand-rolled hem costs $36 to $42 each for 30 to 100 pieces. See the cost guide for every band.

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