Spinning Silk from the Sea
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2018
- For over a thousand years, Chiara Vigo’s family has been keeping up an ancient tradition, spinning silk from the sea. Creating the sea silk, or byssus, involves an intricate process shrouded in secrecy. Living on the Sardinian coast, Chiara follows in her family’s footsteps as a master weaver-perhaps the last remaining on Earth.
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The last silk bender
I’m still gawping on how this has 1.8K likes and only 2 comments (including mine).
@AD MINO she's not selling it tho
Avatar, the last silk bender
AD MINO do you mean “environment”?
Everything changed when the Cotton Nation attacked...
As a biologist I know about this material, although I didn't know it was used. I'm amazed, but I agree with her, nor the origins have to be shared, nor the materials should be monetized, cause that would encourage the exploitation of that resource. Love her philosophy.
*Stein Grey* sure, it's sad but I think it would be worse if people started to exploit this resource. I'm not against culture, I mean, this is a wonderful work of art, but she knows that if she shares her secrets, the people that have money in their brain are going to predate all they can. I appreciate this kind of people, because she could be millionaire, but she preffers to keep this tradition and "kill" it if it means saving a comunity.
*krepnata kadara* sure! I mean, sometimes we can use the resorces, after all we are life beings, but there are people that just wants to monetize every single material. This sacrifice is worth and I think it adds still more value to sea silk itself.
It would be good to have a small group of apprentice
Monetization of the resources creates incentive to protect it for future exploitation. It's an endangered species, it could be a great help.
*Madeline Gutierrez* sure it'd be nice, even if whe could inherit that knowledge. But sometimes is wiser to keep a secret, and I think this is one of those.
It's kinda sad hearing "the only person left in the world" .
Fortunately, she's not the only person who can make byssus. There are a few other women in that island who can make sea silk as well.
Indeed
@@zzkzkzzkzkzk8945 nice
Its a good thing since like they said once this gained popularity they may affect the population of mussels
I see it as a good thing. It’s a natural resource thats rare and sought after but really has no useful reason to exist other then just because. It would be gone in few generations if more people knew about it. Imagine if certain cultures didn’t think exotic animal parts had magical healing powers. The western black and northern white rhinos are essentially gone because of it.
I hope this knowledge doesn't disappear tho after her legacy
I want to learn
It better be, or people will start to harvest the clam it's made from into extinction.
I want to be her daughter or relative to make this in that way too
kpop sucks
@@TallThingy Wtf, what does it have to do with the topic? 💀
I truely hope that someone else also can be trusted to take up this vanishing textile form! That would be so wonderful. I had no idea that specific clams made such a fiber compound, wow! Learn something new every day!
No because they would use it for greed. People no longer have that kind of loyalty
@Major Cbass #im a realist.
Im a personist :3
@@ilovethebeach1877 There once was a community of such people, but they stopped and moved on because there are not enough of these clams left. It is an endangered species on the verge of extinction due to pollution and over fishing. This lady herself needs to stop and let the populations recover instead of gaining her moment of online fame of being some sole inheritor of some mystical lost tradition.
@@dexterjohnyabut-ilagan5279 so an ant is a person
It's good to know their are some people willing to protect the earth by not divulging some secrets, but you can guarentee there'll be someone who sees this that will try.
Savannah Rose Digital Illustration People are already trying and they fail to imitate.
This reminded me Most Recently of The Falcon asking Retired Captain America
"You want to tell me about that Ring?"
Cap: with a Sage like 😏..."No. . . I don't think so!" ...
[But we know he SMASHED!!!!]......Totally unrelated..i know...but yeah
Absolutely!
She is not the last or the only one. I am from Sant'Antioco and I know it very well. Read Edwaed Posnett's book "Harvest, the hidden histories of seven natural objects "
I appreciate that she has principles and holds true to them. That's rare in this world.
Capitalism beats the principles out of people
Yeah, and good principles (environmental defense etc)! Not like a lot of people who believe in racial or religion superiority...
aye
She could literally say that she simply doesn't share how they harvest it because she was the first to do it and doesn't want any competition.
And the result would be the same exact thing.
Quit crying that was re-uploaded it’s a great video and I didn’t see the first upload so I’m happy for the second time around I hope this art doesn’t die I would be very happy if she had an apprentice and this beautiful practice could continue
* insert thank you meme *
It seems that she has a daughter at university in northern Italy who is destined to continue the art.
@@zsuzsisnarey oh?
It is not true. She is not the last or the only one. I am from Sant'Antioco and I know it very well. Read Edward Posnett's book "Harvest, the hidden histories of seven natural objects "
@@antonellasenis4478 so she's one of the last if not *the* last?
If I'm a novelist, she be an inspiration of a great gatekeeper / sorceress
I was actually thinking of mermaid clothing when I read the title! Some really cool fantasy ideas coming from this lady
Remember that she uses her voice to activate the threads to make them shine. Sound = vibration = energy. That would make for a great element in a book of magic.
Ha, I was about to comment that it would be cool if she were a powerful sea witch who could bring down the power of Poseidon and curse whoever dared to buy or sell sea silk.
yes! story ideas!!!
@@ElveeKaye I think the breathing into the cup acted as a heating agent, and the lemon juice (in the jar) as a mordent... thereby dying the fibre and making it glitter like gold in sunlight .. I think anyway...:)). nothing mystical happening there.
400 years later....
Great big story: It is thought that the ancient art of rainbow loom rubber bands is mastered by only one last person in the world
It's probably 100 years later but ok
28 generations... around 700 years
This aged like milk.😭
Her ancestors were very wise to keep this craft secret. I am amazed at the foresight they had when it comes to the environmental impact the craft would have if many participated. Her integrity and all those who came before her truly is beautiful to see. I hope she finds someone worthy enough to teach so this beautiful work can be seen.
I love hearing Italian as a Spanish speaker
Ender Wiggins so do I, it’s like a little game going on in my head as I listen
Me encanta el sonido, el diálogo suena como una canción
In school I took Spanish and my brother took Italian. It was so crazy how similar they were and we could actually help each other a bit lol. I wish I spoke either fluently because they’re both beautiful languages, especially to listen to.
As a Portuguese speaker I love it too.
I can almost understand what she is saying in her language.
She's also Sardinian, which was ruled by the Spanish for centuries.
I did not sea this coming
Tengku Aliff hahaha
Kelp the puns coming
Water you doing with these pun
I sea what u did there
Tengku Aliff Are you *shore* about that?
Its not the silk, its this woman who's very special, who values the nature.
Her loyalty to keep something sacred is a rare thing in today's world. Mad appreciation for her. I hope she finds a protogee to pass down those values & skills..
Let it be so!
I love the way she smile when she mentions her grandmother.
turns on English subtitles
*Speaks in a foreign language*
I shed tears at the end of this clips. The oath burden she carried with her life is amazing and wonderful. Wish I could meet up with her in person one day to learn on about this forbidden secret of "Sea Gold Thread". 😢
I love that this woman treats the silk as being precious. I also love the spiritual aspect and respect for the beings of the sea. This is wonderful!
Do note that her claims of being the sole practitioner of this craft have been strongly contested by other women on the island. Nevertheless, sea silk is a fascinating artform.
I hope she isn't the last, but that the few who carry the art forward will keep it safe from exploitation with the same passionate protection as does she.
We need more of them
These silk masters are as endangered as the moluscs they use
That's what she uses to create a Mystical Selkie Coat
🐚
not enough seals around for that.
this was an incredible story, made me cry from sheer awe
x jesus
XXX TENICTION XXX ;-;
5 Years for a tiny square? yeah, if this was sold it would sell for alot, but those clams will probably go extinct.
The real story is different. I am from Sant'Antioco and I know very well. Read Edward Posnett's book "Harvest, the hidden histories of seven natural objects "
Without reuploading or compilations, I would miss all of these awesome videos
Ive always been that kid who ever hears of 'the only possible person to continue the......' I wanna go to that person and learn the routine
You and me both!!! I've been learning a bunch of thread crafts, and this looks amazing! I taught myself how to crochet Bruges lace, and I can only imagine what a piece made from this thread would look like.....
a lot of people are like that, including me.
Me too! Art forms like this should never be allowed to disappear.
Wow this lady is 100% right about people damaging the world
Her perspective on life and nature is truly admirable.
i hope she finds a worthy apprentice to continue this legacy
She has a daughter at University. She will continue her work.
@@zsuzsisnarey I hope the daughter does whatever it is that the daughter wants to do. This "secret" family craft sounds like a bad neurosis to everyone involved.
@@Descalabro
Mhm she has grown up with it
People tend to like things they have grown up with
@@mariellevandenborne2361 Or they tend to hate it with their guts, especially when it's the profession of the parents, and especially when it involves all the bulshit this one seems to involve. What sane young woman would return from university to sit down inside an empty shop blowing into a bottle with sea water and some damp algae and then spend hours making a thread to create some greenish brown embroidery that by all seriousness seems to be worthless? Not to mention the half-crazy mother, who's only half-crazy because now it's to late to quit her nonsense craft... Would you do it?
@@Descalabro My dad once new a engraver engraving luxe guns,
What sane person would earn his money carving in wood for some crazy world leader
If a machine can do it.
That man was the last of his trait in the country
It's about tradition,it has an aura to it
"i wanna buy dat-"
"you must not buy it"
wow. thats incredible. her voice? this feels magical. shes speaks as a poet and lover of the sea and nature. so beautiful. so much respect. i admire her.
This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen and heard.
I have never ever heard of any of this. I only thought there was one type of silk and never even thought any other silk existes, but woooow, 28TH GENERATION. I'm gonna faint.🤪😵
there's many other type of silk like 1. wild silk from the largest moth species attacus atlas, 2. golden metallic silk from moth species that eat leaf from cashew Apple plant, 3 golden spider silk from a rare spider species and many other.
septriyana putra !Wow, thats amazing, I hope they are all secretive like her!!
@@septriyanaputra6269 and ants :)
She is awesome 💖!
Miracles haven’t left this world. Look how careful she is in preserving this tradition, absolutely mind blowing.
I love how it's not at all business to her, it's a sacred art. I hope whoever's received one of her pieces holds it as sacred and honored her with a gift in return. I feel like I'd want to share a prayer or sing with her if she gave me a piece as a gift.
I want to learn how to spin sea silk, it seems so mystical and beautiful
Why not go now?
Yea, but the thing is, that if the technique is passed on, then the clams will become extinct.
You are not allowed to pay her a visit, only to receive the visit as a gift.
@@ivanpetrovic6417 it's expensive
@@xdlr22 Read an article about this. She has a daughter who is studying in the North of Italy now, but who wants to learn it.
I like how she says in Italian that her grandma was the one who taught her ❤❤❤
This moved in the most profound way in such a long time. What an unexpected find. Great lady.
Oh I love her smile when she talking about her grandmother treasure 💗
Wtf 😮 this is awesome and beautiful 😍❤️
A true mermaid.
Absolutely amazing!
I’ve heard of this and doesn’t fail to amaze me. Nothing but respect for this woman.
Whoa this would be a good anime...
Party Pigy Probably a manga written by Hirohiko Araki.
Studio ghibli?
Takes place in Sardinia... is this a Jojo reference?
@@whathell6t yeah! a Stand that uses sea silk as a weapon!
There's no big secret here, search on google and you'll find whole pages about where it comes from and how it's made. The reason why she's called ''the only and last sea silk weaver'' is because the species of clam it's collected from is endangered and she's the only one who has a license to actually harvest it... I like the edit of this video though, puts a very mystical and theatrical spin on something pretty ordinary.
What about her secret mixture
@@influentialtopic5487 Would be pretty easy to figure out with some basic chemistry and trial and error. I don't buy the voice thing, although it might be some form of ultrasonic cleaning.
@@influentialtopic5487 Lemon juice...
@@jsmit9484 Even old ways have scientific truth... the resonation could actually cause some sort of delicate movement while stirring it might be too harsh for the material.
J Smit voice is for vibration
A person without greed thats what she is.. Much respect for you.
Lovely. Light and love.
I wish she would take up a successor or two to carry on the tradition.
she has a daughter who knows much of the art :)
Sometimes in the process of loving, we hurt the things we mean to protect.
This is the kind of resilient we need when comes to preserving something thats truly beautiful
Some incredible passion creates these incredible stories.
On one hand, keeping the secret keeps the clams safe. On the other hand, someone who wants to make an industry out of this will try to make the clams reproduce to an absurd number to keep up with whatever demand there is at the time. It might bring the clams out of endangerment by that virtue alone.
Of course, this is under the most ideal circumstances. Chances are, in finding ways to make the population of the clams bloom, it'll cause another species to become threatened.
It is clear that she took an oath to the god of the sea Poseidon one of the twelve gods, to never allow her craft become a danger for the sea species.
How beautiful. The story and the silk.
I just hope this tradition does not die out. It's quite beautiful.
She is not the last one. In fact there were some older people who were able to pass down the art to new generation. I almost got fooled by this.
So Beautiful but kinda sad that it's endangered #firstlike
her passion and resolve is beautiful.
Now here's a story of magic, absolutely incredible👌I hope she finds someone to teach someday, so that this art will not be lost!
doesn't look soft. what's it feel like?
It's kinda rough like old couches that would use animal hair instead of plastic shavings for texture. It's itchy but its shine is really cool in real life :)
Sea silk.. so how does she make her money then...? from donations?
Here in Europe, when you reach a certain age and you stop working (63 or around), the State is the one that mantains you finantially
Gabriel Del Frontón that sounds way better than the american retirement system
@@gabrieldelfronton2584 to go in "pensione" in italy , where that lady is from u have to work till u reach that age and u have to pay taxes. so the story goes that u work and pay taxes when u reach a certain age u can stop working but what the state give u depend on what u gave in taxes and for how long u did it
@@sofypi7493 yeah also where i'm from but i'm sure she has worked and now she's just retired and enjoying making sea silk
You can see that she has looms so she weaves more materials
Wow, I love this woman and how passionate she is.
Beautiful
Maybe there'd be more if she would explain wtf it is
Sea silk is so rare, that the mermaids can not have proper clothing.
Very sad for them ;-(
I admire you for having the soul that resonates with the sea...
She sound like she's casting a spell. She's now my favourite sea witch
IM nOT CryiNg yoU aRE
I want to learn from her
Same
Amanda Hernandez but.. u can’t.. she wants to keep it a secret so that nature is protected
That’s what the ‘ things that money can’t buy ‘ thnx for showing something precious to the world.
I love her so many can learn from her about our own frequencies Love this.
Ariel should've worn this over her clam bra. Sea silk cardigan perhaps. Bigyan ng jacket!
you just gave me an idea for Disney fan art!
Read that ENDANGERED SPECIES
That simply means it was overhunted before
So cruel
also it's just a saliva
Love for her from India! What an inspiration!
Wonderful lady. Beautiful mastery!
Obviously she is the last one because she did not share how to do it
Actually he make some seasilk making class, and many people on that island make seasilk, and... only vigo's silk shine like gold, as good as the ancient one
I love the tradition and the effort behind the sea silk but without the story, it just looks like a dusty green/brown piece of cloth. :( Doesn't seem to have any special properties or uses either. Seems like the only thing making this special is the scarcity of the raw material...
People find beauty in lots of things. Remember, at the end of the day, diamonds are also just coal with a different structure.
Perhaps once upon a time it was used in bridal clothing, fisherman for protection, the very wealthy...
When more people could do the work and the clams weren't over harvested...
Its out of the sea and shines like gold... pretty ♡
Minnie, uh, actually, diamonds are not made of coal. It is made of carbon in a lattice structure. Coal is a sedimentary rock of plant biomatter formed over the course of around 300 million years average. The coal has a very high carbon content, yes, but it's most certainly not the first ingredient in diamonds which are made in the course of 1 to 3.3 *billion* years.
@@BrokenLifeCycle so diamonds are fancy graphite then
If I had limitless money.....I would go to this woman and other elderly artisans like her and humbly ask (beg, if I had to) her to train me in this work. It would be a dream and an incredible honor to be able to learn these ways and keep them in this world. Old fiber arts traditions that are dying out...traditional rug making, traditional ways of dyeing fabrics or working with textiles, old embroidery designs, how to process, weave and finish the fabric in a traditional manner....I would go to the old masters and beg them to teach me. Then once done I would master the art and then open a place to teach whomever wanted to learn, for free. There has to be someone on this earth who wants to keeps the beauty and grace of the Old World alive. Breaks my heart that these traditions are dying out.
Omg this lady have golden heart.. She is really good human who is sensible
I kind of feel like she wasn’t telling the truth about any of those numbers.
Hogwash
Wow that was beautiful! Thank you Great Big Story
Whoa, Great Big Story, you blew my mind again! Thank you 🕊
I know its tradition and all but she reminds me of the crazy cat lady
This is a reupload isn't it?
Yes
I missed it, so this helps :)
Lewis Perez you do know all the videos uploaded is on their channel?
Singing in the jar to turn the Sea Slik gold in colour!! WOW!! That is enchanting and magical!!
Oh my. This was very.. beautiful
The ideology is impressive... But realistically, this is a monopoly; regardless of whether it is monetized. There's also an emotional aspect to this that this culture is dwindling - she might be the last one; yet this disregards the fact that it's very selective (seemingly, only within the family).
That is to say, I am skeptical of how heavy emotion is written into the script.
i let her monopoly it because shes the right person.
You can't monopolize a good that doesn't participate in a market. That's like saying you are monopolizing an idea you had if you don't share it with anyone.
I do agree she should at the least take an apprentice, possibly a relative.
Uses her voice to activate the mixture :D get outta here xD
Probably true, because sometimes i produce the same sounds whilst sitting on the shitter.
did not expect this savagery in the comment section of Great Big Story
Complete woo woo bull shit
Maybe it helps with the tediousness of the process which isn't scientific, but if it works, it works.
@komori hahaha i sure don't xD
She is truly a pure soul with pure love for nature and its art.
Beauty in so many ways
im really thankful for her
I smell a reupload
I smell a commentor.
@@ramencup_ i smell a comment
I smell an Elmo profile picture
i smell a meme.
I smell people smelling in the comment
A strong and direct rebuttal of capitalism, how very unique.
Love the way she speaks.
she's amazing and i love her accent
I mean it’s cool and all but I don’t see any “shining like gold” - just looks like a greenish khaki-ish colour
It's really cool she does that but I can't be the only one thinking the material looks kinda shitty, no?
domiNATEion that shitty material is probably worth more than a million dollars.
@@joshvente6898 SHE TOOK THE SEA OATH >:(
domiNATEion I know, that's why it WOULD be so expensive.
Your grandparents probably don't look that attractive either but you still love them for who they are and how much they love you, no? :)
Google made me do it clam down, its just an opinion
Amazing!!!I had never heard of this. Wise woman!!😚💕💕
.
I wish there was a way I could do this. I’ve always felt a connection to the ocean. I love the little mole crabs that burrow in the wet sand, and the crabs that scuttle acrid the sand. The tiny minnows swimming in the shallows, and the glimmer of the water as the sun shines on it. There’s nothing I find more beautiful than the beach at night, when the moon reflects off the water and into my eyes. I LOVE the ocean so much.