What file format should artists use?

For digitally created illustration or vector-based work: Adobe Illustrator AI or PDF. For painted, photographic, or mixed-media work: high-resolution PSD, TIFF, or PNG at a minimum of 300 DPI at the actual scarf dimensions. For a 90 × 90cm scarf, that means approximately 10,600 × 10,600 pixels. All files should be submitted in RGB colour mode. Read our full artwork file preparation guide.

How Artists and Illustrators Can Turn Their Work Into Custom Silk Scarves

Q: Why does silk work for artists?

The qualities that make silk exceptional as a fashion fabric are the same qualities that make it an exceptional vehicle for artwork reproduction. The surface absorbs acid dye with a depth and vibrancy that paper printing cannot match. The material itself has inherent value. And the finished object has longevity: a well-made silk scarf does not wear out, does not become obsolete, does not get thrown away. A silk scarf is not a copy of an original. It is an edition — a different form of the work, made in a different material, with its own physical presence.

Q: How does artwork need to be adapted for a scarf?

Most artworks are not created in the proportions of a square or long scarf. The adaptation process is a compositional question: crop the composition, feature a detail, or add a border that frames the existing composition within the scarf area. Adding a border is one of the most effective tools — a coloured border drawn from a key colour in the artwork creates a frame that makes the composition feel intentional. Read our full guide to choosing a border and hem colour.

Q: How should an artist edition be structured?

A silk scarf edition can be open (runs until the artist decides to stop), limited (a fixed number of numbered pieces, typically 50, 100, or 200), or hybrid (a numbered artist edition for direct sale alongside an open-edition retail version for stockists). Whatever the structure, woven labels and care cards are the professional presentation standard. Packaging — a gift box, tissue, and an artist statement card — elevates the purchase from a scarf to a considered acquisition.

Q: How should an artist scarf be priced?

A 14mm silk scarf at 90 × 90cm with hand-rolled hem, woven label, and quality packaging — sold as a numbered artist edition — reasonably retails between $150 and $250. A 65 × 65cm version typically retails at $100 to $150. Read our cost guide to understand the production economics before finalising your retail price.

Q: What happens to the copyright?

The copyright of the artwork stays with the artist. Always. LS Silk produces to specification for the commissioned production run and does not claim, licence, or use the artwork for any other purpose. If you are an artist or illustrator who has wondered whether your work could translate onto silk, the most useful first step is showing us what you have. Talk to us about your scarf edition →

Quick answer: Artists can turn artwork into custom silk scarves by adapting the piece to a square, uploading it in the LS Silk Custom Studio, and ordering as few as one. Start with a finished sample, then order a small run of 2 to 20 pieces or a production run of 30 to 100 pieces per design. A 65 cm scarf costs A$52 to A$58 each in a production run, excluding GST. Copyright stays with the artist throughout.

The idea of an artist's work on cloth is not new. In 1946 the London textile printer Zika Ascher persuaded Henri Matisse and Henry Moore, among other leading artists, to design for fabric. One of the Matisse works Ascher printed, the linen wall hanging Océanie, La Mer, sold at Christie's in 2011 for about £2.6 million. What is new is that an artist no longer needs a major house to make it happen.

For an artist or illustrator working today, a silk scarf edition is one of the most honest forms of art merchandise. It is not a mug with your image on it. It is an object with its own quality and its own reason to exist.

To see it in practice, read our case studies: Summer Bloom, a hand-painted garden landscape made into an artist's own scarf, and Woodland Escape, illustrator Maggie Lam's drawings on silk.

Why does silk work for artists?

Silk takes dye with a depth that paper printing cannot match. The material has value in itself. And a well-made silk scarf lasts: it does not wear out, date or get thrown away.

A silk scarf is not a copy of an original. It is an edition, a different form of the work in a different material.

What artwork translates well onto silk?

Most of it, with some adaptation. Painted work in watercolour, gouache, acrylic or oil translates with richness. Illustration, whether botanical, figurative, abstract or pattern-based, often looks its best on silk. Read our guide to designing for silk before you finalise a design.

Two limits are worth knowing. Lines finer than about 0.5 mm may soften slightly. And pure white prints as the natural warm ivory of the silk, because there is no white ink in digital textile printing.

How does artwork need to be adapted for a scarf?

Every scarf in the Custom Studio is a square, and most artworks are not. You have three options: crop the composition, feature a detail, or add a border that frames the whole work inside the square. A border in a colour drawn from the artwork is often the most effective. Read our guide to choosing a border and hem colour.

What file should artists send?

For digital illustration or vector work, an AI, EPS, PDF or SVG file. For painted or photographed work, a high-resolution PSD, TIFF or PNG at 300 DPI at the finished size. For an 89 cm scarf that is about 10,500 × 10,500 pixels. Work in RGB. Read our full artwork preparation guide.

How should an artist edition be structured?

Open edition. It runs until you decide to stop. Simple to manage and easy to reorder.
Limited edition. A fixed number of numbered pieces, often 30, 50 or 100. Scarcity supports a higher price.
Both. A numbered edition sold directly, alongside an open version for stockists.

A card with a short artist statement lifts the purchase from a scarf to a considered piece. Woven labels and gift packaging are available by quote.

How should an artist scarf be priced?

Start from your cost. In a production run of 30 to 100 pieces, a 65 cm silk twill scarf with a hand-rolled hem costs A$52 to A$58 each and an 89 cm scarf A$57 to A$62, excluding GST. As a guide, artists commonly sell a numbered 89 cm scarf for A$150 to A$250 and a 65 cm scarf for A$100 to A$150. Read our cost guide before you settle on a retail price.

Where can artists sell silk scarves in Australia?

Your own website or online shop. The best margin, and you keep the customer relationship.
Exhibitions and open studios. A scarf gives visitors a way to take the work home at a lower price than an original.
Artist and design markets. Silk sells well where people can touch it.
Gallery and museum shops. See our guide for gift shops to understand what buyers look for.
Boutiques and gift stores. Expect to sell at a wholesale price, usually about half of retail.

What happens to the copyright?

It stays with you. Always. You confirm when you order that the artwork is yours to reproduce, and we use it only to make your scarves.

Have artwork of your own? Choose your size, silk and finish and see your price straight away. Start your scarf in the Custom Studio →

Not sure your artwork will translate? Email it to support@lssilk.com.au and ask.

Frequently asked questions

Can any artist make a custom silk scarf?

Yes, with original artwork at sufficient resolution. You can start with a single finished sample.

How many scarves does an artist have to order?

As few as one. Small runs are 2 to 20 pieces and production runs are 30 to 100 pieces per design.

How is a painting adapted to fit a square scarf?

By cropping, featuring a detail, or adding a border that frames the whole work inside the square.

Should an artist silk scarf be a limited edition?

It depends on your aim. A limited edition supports a higher price. An open edition is simpler to manage and reorder.

Does making a silk scarf affect the copyright of the artwork?

No. Copyright stays entirely with the artist.

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