The making of silk

If you are already our customer, you know we'll supply you with 50cm of fabric, or 5000 mtr of fabric. We visit our suppliers and observe fabric and our silks being produced. Below, from left - Thai sericulture, in village, then Chinese sericulture, in village far right Thia silkworkers in village where silk is grown, processed and finished in one location.

3000 or so years ago, all silk or sericulture production was located in China, where silk was discovered. The production of silk or sericulture was a closely guarded commercially sensitive secret and the commodity critically important to the economy.

50 years ago, silk was being produced in Italy, England, France, Spain Greece, Turkey, the Balkans, Kashmir, and India and many parts of Asia. Today, the production of silk which is extremely local and labour intensive, is more prevelant in Aisa, particularly China Thailand Laos, rather less produced in India these days and very small production from Japan.

Silk raising or sericulture is a cottage industry. Thailand is a traditional sericulture producer, the expertese of raising and weaving silk is a family affair.

Because of the labour intensive nature of sericulture, villagers still produce silk even in China where silk processing is industrialised. The silk mother cares for the silk to ensure the highest quality of silk production. Worms must be fed 2 hourly, with finely chopped mulberry leaves. The cocoons are harvested and taken to the processing facility.

Build of 2010-84-10