A Bit of History About Silk
Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China, with some of the earliest examples found as early as 3500 BC. Originally, silk was reserved for the Emperors of China for their own use and gifts to others; gradually its use spread through Chinese culture. Silk was first traded throughout many regions of Asia and then became a popular luxury fabric and staple of pre-industrial international trade because of its texture and luster.
The construction of silk is called sericulture. The Emperors of China strove to keep knowledge of sericulture secret to maintain the Chinese monopoly. Nonetheless, along with the silk trade, the secrets of sericulture moved into the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. This trade was so extensive that the major set of trade routes between Europe and Asia became known as the Silk Road. Today, over 500 countries produce silk; the major ones are China (54%) and India (14%). [adapted from Wikipedia]
Interesting Fact: To produce 1 kg of silk, 104 kg of mulberry leaves must be eaten by 3000 silkworms. It takes about 5000 silkworms to make a pure silk kimono.
The construction of silk is called sericulture. The Emperors of China strove to keep knowledge of sericulture secret to maintain the Chinese monopoly. Nonetheless, along with the silk trade, the secrets of sericulture moved into the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe and North Africa. This trade was so extensive that the major set of trade routes between Europe and Asia became known as the Silk Road. Today, over 500 countries produce silk; the major ones are China (54%) and India (14%). [adapted from Wikipedia]
Interesting Fact: To produce 1 kg of silk, 104 kg of mulberry leaves must be eaten by 3000 silkworms. It takes about 5000 silkworms to make a pure silk kimono.
