Silk Production Process

Silk is the most sought after fiber since ancient times. It is an extremely lustrous and soft fiber and is obtained from the caterpillar of the moth Bombyx mori. The production of silk is a time consuming and labour intensive practice.

Production of silk involves a wide range of steps starting from cultivation of cocoons to manufacture of silk yarns. Various methods have been adapted since ancient times to produce high quality silk. Silk production today is a combination of old and modern techniques.

Silkworms produce the high-priced and ever demanding silk by spewing out thread from tiny holes in their jaws, which in turn is used to spin into their egg-bearing cocoons. The entire production takes a mere 72 hours, during which time they produce between 500-1200 silken threads.

The various steps of silk production process include:

• Cultivation of Cocoons (Sericulture)
• Filature Operations
• Manufacture of Silk Yarns