What is Silk?

Silk is very soft to touch and has a brilliant shine. Silk is known to produce finest textiles. It is also very strong, resistant to most mineral acid and a good absorbent however it can be weakened on exposure to sunlight. Silk cloths are comfortable to wear in warmer climatic conditions. Silk is often used for clothing like shirts, formal dresses, skirt suits, fashionable cloths, beddings, surgical sutures and many more.

The best type of silk is obtained from cocoons of Mulberry Silkworm (Bombyx mori). The process of rearing and than obtaining the silk from silkworm is known as Sericulture. Silk is obtained commercially from the killing of silkworm pupae by dipping them in the boiled water before they become matured caterpillar. As this process involves killing of larvae so it is also criticized by animal rights activists and organizations like PETA. However one more method is available for obtaining Silk without killing larvae by the process of reeling off so that Silk Fibers are pulled out manually from cocoon but this method is costly.

Silk fabrics were in use in the ancient times also and at that time it was associated with luxury and royal life. Today Sericulture is being followed in more than 30 countries but the major producers of Silk are China and India.