Travels in China - Silk and Sericulture

"Silk" is a beautiful word that ultimately originated from Asian sources, primarily the Chinese word "si."  The textile it describes has always represented smooth, sleek luxury and is much appreciated by those who are fortunate enough to wear it on occasion.  Silk has long been considered the ideal for delicate feminine underclothing, and is particularly appreciated for fine blouses and evening wear.  So, when part of HWMBO's visit to Shanghai was a tour of a silk manufacturer, he knew how much I would enjoy and appreciate it - even vicariously.

Silk fabric was first developed in ancient China, with some of the earliest examples dating back to 3500 BC. Originally silks were used only for Chinese royalty, for their own use and for gifts to others.  Eventually the silk trade spread throughout Asian regions.  Silk became highly prized for its luxury and ultimately became a staple in international trade.  European merchants not only brought silk from Asia, they also imported the techniques of sericulture - the rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk.  Italy became an important silk manufacturing area in the Middle Ages.  Lyon, France - approximately an hour to the west of Geneva - has been a center of European silk production since the 15th century.  In fact, it was in the Lyon region that many tools were introduced in the 17th century to facilitate mass production.

But at bottom, it is the cocoons woven by the humble mulberry silkworm that are responsible for this sumptuous material.  Voici the raw materials: silkworms and mulberry leaves:

And here are the cocoons that the little silkworms spin.

The cocoons are dipped in hot water before the moths emerge.  The thread from the cocoons is unwound

and then spun into fine thread on spinning wheels,

stretched and layered,

and then woven into fabric or exotic Oriental carpets.

Such is the stuff of dreams ...!