| Silk may be just another fabric to most of us. | | | | wiping out silk production. However, it is because |
| But the truth is, silk is a very unique fabric that | | | | of this epidemic that much research was done on |
| has many activists up in arms. We're going to | | | | the silkworm that ultimately led to more advances |
| take a look at a brief history and some facts | | | | and more modern techniques. Today's silk |
| about silk in order to give you a little education on | | | | production is actually a combination of old and |
| the subject.The actual discovery of silk, from the | | | | new techniques.The silkworm itself is actually a |
| silkworm species Bombyx mori happened around | | | | common name for the silk producing larvae of |
| 2700 BC. Yes, silk has been around a long time. | | | | many different types of moths. The larvae is not |
| According to Chinese tradition, and you have to | | | | actually a worm. It is technically a caterpillar. There |
| take this with a grain of salt, it was a 14 year old | | | | are many species of silkworm that are used in silk |
| girl by the name of Hsi Ling Shi who discovered | | | | production but the most common of these is |
| the invention of the first silk reel. Silk became a | | | | Bombyx mori. This silkworm is native to China |
| very valuable commodity and was sought after | | | | and was brought to Europe and Western Asia |
| by many other countries. But it wasn't until 139 | | | | around 600 AD. It wasn't until the 18th century |
| BC that the world's longest trade route was | | | | that it was brought to America.The silk industry is |
| opened from China to The Mediterranean Sea. | | | | the main industry in Thailand, Japan and China. |
| This route was named the Silk Road for obvious | | | | Most of the silk products you'll find in stores, |
| reasons. By 300 AD the production of silk had | | | | especially in the United States, most likely come |
| also reached India and Japan.The manufacture of | | | | from one of these three countries. There are |
| silk gradually made its way to Europe and | | | | basically two methods of producing the silk. One is |
| America. During the 18th and 19th centuries, | | | | by hand reeling, which is mostly done in Thailand, |
| around the time of the Industrial Revolution, | | | | and machine reeling, which is done in Japan and |
| Europeans had made some great advances in the | | | | China.The cost of silk products from these |
| production of silk. In the 18th century, England | | | | countries is very high because of the technology |
| became the leading manufacturer of silk because | | | | involved, the difficulty of producing silk products |
| of the advancements in technology the country | | | | due to dealing with living creatures and the import |
| was responsible for. Some of the inventions were | | | | taxes invoked on these items. That is one of the |
| improved silk-weaving looms, power looms and | | | | reasons why silk is such a valued commodity, |
| roller printing. In 1870, however, there was a | | | | especially in the United States.In the next |
| major setback in silk production. There was an | | | | instalment in this series on silk we'll pick up with a |
| epidemic called Pebrine disease, which was caused | | | | more detailed look at silk production in the three |
| by a small parasite. This epidemic spread like | | | | main silk producing countries. |
| wildfire through the industry, almost completely | | | | |