When some wild cocoons fell into Lei Zu’s bowl when she was drinking in a wild mulberry bush. Silk’s origins may be traced back to China, where the textile’s manufacture has been maintained a closely guarded secret for almost 2,000 years. Silk’s roots may be traced back to the Chinese neolithic era, with the oldest silk specimen discovered being from 3630 BC.
China, India, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Iran are the major silk-producing countries nowadays. Despite silk’s limited market position (about 0.2 percent) in the global textile market, it is produced in more than 60 nations throughout the world. China holds the largest producer of silk all over the world.
What is the process of making silk?
When Lei Zu went to retrieve the cocoons, she saw the silk thread had unraveled in an endless string. Lei Zu is recognized in China as the “Goddess of Silkworms” because she began rearing wild silkworms and spinning to knit.
Sericulture is the name given to the process of making silk. It all starts with the rearing of silkworms, which, despite their name, are actually larvae that turn into moths rather than worms.
Fibroin is a protein fiber formed by silkworm larvae during their cocoon stage. It is made up of a continuous filament produced by the salivary glands of the silkworm. The following six steps can be used to summarize the silk-producing process.
- Each month, a female silk moth lays 300-500 eggs. The Burberry leaves provide food for the larvae that hatch from the eggs. The hatching larvae molt four times during their development.
- They extrude some of the fibroin protein and construct a net to hold themselves to the twig when climbing onto it.
- While excreting the saliva that produces the silk, the netted larva swings. The silk hardens, forming a firm cocoon. The larva spins nearly a mile of silk filament around itself in 2-3 days.
- The silkworm larvae are then boiled to remove the sericin and liberate the filament in the degumming procedure. The tiny larva dies at this point.
- The filament is wound onto a reel after the start of the filament is apparent by lightly stroking the boiling cocoon. A cocoon yields around 1,000 yards of silk strand.
- The individual silk filaments are joined to create a strong silk thread that will be weaved into garments.
Silk is the strongest natural protein fiber and is a shimmering textile with a satin texture and a reputation for being a luxurious fabric. Many people are wearing this fantastic fabric these days, and it can be found all over the place, whether at a mall or through online shopping. Pajamas, blouses, trousers, and other items of clothing made of silk are also available. Check out our deal on mens silk robes sale.