Silk today
Silkworms, domesticated for generations, are unable to survive in the wild.
To produce 1 kg of silk, 6,000 silkworms are needed, consuming 200 kg of mulberry leaves. They produce a silk filament that can measure up to 2 km, but averages 1 km in length. 5 to 8 filaments are twisted together to form a thread.
Today, most silk production takes place in Asia. With its recent economic opening-up, China has become the world's leading silk producer, increasing its output year on year.
In 1996, it produced 58,000 tonnes of the world's 81,000 tonnes!
The emergence after the Second World War of synthetic fibers such as nylon, which are far less costly to produce, could have signaled the decline of silk, but worldwide demand has remained steady and growing, with silk remaining the most sought-after textile fiber for its image, charm and incredible properties.
