Silk Today
Silkworms, which have been domesticated for generations, are unable to survive in the wild.
To produce 1 kg of silk, 6,000 silkworms are needed, which consume 200 kg of mulberry leaves. They produce a silk filament that can measure up to 2 km, but averages 1 km. Five to eight filaments are twisted together to form a thread.
Today, silk production takes place largely in Asia. With its recent economic opening, China has become the world’s leading producer and is increasing its output year after year.
In 1996, it produced 58,000 metric tons out of the 81,000 metric tons of global production!
The emergence, in the aftermath of World War II, of synthetic fibers that were much less expensive to produce—such as nylon—could have signaled the decline of silk, but global demand has remained strong and continues to grow, as silk—thanks to its image, charm, and incredible properties—remains the most sought-after textile fiber.
