SILKMade by:Diya Motwani

What is Silk?Silk is a natural protein fibre, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fibre of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons.

What is Sericulture?SERICULTURE, OR SILK FARMING, IS THE REARING OF SILKWORMS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF RAW SILK. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL COMMERCIAL SPECIES OF SILKWORMS, BOMBYX MORI IS THE MOST WIDELY USED AND INTENSIVELY STUDIED. ACCORDING TO CONFUCIAN TEXTS, THE DISCOVERY OF SILK PRODUCTION BY B. MORI DATES TO ABOUT 2700 BC, ALTHOUGH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDS POINT TO SILK CULTIVATION AS EARLY AS THE YANGSHAO PERIOD (5000 – 3000 BCE). ABOUT THE FIRST HALF OF THE 1ST CENTURY AD IT HAD REACHED ANCIENT KHOTAN, AND BY AD 140 THE PRACTICE HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN INDIA. LATER IT WAS INTRODUCED TO EUROPE, THE MEDITERRANEAN AND OTHER ASIATIC COUNTRIES. SERICULTURE HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COTTAGE INDUSTRIES IN A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA, JAPAN, INDIA, KOREA, BRAZIL, RUSSIA, ITALY AND FRANCE. TODAY, CHINA AND INDIA ARE THE TWO MAIN PRODUCERS, TOGETHER MANUFACTURING MORE THAN 60% OF THE WORLD PRODUCTION EACH YEAR.

Singapore SilkBoiling cocoons to make silk

Silk CocoonSilk Fibre

Synthetic Fibre

Nylon and polyester are synthetic fibres obtained from plastic material we get mainly from Petroleum. The advantage of synthetic fibres are:

•Synthetic fibers do not depend either on an agricultural crop or on animal farming.•They are generally cheaper than natural fiber.•Synthetic fibers posses unique characteristics which make them popular dress material.•They dry up quickly, are durable, readily available and easy to maintain.