The Fascinating History of Silk

 

If you’re like me, you just love the soothing sensual feeling of silk against your skin. We’re talking about real silk here, the silk that only made its way to Europe in the 13th century. And to think that the Chinese had used silk for thousands of years before that.

 

We owe the invention of silk to the Chinese. There’s evidence they used silk during the Neolithic, in the 4th millennium BC The precise moment of this wonderful invention is lost in time.

Legend has it that it was the wife of the Chinese mythological emperor Huangdi (who ascended to the throne in 2697 BC) that taught Chinese peasants how to make silk. It was considered quite a miracle that the thread of the cocoon of the silkworm could be reeled off and spun. From just one cocoon you can get a silk thread long 1 km (1,000 yards). And it’s quite a tough thread which makes it most suitable for weaving.

 

Although sericulture, as the production of silk is called, was widespread in ancient China, it was still too precious to make clothes out of it. At least not for commoners.

Archeological findings prove that noblemen had fine silk clothes as early as the 3rd century BC, but in the early days silk was mostly used to make tapestries.

 

Sericulture spread to Japan in the 4th century and it somehow made its way to the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. Historical documents point to the fact that the Byzantines had gotten their hands on silkworms and knew how to make silk. Sadly, that knowledge was lost and it will be many centuries before Europeans got to enjoy fine silk.

 

The Silk Road

The Silk Road was in fact a network of routes linking the Chinese Empire to Europe and the Middle East. It was established in 130 BC and remained operational until 1453 when the Ottoman Empire shut it down. The Ancient Greeks called China Seres, which means the ‘land of silk', which proves the fascination they had with this wonderful fabric.

While Europeans were most impressed with silk, the ancient trade routes were also used to import vegetables, spices, and precious stones. Paper and gunpowder, two other notable Chinese inventions, also got to the Western World via the Silk Road.

Chinese silk truly made it to Europe during the 13th century and, as you can expect, it was only the rich and powerful that could afford such finery.

Silk was used to make robes for important clergymen and noble people.

France and Italy were quick to establish successful silk trades, but it wasn’t easy. Silkworms require special conditions and they are prone to diseases that can easily destroy them, pushing producers to bankruptcy.

 

Silk in the modern era

The Industrial Revolution and the wide availability of cotton dealt a great blow to the silk industry in the Western world. Cotton in particular is more easy to produce and way less expensive so for a while silk remained a part of the luxury industry only.

Things changed in the 20th century, when good economic conditions sparked a renewed interest in this smooth and very versatile fabric. And China regained its status as the world’s greatest silk producer.

Unfortunately, not all clothes labeled as silk and coming from China are the real deal. If you find a great deal, just make sure it’s not artificial silk. Also, natural silk is sometimes mixed with other cheaper fibers that are not always mentioned on the label.