| Silk fabric is one of the most common and known | | | | arthropod produce silk, most notably various arachnids |
| fiber on which textile industry is primarily dependent. It is | | | | such as spiders (see spider silk). |
| natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be | | | | If the history is looked at then it can be seen that a |
| woven into textiles. Silk fabric is such a fabric which is | | | | variety of wild silks but produced by mulberry silkworm |
| made from threads and it is spun by the silk | | | | was first woven and used in china, south Asia and |
| caterpillars. Silk caterpillars live on some specific tress | | | | Europe. But it was very limited in use and production |
| and eat their leaves to live. These tresses are | | | | and it was not silk fabric. Silk fabric was first |
| cultivated in order to cultivate these worms. Mulberry | | | | developed in ancient china as early as in 3,500B.C. It |
| silk worm is one of them and most famous among | | | | can be proven from the geographical, cultural and |
| them because mulberry silk fabric is one of finest silk | | | | other instances and historical evidences. But gradually |
| made used for cloth manufacturing. The silk moths | | | | for its fine texture and luxury fabric and natural luster |
| make their cocoon. Before hatching of silk worm into | | | | the use and fame spreads beyond china. Silk rapidly |
| moth the cocoons are soaked in hot water to produce | | | | became a popular luxury fabric in the many areas |
| filaments. These filaments are then spun to form silk | | | | accessible to Chinese merchants because of its |
| fibers which are processed to silk fabric. | | | | texture and luster. Silk was in great demand, and |
| There are many types of silkworm from whose larva | | | | became a staple of pre-industrial international trade. |
| and cocoons silk is being made. But the superior kind is | | | | Not only in china but in India also the evidences of |
| Bombyx mori which is known as mulberry silkworm. | | | | sericulture have been found by archeological survey. In |
| The process of cultivating silk worm is called | | | | Thailand also many instances are found which proves |
| sericulture. Silks are produced by many other insects | | | | the use of silk fabric. Moreover in Thailand many |
| but the best quality of silk is produced from moth | | | | cultural and mythological connections were also found |
| caterpillars. This silk is used in the textile industry mainly. | | | | with silk. |
| There has been some research into other silks, which | | | | Silk fibers from the Bombyx mori silkworm have a |
| differ at the molecular level. Silks are mainly produced | | | | triangular cross section with rounded corners, 5-10 |
| by the larvae of insects that complete metamorphosis, | | | | μm wide. The flat surfaces of the fibrils reflect |
| but also by some adult insects such as web spinners. | | | | light at many angles, giving silk a natural shine. Silk has |
| Silk production is especially common in the | | | | a smooth, soft texture that is not slippery, unlike many |
| Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants), and is | | | | synthetic fibers. Silk is a poor conductor of electricity |
| sometimes used in nest construction. Other types of | | | | and thus susceptible to static cling. |