Silk cloth made in Varanasi, India

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The epitome of luxury. Silk fibre

Silk is a natural fibre known for its lustre, shine, strength, and durability, and it has a long trading history across the world. Silk is the epitome of luxury due to its high cost to produce, soft feel, and elegant appearance, and it is thus a popular textile in high-end and couture fashion design.

Comprised of natural protein fibre, silk mainly consists of fibroin, which is a protein that certain types of insect larvae secrete to make cocoons. While other insects also produce silk-like substances, most of the world’s silk is derived from Bombyx mori larvae, which are worms that only live on mulberry trees.

The silk cloth on our homepage today came from Varanasi, India. The city is known for producing high-quality silk and popular Banarasi saris. Weaving is typically done within the household, and most weavers in Varanasi are Momin Ansari Muslims. For generations, they have passed on their craft from father to son, hand-weaving silk on room-sized foot-powered looms. They are fashioned into sarees worn for special occasions; many Indian girls dream of wearing silk sarees for their wedding day.