The History of Silk: A Captivating Face of Human Culture for Over 6 Centuries
March 2, 2022
Silk has been highly respected in fashion for centuries. The history of silk, first discovered thousands of years ago in ancient China, is woven with mysteries related to attempts to monopolize this delicate fabric.
The Legend of Silk
Legend has it that silk was first discovered by Lady Hsi Ling Shih around 3000 BC in China. However, recent archaeological research suggests that silk's presence in society is even older, with the original discovery of the fabric made on the Yangtze River dating back to 7000 BC.
China initially sought to keep silk production a secret, hoping that trading in this precious commodity would bring them great wealth. This ancient society knew that the finest silk was obtained by feeding silkworms a very specific diet of mulberry leaves. Combined with this knowledge and the development of silkworm breeding (a process known as sericulture), China effectively maintained a monopoly on silk for almost 3,000 years.
The Silk Road, which carried silk and other exotic goods to neighboring countries, was dominated by demand for Chinese silk, which fulfilled China's wish – the empire's economy flourished thanks to the profits from the silk trade.
As legend has it, Lady Hsi Ling Shih first discovered silk and its lustrous threads when a silkworm cocoon fell into her cup of tea. Upon unwrapping it, the cocoon revealed a single thread of silk, inspiring the empress to develop silkworm breeding and, eventually, the creation of the loom and spinning wheel.
Eventually, silk found a permanent home in the wardrobes of royal families throughout the ancient East, but soon the demand for silk skyrocketed, and the secret was revealed. By the 2nd century BC, India was already growing its own silk, which filled the wardrobes of the Persian empire.
As demand for silk steadily grew, rulers outside China sought a share of this wealth, which motivated them to find creative ways to smuggle silkworms into their countries. In 440 AD, a Chinese princess hid silkworm eggs in her elaborate headdress to share with her royal Iranian boyfriend—thus gifting Iran with silk cultivation. Later, around 550 AD, two monks were persuaded to hide silkworms in their bamboo canes, initiating the first practices of silkworm breeding in Turkey.
Silk throughout history
Empires throughout the ages have had their own ways of wearing this beautiful fabric. From the sweeping red silk robes of Korean kingdoms in 632 AD to Indira Devi, the Indian princess who pioneered the trend of wearing silk chiffon saris in the late 19th century, silk has been a go-to choice for millennia, in part because of the way it gracefully drapes the body.
Perhaps the most notable modern silk advocate was American actress Grace Kelly. She experienced a true fairytale when she married Prince Rainier III in 1956 and became Princess of Monaco. Her way of expressing her opinion through silk became fashionable when she decided to elegantly heal a broken arm by using a printed silk scarf as a sling.
While most fashion trends ebb and flow over time, silk has remained a popular material throughout history and is perhaps best known for its shimmering sheen. Silk is incredibly cool in summer and warm and insulating in winter. Whether you prefer a silk-lined coat or a flowing silk dress, wear a silk garment to enhance your style and experience a material that has been beloved for centuries.
