When the secret of silk production was discovered, the Chinese guarded it so jealously that they made any leaks of information punishable by death. It's use was not confined to clothing manufacturing. It was also used for bow-strings, fishing lines, padding for winter clothing, and even for manufacturing waterproof vessels for transporting liquids. However, it was in the form of a luxury fabric that silk was first used in the West. Up to this day silk still has the image of luxury.
China is currently the world's largest producer and exporter of raw silk.
The time is right for silk to become more than just a luxury fabric, but one which, as in ancient China, has become accessible to a wide range of people. In the past twenty years, enormous strides have been made in improving not only the machines involved in the preparation of weaving, but in the loom itself. This increased automation also meant that one weaving-worker can now look after 20 looms at the same time, instead of only 4 traditional looms. This has consequently led to much greater yield and productivity. Some of the modern weaving machines are large enough to weave fabrics 3 metres wide.