The Hermes scarf designs continue to speak for themselves. China still produces the most raw silk fibre, followed by Brazil, India, Japan, Korea and Thailand. Hermes works closely with silk worm breeders mainly based in China and Brazil. The main silk producing larvae come from the family of the Bombycidae - foremost the common silk moth Bombyx mori . In Europe, the silk from moths producing one generation of caterpillars a year is considered the best quality.
Silk producing caterpillars prefer to feed on the leaves of the mulberry tree.
When the caterpillar enters its chrysalis stage, it often nests in oak, broom, or other twigs. Each cocoon produces about 300 to 400 yards of silk. A Hermes scarf uses the silk from 250 cocoons. Certain weather conditions will cause the silk worms to produce silk of a lesser quality, or none at all. Silk can decompose at high temperatures and fade in prolonged sunlight - so good care is essential.