Cambodian Silk:
Cambodian silk is some of the finest quality in the world, due in part to the unique silkworms used and the diet on which they live. Unlike silkworms from neighboring Thailand, Cambodian silkworm cocoons are naturally yellow as a result of their diet of mulberry leaves. During the Khmer Rouge regime, the silk industry was nearly destroyed as Cambodians had to chop down the mulberry trees for wood to survive.
Without this special diet, nearly all of the native silkworms died. Since the region has stabilized, enormous effort has been put into replanting mulberry trees and replenishing the silkworm population. Once again the silk industry is thriving and the tradition of fine Cambodian silk making lives on.
The Process:
Mulberry leaves are the preferred diet of Cambodian silkworms. |
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At just the right stage of maturity, the worms are placed in racks of mulberry leaves to eat and grow enough to create a cocoon.
The cocoons are placed in cut tree branches until they are the right size and quality to be used for silk. |
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Once the cocoons are mature, they are put through the process of carding. There are two stages of carding which produce two distinct qualities of silk: fine silk and raw silk. The cocoons are boiled and the fibers are removed (or carded) in two stages. The outer cocoon is fine silk and the inner cocoon is raw silk. |
Despite the names, “fine” and “raw” do not describe the quality of the silk, only the texture. In fact, raw silk is often seen as the superior product as it is sturdier for use in textiles. |
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In Cambodia, nothing goes to waste. After the silk is removed from the cocoons, the silkworms are eaten as a nutritious snack, providing much needed protein and fat. Many cultures all over the world have been eating insects for centuries, and while this may be distasteful to many Westerners, many Cambodians enjoy the taste and the health benefits of silkworms. |
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After carding, the silk is dyed using natural products such as flowers, leaves, and barks. Ever creative, Cambodians have even found a way to produce lovely brown and red dyes using rusty nails and other metal refuse! |
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For more intricate designs, plain silk is tied in specific patterns before dying. |
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The dyed silks are dried in the sun then spun into skeins used to thread the looms. |
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Again, the ingenuity of Cambodian silk makers shines through as the spinning machines are often made from recycled bicycle wheels. |
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Once spun, the silk is threaded onto large looms to create the desired color and pattern of the finished product. Depending on the size and complexity of the final product, one silk weaving can take the artist many days to complete. |
In addition to being remarkably beautiful, Cambodian silk is sturdy, soft, colorfast, and machine washable using the gentle cycle. It is used in a wide variety of products, from scarves and clothing to household goods and textiles. There are as many patterns and designs available as there are ideas to create them.
The Cambodian silk artists take great pride in their products and hope to continue the fine tradition of silk making for many years to come. |
