Location: Margilan, 20km north of Fergana city, Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan
Date: 29 July 2013
Uzbekistan is the third largest silk producer in the world after China and India, though the volume produced still pales in comparison to the latter two countries. Nevertheless, Uzbek silk have in the past travelled along the old Silk Road to various countries such as China, India, Iran etc. Uzbek silk with its signature patterns are known as 'ikat' derived from the malay word meaning tied.
Today we visited a Silk Factory in Margilan that still preserved the old ways of producing silk.
Silk caterpillars feed on mulberry leaves and take a few days to spin the cocoon completely around its body. These cocoons are then immediately collected for processing into silk threads. They are not left to grow to the pupae stage to ensure than once unravelled, each cocoon is able to produce a single continuous strand of silk thread. This continous strand ensures stronger cloth once woven.