Silk links India's history, culture and skills, evident in historical silk sarees such as Kanchipuram and Banarasi. Silk is created from silkworms that consume mulberry leaves. The silkworms turn into cocoons, which are transformed into silk threads, and woven into fabric. India is the second largest manufacturer and consumer of silk globally. The raw silk manufacturing rose from 31,906 metric tons in 2017-2018 to 38,913 metric tons in 2023-2024. The region under mulberry territory from 223,926 hectares in 2017-2018 to 263,352 hectares in 2023-2024. Silk is a fiber that links the history of India, culture and skills. From the rich, shining colours of Kanchipuram sarees to the true creation of Bhagalpur Tussar, each silk saree narrates a story. They are created from pure mulberry silk, carefully blended, and crafted by mechanics. This design has been passed down over centuries. As the loom bustles with the tune of their hands, the silk saree galvanises not just a cloth but an icon of India's several and life spirit, stitched together by the paintings of the silk. Sericulture is the technique of cultivating silkworms to produce silk. Silkworms are fed on mulberry, oak, castor and arjun leaves. These cocoons are gathered and heated to soften the silk. The silk threads are peeled off, transformed into yarn and woven into fabric. This judicious preparation transforms small silkworms into glowing silk. India is the second largest manufacturer of silk and also the largest consumer of silk in the world. In India, mulberry silk is manufactured mostly in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and West Bengal and the non mulberry silk is manufactured in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and northeastern states. Mulberry silk is from the silkworm that consumes only mulberry leaves. It is soft, flat and glossy with a bright light. It is appropriate for making luxury sarees and high-end clothes. Non mulberry silk is made from the undomesticated silkworm that consumes on leaves from trees such as oak, castor and arjun. Non-mulberry silk is realistic, and less glowing but it is powerful, durable and environment friendly. Silk is indispensable but low volume item accounting for 0.2% of the world's textile manufacturing. Silk manufacturing is considered as the necessary instrument for economic sustainability. The developing countries depend on the creation of jobs, especially in villages and also as a means to get foreign exchange in the market.
Silk Manufacturing Hubs of States
There are various silk manufacturing hubs in different states, which are mentioned below:
Karnataka
The important silk manufacturing hubs of Karnataka are Kollegal, Molakalmuru, Ilkal, Anekal and Bengaluru.
Andhra Pradesh
The important silk manufacturing hubs of Andhra Pradesh are situated in Dharmavaram, Pochampali, Venkatagiri and Narayanpet.
Assam
Sukalkuchi is the important silk manufacturing hub in Assam.
Tamil Nadu
The important silk manufacturing hubs of Tamil Nadu are Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, Kanchipuram, Arni and Salem.
West Bengal
Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Bishnupur are the silk manufacturing hubs in the states of West Bengal.
Chattisgarh
Raigarh, Chanderi, and Champa are the necessary silk manufacturing hubs in Chhattisgarh.
Silk manufacturing hubs in the other states
The important silk manufacturing hubs in other states are
- In Bihar, the important silk production hub is situated in Bhagalpur.
- in Gujarat, the silk manufacturing hubs are situated in Cambay and Surat.
- In Uttar Pradesh, the silk manufacturing hub is situated in Varanasi.
- Paithan is the silk manufacturing hub in Maharashtra.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, the silk manufacturing hub is situated in Srinagar.
