This is the third year I’m participating in the #A to Z Challenge.  My theme has been  Traditions in Indian Textiles.

Today I’m going to share some interesting facts about Silk that I bet you didn’t know about.

Silk is a luxury fabric that has played an important part in our Indian textile tradition. After all,  without silk there wouldn’t be any of the gorgeous saris that we like to drape ourselves in! Silk is elegant and flowy.  It is strong and yet it is soft. It is versatile and can be printed, tied and dyed and embroidered with silver and gold. Silk keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer.

Silky facts

Did you know that :

1. India is the second largest producer of Silk in the world.
2. Silk production is an agro-based industry and silkworms feed on mulberry bushes.
3. India manufactures 18% of the world’s silk .
4. The silk industry in India employs 7.9 million people in 52,360 villages  and is a major foreign exchange earner.
5. Karnataka manufactures 70% of India’s silk .
6. There are 4 varieties of Indian silk : Mulberry, Eri, Tussar and Muga.
7. 80% of the silk produced in India is mulberry silk.
8. Tussar silk , also known as Wild Silk is produced in Central India.
9. India is the only country that produces Tussar Silk .
10. Kosa Silk is a variety of Tussar silk.
11. Eri silk is from Assam and the adjacent North Eastern states.
12. Muga silk  comes from Assam.
13. Silk, though fragile looking is as strong as a metal wire.
14. For 1 kg of silk you need  about 10 kg of cocoons.
15. Ahimsa silk is a silk manufactured without killing the silk worm.

Now that’s something to think about the next time you see a silk scarf or tie! Isn’t it? 

Thank God it’s Saturday and yet another week of the  #A to Z Challenge is over! I can’t say it wasn’t fun but all in all I am a bit disappointed. After all the trouble I take in visiting blogs, sharing them and commenting, I find that my blog traffic has increased just marginally. Boo-hoo.

Acknowledgements :

https://www.ibef.org/exports/indian-silk-industry.aspx

http://www.gktoday.in/silk-industry-of-india/#Silk_Varieties_of_India

Join me and hundreds of other bloggers participating in the #AtoZ Challenge 2017. Also linking this to #UltimateBlogChallenge #blogboost, #Blogchatter.

Have a great Sunday.