HISTORY OF SILK
For about twenty-five centuries the history of silk belonged to China, until only a few hundred years B. C.   These riches became exposed to the world via the Silk Road.  Having control of the trade kept China in a primary place with regard to silk for another thousand years.
Silk was used as a medium for calligraphy and art, as well as for several other applications.  Silk and color were inextricably tied as emblem of social status in the Tang Dynasty.
Japan undertook silkworm cultivation around 300 AD, and by the 500's, the Byzantines and Arabs began in silkworm cultivation as well. Sericulture on the rise, Chinese silk exports suffered a drop, but the luxury silk market was still China's.  Italian states, once exposed to the fine fabric and its sources during the Crusades, took to exporting silks to the rest of Europe and prospered greatly. In the Middle Ages spinning wheel first appeared, and processes were redeveloped. France took on the silk trade successfully.

Cotton, along with the Industrial Revolution's ideas for spinning it, took attention from Europe's silk industry. Cotton fabric was economical to produce.  The Jacquard loom came along for silk embroidery, however, and along with new, streamlined methods of production, silks kept on going.  Silkworm diseases then struck, and hurt the industry in France irrevocably.  Japan and China took center stage again in the 20th century.  China is again the world's largest producer of silk today.  Silk is a luxury good, as ever, now richer than ever.  We enjoy access to fine quality available today.
Recently I learned that silk was vital to the making of escape route maps during World War II.  I can tell you more if you’re interested—email me.  I’ll include the story one day on our Facebook Pages.