Cambodia is well-known for its traditional silk production and weaving. The art of weaving those golden threads was practised by women. Read on and know the refined process of silk production.
The production process
The ‘golden silk’ of Cambodia is known for its unique lustre, natural golden colour, and strength. Today the majority of silk is imported from China and Vietnam owing to the decline in Cambodia’s native golden silk during Cambodia’s civil war. The process begins when the silkworms are fed with Mulberry Leaves. Once the cocoons are formed, they are kept in hot water to kill the larvae and thereby to make them ready for the next stage of production.
Dyeing
It’s amazing to view how diverse techniques are combined with design in the dyeing process! Those colours are obtained from bark, leaves and plant extracts. If you are staying at one of the many luxury hotels in Siem Reap, then visiting the Angkor Silk Farm will be a truly pleasurable activity to witness the art of Golden Silk industry. One such accommodation option is Anantara Angkor Resort which affords convenient access to this farm and its stunning surroundings.
Spinning
The bundle of dyed silk is placed on a spinning wheel for winding. Spinning is not an easy task since it needs great concentration to get twisted thread by hand. Then, the bobbins are inserted into shuttles!
Weaving
The twisted thread is woven using a multi-shaft wooden loom. It’s about 3 metres long and 1 metre wide. The entire process can take up one whole day because it needs to be handled in a subtle way.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+
