Silk is a fabric made of fibers from the cocoon of the silkworm. Natural or 'raw' silk is produced from silkworm cocoons in a process known as sericulture; the caterpillars are killed in the process. Many modern silks are synthetic, and no caterpillars are involved in their manufacture.

Silk was first developed in early China, possibly as early as 6000 BC and definitely by 3000 BC. Legend gives credit to a Chinese Empress Xi Ling Shi. Though first reserved for the Emperors of China, its use spread gradually through Chinese culture both geographically and socially. From there, silken garments began to reach regions throughout Asia. Silk rapidly became a popular luxury fabric in the many areas accessible to Chinese merchants, because of its texture and lustre. Because of the high demand for the fabric, silk was one of the staples of international trade prior to industrialization.

Perhaps the first evidence of the silk trade is that of an Egyptian mummy of 1070 BC. In subsequent centuries, the silk trade reached as far as the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. This trade was so extensive that the major set of trade routes between Europe and Asia has become known as the Silk Road.

The Emperors of China strove to keep the knowledge of sericulture secret from other nations, in order to maintain the Chinese monopoly on its production. This effort at secrecy had mixed success. Sericulture reached Korea around 200 BC with Chinese settlers; by 300 A.D. the practice had been established in India. Although the Roman Empire knew of and traded in silk, the secret was only to reach Europe around A.D. 550, via the Empire of Byzantium. Legend has it that the monks working for emperor Justinian were the first to bring silkworm eggs to Constantinople in hollow canes.

Merchants of Venice traded extensively in silk and encouraged silk growers to settle in Italy. By the 13th century Italian silk was a significant source of trade. Italian silk was so popular in Europe that Francis I of France invited Italian silkmakers to France to create French silk industry, especially in Lyon. French Revolution interrupted the production before the Napoleon took power.

James I of England introduced silk growing to American colonies around 1619, ostensibly to discourage tobacco planting. Only Shakers in Kentucky adopted the practice. In the 1800?s new attempt of silk industry begun with European-born workers in Paterson, New Jersey and the city became a US silk centre, although Japanese imports were still more important.

World War Two interrupted silk trade from Japan. Silk prices skyrocketed and US industry begun to look for synthetic substitutes, which lead to the use of synthetics like nylon.

In addition to clothing manufacture and other handicrafts, silk is also used for items like parachutes, silk bicycle tires and artillery gunpowder bags. Chinese doctors have also made prosthetic arteries out of silk.