Silk comes primarily from the cocoons spun by the larvae of the silk moth, scientifically known as Bombyx mori. The fiber is a protein produced by silkworms, which are cultivated in a process called sericulture. These silkworms spin a cocoon from a continuous silk thread that can be unwound and spun into silk fabric. The common practice involves boiling or steaming the cocoons to kill the pupae inside and then reeling the silk threads to create fabric. This production method has been practiced for thousands of years and originated in ancient China, with China still being the leading producer of silk today.
Silkworms are fed mulberry leaves and after about 35 days, they spin the cocoons. The silk threads from these cocoons are then harvested and processed to produce silk fabric.