ABSTRACT
The story of silk is a compelling one of the earliest instances of knowledge turned to practical advantage. Sericulture and silk weaving spread along the Silk Road, from China to Western Europe through Japan, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey to Italy. The culture of mulberry silk, invented and perfected by the Chinese, brought inquisitive travellers and traders from within and beyond to the East, to learn the secrets of this rare art and spread its magical spell along what came to be known as the Silk Road. The patterned fabric and product range is our greatest asset which no market including the Chinese can compete with, if we were to judiciously plan, develop and promote its inherent skills. There is no need to castigate increased mechanisation in principle either socially or economically and in reality it need not be in conflict with the hand skill sector.
