The earliest allusion to silkworms in Khmer dates back to the 8th century, recorded in the sculptures decorating the temples of
Cambodian silk is mostly famous for its ancient weaving technique, named Ikat, a labor-intensive and expensive process that no machine can duplicate. The almost total disappearance of traditional skills during the war explains that the younger generation knew nothing of this important part of the nation’s cultural past. So far had silk weaving declined in
Today, the techniques for silk weaving are still mainly taught orally from mother to daughter. New silk producers are embracing the entire silk-making process, from reforestation of barren countryside to the construction of self-sustaining silk workshops and villages, to answer to increasing needs in terms of production.
The silk is the result of a long tenuous process: after the harvest, the silkworms’ cocoons are boiled; the threads for weaving are drawn from the resulting floss. But while sericulture is similar world-wide, there are major regional differences: Cambodian silk threads are characterized by their yellow color. 10 kilos of cocoons will be transformed into 1 kilo of silk threads. These silk threads will be brought to the weavers to proceed to the dyeing process, a delicate step to obtain the right color to the fabric.