Silk is a natural protein fibre, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons made by the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture). The shimmering appearance for which silk is prized comes from the fibers' triangular prism-like structure which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles.

Silk is the fiber that silk worms weave to make cocoons. The so-called silkworm is actually a domesticated insect who, in nature, goes through the same stages of metamorphosisegg, larval, pupal, and adultthat all moths do. Silk is derived from the cocoons of larvae, so most of the insects raised by the industry dont live past the pupal stage, as they are steamed or gassed alive inside their cocoons.

Silk is expensive because of the production process. Approximately 3,000 silk worms die to make every pound of silk. A caterpillar has to weave a cocoon that cocoon has to be cooked before the caterpillar to break the chrysalis later one to a the thread of the cocoon is uncoiled and the best silk there is no breaking of the in the process of uncoiling the cocoon, later it starts to be part of a roll and only it is dyed later and later it is woven.