GOLDEN SILK(The Cambodian Silk)
Following a long tradition, the Cambodian silk industry has survived the country's political and civil unrest and is very much alive these days.
It is generally believed that growing mulberry plants, silkworm breeding and silk weaving were introduced to Cambodia in the 13th century. Initially, these activities began south of Phnom Penh, along the banks of the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. Then, in the late 19th century and continuing through the two World Wars, sericulture developed along the shores of the Tonle Sap, on the islands of the Mekong and in the settlements of Kampot, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Battambang. World War II caused a shortage of fabric in Europe, which consequently accelerated its growth in Cambodia. Mulberry plantations reportedly covered a total of five to six thousand hectares, and yarn production eventually reached 150 tons per year a the end of World War II.
At this time, 10 to 30 percent of families worked in this industry. Women bred silk worms and wove their own cloth (hôl, krama, phamuong, sarong...) The techniques of mulberry growing, silkworm breeding and weaving were passed from morther to daughter; young girls learned sericulture while they were still young, helping with those tasks of which they were capable. By the time they were 10 or 12 years old, when their mothers felt that they had the ability and there were enough mulberry trees to sustain a second batch, there girls tried their own hand at breeding worms and weaving.
(to be continue...)
It is generally believed that growing mulberry plants, silkworm breeding and silk weaving were introduced to Cambodia in the 13th century. Initially, these activities began south of Phnom Penh, along the banks of the Mekong and Bassac Rivers. Then, in the late 19th century and continuing through the two World Wars, sericulture developed along the shores of the Tonle Sap, on the islands of the Mekong and in the settlements of Kampot, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Battambang. World War II caused a shortage of fabric in Europe, which consequently accelerated its growth in Cambodia. Mulberry plantations reportedly covered a total of five to six thousand hectares, and yarn production eventually reached 150 tons per year a the end of World War II.
At this time, 10 to 30 percent of families worked in this industry. Women bred silk worms and wove their own cloth (hôl, krama, phamuong, sarong...) The techniques of mulberry growing, silkworm breeding and weaving were passed from morther to daughter; young girls learned sericulture while they were still young, helping with those tasks of which they were capable. By the time they were 10 or 12 years old, when their mothers felt that they had the ability and there were enough mulberry trees to sustain a second batch, there girls tried their own hand at breeding worms and weaving.
(to be continue...)
No comments:
Post a Comment