Photos: Greek town which reared silkworms smuggled from India, back in fashion | Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Photos: Greek town which reared silkworms smuggled from India, back in fashion

Updated On Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

Since the 19th century Soufli, a Greek town has been a key centre for silk production. In the 6th century AD this isolated town was also the first in Europe to rear silkworms after they were smuggled by Byzantine monks out of India. But after World War II, textile makers turned to cheaper synthetic materials such as nylon, and the area's once-prided infrastructure fell into disuse. Silk is again making the comeback after world's most prestigious catwalks, and demand from designers for the luxurious fabric is on the up.

1 / 8
Inside the machine-crammed factory near the Greek-Turkish border, a woman deftly spins a silk thread in a loom, ignoring the deafening noise around her. The dormant, isolated town of Soufli has been a key centre for Greek silk production since the 19th century. This was also the first area in Europe to rear silkworms after they were smuggled by Byzantine monks out of India in the 6th century AD. (Aris Messinis / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

Inside the machine-crammed factory near the Greek-Turkish border, a woman deftly spins a silk thread in a loom, ignoring the deafening noise around her. The dormant, isolated town of Soufli has been a key centre for Greek silk production since the 19th century. This was also the first area in Europe to rear silkworms after they were smuggled by Byzantine monks out of India in the 6th century AD. (Aris Messinis / AFP)

2 / 8
A man works at a silk printing fabric factory. Silk, much of it home-made, has sustained the town of around 4,000 inhabitants for decades, although the number of factories has fallen. But now silk is again de rigueur on the world’s most prestigious catwalks, and demand from designers for the luxurious fabric is on the up. It is making a comeback. (Aris Messinis / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

A man works at a silk printing fabric factory. Silk, much of it home-made, has sustained the town of around 4,000 inhabitants for decades, although the number of factories has fallen. But now silk is again de rigueur on the world’s most prestigious catwalks, and demand from designers for the luxurious fabric is on the up. It is making a comeback. (Aris Messinis / AFP)

3 / 8
Silk colour fibres are seen at a silk museum. This textile has played a role in the family history of practically everyone who originates from Soufli. “Every family grew silk,” says Matina Lekka, a local pensioner, whose mother worked at the Givre factory before it closed in the 1960s. (Aris Messinis / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

Silk colour fibres are seen at a silk museum. This textile has played a role in the family history of practically everyone who originates from Soufli. “Every family grew silk,” says Matina Lekka, a local pensioner, whose mother worked at the Givre factory before it closed in the 1960s. (Aris Messinis / AFP)

4 / 8
A man shows silk cocoons at a silk museum. In its heyday, the factory, founded by two Jewish brothers, Bohor and Eliezer Givre, exported silk as far as the French cities of Lyon and Bordeaux. But after World War II, textile makers turned to cheaper synthetic materials such as nylon, and the area’s once-prided infrastructure fell into disuse. A further blow came at the end of the 1990s, with the opening up of the silk market. (Aris Messinis / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

A man shows silk cocoons at a silk museum. In its heyday, the factory, founded by two Jewish brothers, Bohor and Eliezer Givre, exported silk as far as the French cities of Lyon and Bordeaux. But after World War II, textile makers turned to cheaper synthetic materials such as nylon, and the area’s once-prided infrastructure fell into disuse. A further blow came at the end of the 1990s, with the opening up of the silk market. (Aris Messinis / AFP)

5 / 8
The town’s two factories currently export silk clothes and handicrafts to Bulgaria, Slovakia and Cyprus, and fulfil design orders from British stylists. While the two factories produce a small amount of silk themselves, most of what they use to make their items comes from China. (Aris Messinis / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

The town’s two factories currently export silk clothes and handicrafts to Bulgaria, Slovakia and Cyprus, and fulfil design orders from British stylists. While the two factories produce a small amount of silk themselves, most of what they use to make their items comes from China. (Aris Messinis / AFP)

6 / 8
Soufli is surrounded by 300 hectares of mulberry trees -- the leaves of which are eaten by the silkworms --providing an abundance of a raw material waiting for revival. Each silkworm cocoon can yield a continuous silk strand of up to 2.5 kilometres long. (Aris Messinis / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

Soufli is surrounded by 300 hectares of mulberry trees -- the leaves of which are eaten by the silkworms --providing an abundance of a raw material waiting for revival. Each silkworm cocoon can yield a continuous silk strand of up to 2.5 kilometres long. (Aris Messinis / AFP)

7 / 8
A woman shows silkworm cocoons at a silk fabric factory. To make it big, the town also needs an industrial-size silk reeling machine. The Hermes Foundation, the public benefit arm of the global luxury brand, recently financed the purchase of a small reeling unit but it is insufficient to cover mass production. As a result, the cocoons must be sent to Italy for processing. (Aris Messinis / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

A woman shows silkworm cocoons at a silk fabric factory. To make it big, the town also needs an industrial-size silk reeling machine. The Hermes Foundation, the public benefit arm of the global luxury brand, recently financed the purchase of a small reeling unit but it is insufficient to cover mass production. As a result, the cocoons must be sent to Italy for processing. (Aris Messinis / AFP)

8 / 8
People walk past an old silk factory in Soufli. With four local museums already dedicated to the silk industry, the town is also ripe for further development as a tourism destination. The town municipality plans to renovate an old mansion to be used as a hostel and an area to demonstrate how silkworms are raised. (Aris Messinis / AFP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 17, 2018 01:50 PM IST

People walk past an old silk factory in Soufli. With four local museums already dedicated to the silk industry, the town is also ripe for further development as a tourism destination. The town municipality plans to renovate an old mansion to be used as a hostel and an area to demonstrate how silkworms are raised. (Aris Messinis / AFP)

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On