Ahimsa: "A Revolution with Silk Gloves"

The silkworm, Bombyx Mori, is the domesticated version of the Bombyx mandarina. Breeding silkworms (sericulture) has been going on in China for so long, about 5,000 years, that this scion of the Bombyx mandarina can no longer fly (I expect it took a much longer evolution to learn how to, so it’s a bit of a shame, really). As the larva enters the pupa stage, it weaves up to 900 metres of silk thread in order the protect itself during its transformation into a moth and would eat through the cocoon when fully formed. This of course would damage the thread, so the poor creatures destined to be immortalised into a robe or a handkerchief are boiled to death before they can emerge with their lovely wings and take to the air (no harm in trying).

It takes about 7,000 cocoons to make a kilo of silk, so billions are boiled every year. “At least 70 million pounds of raw silk are produced each year, requiring nearly 10 billion cocoons.” (Where would I be without good old Wikipedia!). Ahimsa Silk, however, is cruelty free and made from wild and semi wild moths without the cooking cauldron.