CULTURE
Azerbaijan`s silk industry, one of the main activities continued into modern times
Baku, March 31, AZERTAC
With over 2,000 years of history, Azerbaijan has been regarded as one of the world's best silk centers. The native population in Azerbaijan have long been engaged in sericulture. Sericulture is a branch of agriculture that has spread throughout Azerbaijan since ancient times and has been developing to this day. The main production areas are Sheki and Basgal. The development of the silk industry in Azerbaijan was influenced by the passage of the Silk Road route through certain regions of Azerbaijan.
Shamakhi, Ganja, Sheki, Ordubad, Shirvan and Shusha regions assumed a significant part in silk producing in Azerbaijan during 11th-18th
centuries. Patterned, ornamental silk female kerchiefs were produced in these regions. Found straightforwardly on Great Silk Way, every year 100 thousand puds crude silk was sent out from Shamakhi to Russia, Iran, Ottoman Empire, Italy, France, India and different nations through Baku.
The antiquated city of Sheki safeguarded the old custom of sericulture. Sensitive textures, wonderful garments, vivid scarves kalaghayi made by Sheki aces from crude silk were sent out to the numerous far off nations, and the city got celebrated for its silk everywhere on the world. Shirvan maintained its dominance in silk production in the Near East in the 16th and 17th centuries.
After the sericulture advanced toward Azerbaijan, silk producing turned into a gainful nearby business. Azerbaijan ranked second in the USSR for barrel production (after Uzbekistan) and the 1st in terms of quality of barrel and silk. Azerbaijani silkworn (barama) and silk extracted from it have been repeatedly shown at international exhibitions and have been highly regarded by professionals.
Today, the silk industry is expected to make a fresh start. Currently, there are 2 breeding and silk plants in the Republic, 7 seeding plants, about 30 barber drying centers, about 80 barley supply and pre-processing points, Sheki Silk Complex, Ordubad, and Khankandi cotton mills.