Yes, silk is made from the fibers of silkworm cocoons. The cocoons are harvested and the silkworm pupa are killed in the process. Silkworms are not the only insects used to make silk, however; spider silk is also used in some products.

Are silkworms killed while making silk?

Yes, silkworms are killed in the process of making silk. Silkworms go through four stages of life: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In the larva and pupa stages, the silkworms are fed mulberry leaves and then allowed to spin a protective cocoon around themselves. The cocoons are then harvested and the silkworms are killed in the process. The cocoons are boiled to soften the silk and the silk thread is unwound from the cocoon.

Can you get silk without killing the worm?

Yes, it is possible to get silk without killing the worm. The process is called «peace silk» or «ahimsa silk». This method of harvesting silk involves waiting until the cocoon has been naturally shed by the moth, and then carefully unwraving the silk fibers from the cocoon without harming the moth. This method of silk production is much more labor-intensive than traditional methods, and the resulting silk is generally more expensive.