Original scientific paper

Revival of sericulture in Slovenia

Tatjana Rijavec ; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia *
Alenka Šalej Lah ; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Rebeka Lucijana Berčič orcid.org/0009-0002-3702-9897 ; University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Despite the extraordinary development of synthetic fibres, silk is still the most valued textile fibre, representing luxury through softness, pleasant lustre, beautiful colours, high strength, and durability. Slovenia has favourable natural conditions for growing white mulberry Morus alba L. tree, the leaves of which are fed to the silkworm Bombyx mori L. On the territory of today's Slovenia sericulture was an important economic activity, which began already in 16th century. It included rearing and breeding of silkworms, reeling of cocoons and production of silk yarns and fabrics. The spread of sericulture started in Goriška, where it was imple-mented also until the middle of the twentieth century. Unfortunately, the knowledge was only preserved in written sources, but the experiences of our ancestors were entirely lost. A sericulture and silk industry in Slovenia in the past is briefly presented. In the year 2018 an Institute of sericulture entilted “Inštitut za svilogojstvo in svilarstvo RLB” was established in Maribor by dr. Rebeka Lucijana Berčič. It is the only institution in Slovenia that offers professional help to silk rearers, who already practise sericulture by a large number of individuals and families from Koper to Goričko as the locally grown silk according to the guidelines of organic mulberry cultivation easily meets the criteria of a sustainable and environmentally friendly textile material. Today, it is used in a form of filament yarn for Idrija lace or for hand woven fabrics, and in a form of silk nonwovens for interior textiles. Silk mats are directly made by 2D spinning of silkworms. The process of silkworm flat spinning is shown in a digital material (video film) on the ISS_RLB website and is accessible via QR code. The process and the structure of the silk nonwoven material is described.

Keywords

mulberry silk; raw silk; silk mat; flat spinning; decoration; digital media

Hrčak ID:

334717

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/334717

Publication date:

28.4.2024.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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