The silkworm was introduced towards the year 1000. Sericulture in Italy would have spread thanks to the Arabs in Sicily and the Byzantines in Campania. Only later did it spread to the North, where today, it is counted a large specialized section.
In the past, the spread of silkworm breeding in Italy was a real crescendo: in 1844, 3,460,000 kg of raw silk were produced.
From the seventies of the twentieth century to today, the international scene has seen the strong presence of Chinese silkworms and a progressive decline in the Italian market.
In the closest past, silkworm farms in Italy have had to deal with a new enemy: pesticide pollution.
Today, pesticide pollution seems to have decreased so much that in Northern Italy, we are starting to work with cocoons again.
Italy could not have chosen a better time to restart because on the market – there is now a strong demand for Italian silk from the textile industries. Today Como is one of the best-known areas in the world for silk production and export. Textile companies such as Canepa, Effepierre, Girani, Ratti supply fabrics and prints to major fashion brands.