The cost of silk

On this episode of 'The Cost of Everything', we take a closer look at what is perhaps the world's oldest luxury item of clothing: silk! This world renowned fabric has a long history and, from beginning to end, requires an elaborate and expensive production process, making it very unique, as well as accessible only to those with the means to purchase it. Host Christy Ai speaks to Vale de Seda Institute Chair Joao Berdu, to explore what countries are known to produce the best silk, what countries are innovating in the industry, what the most cost efficient ways to produce silk are, and how much it costs to make a yard of this precious fabric. Later on, we discuss what it takes to produce the four different grades of silk and how much India has grown its international silk market.