Silk Workshops Continue to Empower Rural Producers and Artisans

The State Silk Museum, in partnership with the Georgian Silk Association (GSA), is continuing its series of workshops for silk cocoon producers and artisans. Of the five workshops held so far, the most recent three, conducted in July, have focused on eco-printing on silk using plants, natural dyeing of silk cocoons, threads and fabrics and embroidery.

Up to thirty participants from Tbilisi, Kakheti, Imereti, and Samtskhe-Javakheti have attended the workshops so far. Silk cocoon producers  are learning to process and add value to raw silk, while artisans are exploring silk-based crafts and eco-friendly techniques. Natural dyeing and eco-printing use renewable plant materials, generate minimal pollution, and are non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for both people and the environment, producing rich, unique colors and patterns.

The ALCP2 helped establish the GSA, which serves as an essential support for rural silk producers, providing access to silkworm eggs, enhancing production, and increasing awareness of the sector. This season, with GSA support in providing eggs, training, and technical guidance, fourteen families from Samegrelo, Imereti, Kakheti, and Tbilisi, along with one public school, successfully produced up to 100 kg of high-quality raw cocoons. This is the first instance of such organized production in the past 30–40 years in Georgia.

The ALCP2 implemented by Mercy Corps Georgia, is funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) in cooperation with the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and Sweden.