Silk is a natural protein fibre, which is most commonly known to be woven into textiles. The best known silk is obtained from cocoons made by the larvae of the silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity. The shimmering appearance for which silk is prized comes from the fibers’ triangular prism-like structure which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles. China is the world’s largest silk exporter.