Sabahar Silk
Silk production is new for Ethiopia. The first eri silk worm eggs were brought to Ethiopia from Japan only in 2001. Considered one of the “wild” silks in the world, the eri worm eats only castor leaves. Since the castor plant grows abundantly in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Agricultural ministry has been promoting eri silk production as a supplementary income generation activity for farmers and women’s groups.

Sabahar (meaning the silk of Sheba), was established in 2004 to provide rural cocoon producers, silk spinners and weaver’s cooperatives with production and marketing assistance, ensuring fair trade principles are applied throughout the supply chain.

Sabahar provides fair trade employment for many households growing cocoons, over 60 women spinning the raw silk on drop spindles, as well as the weaving cooperatives and the dyers.

The journey of your scarf
In the home of a rural family, the eri silk worm eggs hatch into tiny caterpillars and begin 3 to 4 weeks of munching on castor leaves that are picked and brought to them by the family. At about 6cm long, the worms spin their cocoons – a 24 hour process – and the brown-black moth emerges in 10-15 days. Each female adult lays about 300 eggs, continuing this productive cycle.