The silk industry is an increasingly important part of the apparel and textile trade in the supply of raw and unfinished materials, fabrics and garments. The throwing preparation and weaving of silk alone employs some 4,000 people and produces over £170 million worth of goods each year. The UK exports around £60 million worth of raw materials, yarns, fabrics, garments and accessories every year.

The UK silk industry is very varied and as well as producing the normal range of silk yarns, fabrics and garments other products include the manufacture of silk sutures for the medical profession, the knitting of silk gloves, which are used by jet fighter pilots in the Royal Air Force, and the hand weaving of silk fabrics, which are being used in the restoration of castles and palaces throughout Europe.