Lotus silk is a rare and expensive type of silk that is made from the fibers of the stems of lotus flower. It is produced mainly in Cambodia, Myanmar, and recently Vietnam, where artisans harvest the fibers by hand from the stems of the lotus plants that grow in freshwater lakes. The fibers are then spun into threads and woven into fabrics that are soft, light, and breathable.

Harvesting must be done daily for a few weeks out of the year. The plants are only available between April and October. Delicate handwork is required to extract the silk filament without damaging it. This results in a limited supply of the material.

While its production scale is limited due to the few skilled craftspeople who make it, it has recently gained popularity with international fashion brands and could potentially grow to become a larger industry in the future. The cultural significance of lotus in certain parts of the world also adds to its high value.

Please watch the following video to experience how Vietnamese craftspeople make lotus silk.