The Hard Labor Behind Luxury: Uzbek Silkworm Growing Is A Family Tradition

Cultivating silkworms -- from moth eggs through cocoon harvest -- is an ancient, labor-intensive task that's shared by entire Uzbek families. As the worms grow to several times their original size, families ensure they're fed and cared for with the utmost attention for weeks. But silk cocoons fetch less than $3 per kilogram and growers often wait months to be paid.