A LinkedIn post
- Lotus Silk Blossoms in Bangladeshi Looms
- December 10, 2025
A forward-thinking project named “Diversity, Usability, and Conservation of Lotus,” initiated by Bengal Plants Research & Development (BPRD) in partnership with the Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO, started the lotus silk production process. Researchers, including Md. Ayub Ali, the Head of Planning and Implementation at the Handloom Board and Director of the Muslin Revival Project, led the project. In April 2025, a groundbreaking sustainable initiative in Bangladesh led to the creation of the country’s first-ever heritage Jamdani hand-woven six-yard scarf made from lotus silk.
Unbelievable, but with only three training days, women from Ronkoil village in Kanaipur, Faridpur, learned how to extract lotus silk threads. The woven fabric was crafted by master artisan Asiya Begum of Sonargaon. The special six-yard-long scarf is now preserved at the Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.
In the international market, one kilogram of lotus silk yarn is priced between USD 2,000 and 3,500, approximately BDT 427,000. The cost per yard of fabric ranges from USD 25 to 1,000. …
the pink lotus is common in Bangladesh and is suitable for producing this silk because of the available resources, and there are at least 35–40 lotus ponds across different districts, most of which are government-owned. In Bangladesh, the best time for this silk production is generally from August to December. During this timeframe, lotus flowers are also abundant. Encouragingly, after cutting a stem, it regrows 6–8 inches underwater each day, allowing up to five harvests per month during this time frame. …
If this project is commercially implemented, many skilled workers, known as “Katuni” (silk spinners), will be created in various districts of Bangladesh, and they will become financially independent through this work. … It takes about 30,000 lotus stems to produce one kilogram of silk in Cambodia and Vietnam. In Bangladesh, only 15,000 lotus stems are needed to produce the same amount of silk, according to Md. Ayub Ali, Head of Planning and Implementation at the Weavers’ Board. Based on the experience from the pilot project, Md. Ayub Ali believes that when commercial production starts in Bangladesh, it will require significantly fewer lotus stems than in other countries, and fine silk production will also be possible.
Additionally, to increase fabric production, jacquard and semi-automatic looms could be used.
This natural silk is stronger, more durable, and completely water-resistant than cotton and mulberry silk. While it is not as expandable, this silk does not even wrinkle. It is naturally smooth, soft, and breathable. It holds color beautifully, and any dye applied makes it more vibrant. No harm comes to insects during its production process because it is processed manually and 100% naturally. Compared to other types of silk, lotus silk is easier to harvest and environmentally friendly. Its production requires no water, and because no fossil fuels are used, there is no carbon emission during its production, which attracts consumers.
The Daily Star article
To showcase its potential, a special six-yard-long scarf has already been produced from this lotus yarn. The scarf is currently kept at the office of the Bangladesh National Commission for Unesco in the capital, … The breakthrough came through a research project titled “Study of Diversity and Conservation of Lotus from Bangladesh,” initiated in 2021 by Bengal Plants Research and Development (BPRD), with funding from the Bangladesh National Commission for Unesco. … Rakha Hari Sarker, a supernumerary professor at the Department of Botany at Dhaka University, is the consultant for the project titled “Diversity, Uses, and Conservation of Lotus.” … No chemicals, no fossil fuels, and no pollutants are involved in the process. Even the leftover plant matter is reused as compost or cattle feed. Each metre of lotus silk requires thread from 40,000 stems. A full garment may need up to 120,000 stems. Extracting enough lotus silk for one scarf can take up to two months, and the final product can cost ten times as much as regular silk. … In the village of Ronkail in Faridpur, rural women are now being trained to extract lotus threads, … “Lotus cultivation can actually help preserve these ecosystems while creating jobs.” … “Each time we harvest, the plant regenerates stronger,” said Prof Sarker. “This is a model of how industry and ecology can work in harmony.” … The price of lotus silk is high, ranging from $2,500 to $4,000 per kilogramme. … Researchers said lotus silk is made from a special natural material called cellulose found inside the stems, and the amount depends on the depth of the water. Prof Sarker said research can be carried out to improve the quality and quantity of cellulose in lotus petioles. Techniques of modern plant breeding, such as tissue culture and plant biotechnology, can be applied to increase fibre production. … The entire process used in muslin production has also been applied to lotus fibre. Officials from the Bangladesh Handloom Board and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have underscored its high potential. … Ayub Ali, chief of planning and implementation at the Bangladesh Handloom Board, said, “The yarn obtained from lotus plants is extremely fine and strong — arguably even better than silk. One of the biggest advantages is that you can extract thread from a lotus plant up to four times a month without harming it.”