Sericulture Exploration 001

Silk tafetta cocoon cape and silk crepe gown handcrafted by Asata Maisé Beeks
Photography by Moody Blu

Brooklyn, NY
August 2026

The first ensemble of, hopefully, many to explore my affinity for sericulture: the cultivation of silkworms to produce silk. I lean into a more formal silhouette to show my respect for the numerous layers of labor required to produce such luxurious textiles. There is contrast, not only in color and texture, but also in shape, as the cape represents the sacrificial silkworm’s cocoon, which eventually becomes a product for human consumption.