Akhmeta Silk Fair Becoming Traditional

The Georgian Silk Association hosted its second Silk Fair on Saturday, September 19th 2026, bringing visitors to the historic Silk Cocoon Drying Facility in Atskuri village, Akhmeta Municipality, Kakheti. The Fair offered an opportunity to explore the history, traditions and contemporary prospects of Georgian sericulture.

Silk has a centuries-old history in Georgia. Once an important rural product and an integral part of village life, sericulture almost disappeared following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, Georgian silk is gaining renewed momentum through small-scale production, local manufacturing and traditional crafting initiatives. The Fair brought together more than fifty silkworm farmers, crafters, scientists, museum curators, educators and rural women entrepreneurs. Visitors could experience locally produced silkworm cocoons and silk thread, handmade silk items, accessories, jewellery, cosmetics and soaps, alongside felt, leather and ceramic products. One of the highlights of the Fair was the dedicated silkworm rearing demonstration space. Silkworms were specially hatched for the event, giving visitors the chance to see live silkworms up close and learn how a silkworm rearing room is arranged and managed. The space showcased the complete journey of silk production, from the silkworm and cocoon to silk thread and finished handmade products.

The Fair also offered visitors the opportunity to take part in traditional craft masterclasses. One of the highlights was silk thread spinning on a wheel specially designed and made by a local carpenter, who was also present at the Fair. ‘As no one else was making such wheels in Georgia, I decided to take on the challenge. I visited the State Silk Museum to study a European spinning wheel and combined its design with elements of a traditional Georgian wheel. I have since made five wheels and continue to receive orders.’

Organisers: Georgian Silk Association and Akhmeta Municipality City Hall
Supporter: State Silk Museum

About the Georgian Silk Association

Established in Akhmeta in 2024, the Georgian Silk Association aims to revive and develop sericulture in Georgia. Through the Association’s efforts, silkworm cocoon production was relaunched in Akhmeta Municipality in 2024. The Association has brought together a network of sericulturist farmers, traditional craft artisans and people interested in sericulture from eight regions of Georgia and seen two consecutive years of growth and engagement in local silk cocoon production and silk crafting across Georgia. The Akhmeta Silk Fair was a celebration this collective effort.

The Georgian Silk Association and other silk market sector initiatives are facilitated by the Mercy Corps Georgia Alliances Caucasus 2 (ALCP2) programme, co-funded by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC), the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and Sweden.