Silk (as an Imported Heritage) and its Market Evolution in the South of Italy Calabria Example

In our paper, we are investigating the evolution of silk production and markets in South of Italy, understanding silk as a multi-layered heritage that came to Europe from Asia. Our research is based on historical data, (our and other relevant previous research, archive data etc.) that let us point out on the main historical events that influenced on the silk production phases. Silk is seen as multi-layered imported (from Asia to Europe) property, that relates to the meanings of cultural, economic, historical and industrial heritage. In respect to relevant data, we brought main findings of silk production importance (from the past, to the present, with regard to future directions of development). Research questions: 1) How did silk appear in Italy, and what were the most important influences on the silk production? 2) What importance sericulture had for people involved in this process / main social benefits? 3) What was the relationship between exogenous and endogenous knowledge in silk production in our case? 4) As a dissonant heritage with what kind of narratives silk could be operated today in order to speak its story? 5) What type of governance model is suitable for silk revitalization? In order to answer these questions, it was important to examine relevant „stakeholders“(institutions, involved sectors, sericulture, markets and evolution of mentioned) (with a specific focus on Calabria region) helped us in bringing conclusions about total processes around silk production in South of Italy.