How is silkworm raising connected to the fabric called shantung?

The fabric known as shantung is directly connected to the province of Shandong, as it was named after the region where it originated.12

The connection to sericulture—the practice of silkworm raising—is foundational to the fabric's history. Shantung was originally produced in the province as a rough-textured tussah, which is a type of wild-silk cloth. While silkworm raising has been a significant subsidiary activity in Shandong for hundreds of years, particularly in the central hills near Yishui, Linqu, Zichuan, and Laiwu, the resulting fabric is characterized by its slightly irregular surface, created by uneven slubbed filling yarns.21

Today, while the province remains famous for its long-standing tradition of silk production, much of the raw silk harvested through these agricultural practices is transported to other provinces for further processing and spinning.23