Produced by the larva of a species of moth commonly called the silkworm, silk has been successfully cultivated in Persia. The finest silk for rug making traditionally comes from an area around the Caspian Sea. This region produces a type referred to as Rasht Silk, which is regarded as the best in the world.

Because of the high price of the raw material the production of silk rugs has sharply decreased.

Silk fibers can also be used to make the warp, weft, and pile of a rug. When compared with wool fibers of equal diameter, they are much stronger. Generally speaking, of the 100% weight of the rug, nearly 16-20% is the warp, another 10-18% the weft and the balance, 50-70% is the weight of the pile of the rug.