These voices belong to people of Soufli, women and men who lived, labored, and grew up within the rhythms of silk. Chrysoula Parisi speaks of raising worms at home, how every stage, from hatching to cocooning, was carefully managed by hand, woven into the daily life of rural families. Koula Tsiantouka, who began factory work at 12, describes both the hardship and camaraderie among the women in the spinning rooms of the Tzivre factory. Pagona Paralikidou, one of the few practicing sericulturists today, keeps the tradition alive in her own workshop, proving that silk in Soufli is not just a memory but a living practice. Paschalis Christodoulou, now a teacher, remembers growing up in a “cocoon house,” where every room had a role in rearing silkworms and every family member a task to perform. Together, these voices reveal more than a production process. They speak of women’s labor, seasonal rhythms, resilience, community, and a deep connection to place.

Interviews and recordings made by Kleopatra Tsali at Soufli in 2024, transcriptions from Greek to English made by Irini Gonou 2025