The end of communism in Albania, circa 1991, entrained unforeseen consequences, including the collapse of sericulture and silk weaving, an Albanian tradition for over 1100 years. Highlights include the Renaissance, when Albanian raw silk was prized by the Venetians; high-quality weaving in the 19th and early 20th centuries; and scientific sericulture (with Chinese assistance) after the second world war. Silk was woven into custom and costume through the centuries, at all levels of society, in remote villages as well as the nation's capitol. I will explore the reasons for its persistence and for its demise.