Different countries produce different silk. The main producers of silk are China, India and Thailand, a rather exotic type of silk comes from Myanmar – Burma. Silk Cheit longyis were especially favored during   King Mindon’s reign. Myanmar silk is used mainly to make Cheit longyis, special garments worn by both men and women. Silk Cheit longyis have been in fashion and popular with royalty and commoners for many centuries. It takes great skill to weave these silk fabrics with their varied colors and intricate designs. Weaving to form traditional designs to produce a distinctive and elegant silk pattern can only be done by hand. The top quality silk cheit longyi is called a product of 100 shuttles because that number of small shuttles must be used in the painstaking process of weaving each piece of silk from Myanmar. The young women weavers must have great skill; even three years of training may not be sufficient for a weaver to become a proficient artisan. Silk looks good, Silk comes in beautiful colors, Silk fits the body and Silk gives a pleasant feeling when it touches the skin. Myanmars are justly proud to dress themselves in such prestigious and artistically crafted material to attend official functions, religious and social occasions, weddings and ceremonies. Various artists on the Myanmar stage also wear these resplendent garments.The main centre of cheit longyi weaving is in Amarapura, close to Mandalay.