ALKENA GmbH manufactures and markets sustainable textiles since 1978 with an emphasis on and specialization in silk. Aiming to assure a long-term reliable source of high quality raw silk, a joint venture was initiated in 1995 in Chengdu, the capitol of Sichuan province in China. The SABA project for biodynamically produced silk arose from this joint venture, producing certified organic silk ever since. ALKENA entered into additional partnerships with family farms organized into cooperatives in the ensuing years to meet increasing demand for organic silk.