Superhydrophobic　silk　fabrics　were　prepared　using　an　environmentally　friendly　enzyme-etching　approach,　followed　by　the　modification　with　methyltrichlorosilane　(MTCS)　via　a　simple　thermal　chemical　vapor　deposition　(CVD)　process　at　70　°C.　The　effects　of　the　concentration,　treatment　time　and　temperature　of　enzyme　on　the　etched　surface　properties　were　discussed.　The　composite　superhydrophobic　silk　fabrics　demonstrated　excellent　self-cleaning　ability,　relatively　unscathed　effecting　their　intrinsic　properties　such　as　the　luster,　softness,　color　and　style　of　the　fabrics.　Furthermore,　these　treated　fabrics　demonstrated　excellent　mechanical　durability　after　silane-treatment　as　evidenced　by　the　cyclic　abrasion　and　laundering　tests.　The　composite　superhydrophobic　cotton　fabrics　have　also　demonstrated　a　high　efficiency　in　oil-water　separation.　The　facile　technology　via　enzymatic　hydrolysis　to　etch　the　substrate　possesses　extensive　potential　applications　on　various　other　cellulose-based　substrates.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.