Wild Silk in Our Clothing
Most people are familiar with domesticated (bombyx mori) silk. But there are other, wild silks, where the moth needs to live out part of its life-cycle in trees, chewing on its favourite leaves.
The Tussar silk moth (belonging to the genus Antheraea) is one of these wild silks. B0th the adult moth and the caterpillar are very large. Tussar sericulture is remarkable, for when the caterpillars enter the last larval stage they are placed in trees and watched constantly - to protect them from predators like birds and insects.
Tussar silk is reeled, plied, and woven by village artisans. The silk can have different characteristics depending on how it is treated. Sometime it can have a smooth metallic finish, and sometimes it can have far more roughness, slub and variation, like a rural fibre that speaks of its origins.
At Maiwa we use Tussar silk with a black cotton warp to create a unique silk fabric. Tussar has a natural variation in shade which plays out in the weaving. The result is a subtle undulating pattern. Our garments are designed to take full advantage of tussar - an amazing wild silk.
YARDAGE
This yardage is a twill weave with cotton - the resulting cloth has the tussar on one side and is predominantly cotton on the reverse. This makes this yardage ideal for garments.
BLANK TUSSAR SILK SCARVES
PERFECT FOR DYEING
Shown: Handwoven Silk Tussar Scarf - Heavy, sold individually and as a 1/2 Dozen Scarves. Also available as a Shawl and as a 1/2 Dozen Shawls.
Shown: Handwoven Silk Tussar Scarf - Medium also available as a 1/2 Dozen.
Bobbins of wild tussar silk after winding.
To our U.S. customers – don't forget that the exchange rate works in your favour, it's like an extra discount.
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