This refined handwoven Tussar silk is made from wild, forest-grown cocoons collected only after the moths have emerged, allowing the silkworm’s natural life cycle to be completed. The resulting fibres are spun into characterful yarns that retain the strength, texture, and expressive irregularity for which wild Tussar silk is known.

Following weaving, the fabric is carefully bleached from its natural golden-tan colour to achieve a soft, luminous white. The process lightens the cloth while allowing the inherent texture, tonal movement, and natural silk slubs to remain visible. The result is a clean and minimal fabric that still feels distinctly organic—never visually flat or artificially uniform.

Slowly woven on traditional handlooms, the cloth displays fine horizontal ribbing and gentle striations created by variations in the hand-spun yarn and loom tension. These subtle irregularities catch and reflect light differently across the surface, producing an elegant, almost architectural texture that cannot be replicated by perfectly uniform machine weaving.

At approximately 200 GSM, this is a balanced medium-weight silk. It has sufficient body to hold a defined silhouette while retaining a graceful, fluid drape. Breathable and softly luminous, it is particularly well suited to dresses, tunics, jackets, kimono-style layers, bridal separates, scarves, and refined interior textiles.

This fabric is not intended to appear perfectly uniform. Its beauty lies in its living surface—a modern, minimal expression of an ancient wild silk tradition.

How It Is Made

The wild Tussar cocoons are collected from forest environments after the moths have naturally emerged. As the fibres from emerged cocoons are discontinuous, they are spun rather than conventionally reeled into an entirely smooth filament yarn.

These spun Tussar yarns retain natural differences in thickness, producing the slubs, fine ribs, and delicate tonal movement visible throughout the cloth. The yarns are then woven slowly on a traditional handloom in a plain-weave construction.

After weaving, the fabric is bleached from its original golden or tan Tussar shade to create a soft white colour. It is not coated to create an artificial shine, allowing the fibre’s natural matte-to-gently lustrous surface to remain apparent.

Technical Specifications

Fabric: Handwoven wild Tussar silk
Fiber Content: 100% wild Tussar silk
Silk Type: Peace / non-violent silk
Fiber Origin: Forest-grown cocoons collected after moth emergence
Yarn Character: Spun with natural variations in thickness
Construction: Traditional handloom
Weave: Plain weave with naturally occurring ribbed striations
Width: Approximately 44 inches / 112 cm
Weight: Approximately 200 GSM
Weight Class: Medium weight
Colour: Soft white, bleached from the natural Tussar shade
Finish: Natural, matte to softly lustrous
Texture: Dry, slubbed, and gently ribbed
Opacity: Semi-opaque
Stretch: No mechanical stretch
Drape: Structured yet fluid
Country of Origin: India

Handfeel and Drape

Handfeel: Dry, crisp, and lightly textured
Surface: Softly slubbed with delicate horizontal ribbing
Body: Substantial enough to hold shape
Drape: Structured yet fluid, with graceful movement
Lustre: Subtle and pearly rather than glossy
Breathability: Comfortable and naturally breathable
Visual Effect: Gentle changes in light across the textured surface

Compared with smooth mulberry silk, wild Tussar silk has a drier, more tactile hand and a quieter lustre. It holds silhouettes more confidently than lightweight silk while still moving elegantly when worn.

Ideal Uses

This medium-weight handwoven silk is beautifully suited for:

* Dresses and structured gowns
* Tunics and long shirts
* Blouses and statement tops
* Skirts and bridal separates
* Lightweight jackets
* Kimono-style layers
* Unstructured coats
* Vests and waistcoats
* Occasionwear
* Minimal bridalwear
* Scarves, stoles, and wraps
* Embroidered garments
* Textile art and heirloom projects
* Cushion covers
* Decorative panels
* Refined curtains and interior accents

A lining may be added to garments where complete opacity, additional structure, or a smoother interior is desired.

Why This Fabric Is Special

Unlike highly uniform commercial silk, this textile retains the marks of its fibre and making process:

* Produced from wild, forest-grown Tussar cocoons
* Cocoons collected after the moths have emerged
* Made with naturally irregular spun silk yarns
* Slowly woven on traditional handlooms
* Bleached to achieve a soft white colour
* Naturally textured rather than coated for artificial shine
* Characterised by slubs, ribbing, and tonal movement

Every metre carries the combined imprint of the wild fibre, hand-spun yarn, loom tension, and artisan’s work.

Sewing Recommendations

* Pre-test all treatments on a small swatch
* Use a new, fine Microtex or sharp sewing-machine needle
* Test the needle size, stitch length, and tension before sewing
* Use silk, cotton, or high-quality fine polyester thread
* Cut in a single layer when precise placement is important
* Keep all pattern pieces aligned with the grain
* Stay-stitch curved and bias-cut edges
* Finish seams with French seams, binding, or a fine overlocked edge
* Use silk organza or lightweight woven interfacing where structure is required
* Avoid repeatedly unpicking stitches, as needle marks may remain
* Press from the reverse side using a pressing cloth
* Avoid flattening the natural ribbed texture with excessive pressure

Pre-treatment is advisable if the finished garment is intended to be hand washed. Test a measured swatch first, as silk may relax or change slightly after washing.

Wash and Care

Professional dry cleaning is recommended for the best preservation of colour, structure, and surface texture.

If washing at home:

* Test a small swatch before washing the complete fabric
* Hand wash separately in cold water
* Use a mild, pH-neutral detergent suitable for silk
* Do not soak for prolonged periods
* Do not bleach
* Do not scrub, wring, or twist
* Gently press out excess water
* Roll briefly in a clean towel if needed
* Reshape and dry flat in the shade
* Do not tumble dry
* Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight
* Steam lightly or iron from the reverse side on a low silk setting
* Always use a pressing cloth
* Store clean, dry, and away from direct light

As the fabric has already been bleached to achieve its white tone, chlorine bleach and other aggressive whitening products should never be used.

Please Note

The surface may display:

* Natural silk slubs
* Fine horizontal ribs
* Soft ripples
* Slight tonal variation
* Minor changes in yarn thickness
* Small variations in weave density and width

These characteristics are not flaws. They are the natural signatures of wild spun silk and handloom weaving.

Because the fabric is semi-opaque, its appearance may change according to lighting, layering, and garment construction. A lining may be required for certain garments.

The white shade may also appear slightly warmer or cooler depending on lighting and screen settings. Ordering a swatch is recommended when exact colour, texture, opacity, or drape is important.