What is Eri Silk?

Mulberry Silk

Eri Silk

Come from the cocoons of Bombyx Mori moth

Come from Samia Cynthia Ricini moth or Philosomia Ricini moth

Before the moths emerge, cocoons are boiled for degumming- thus killing them

Cocoons are boiled after the moths emerge.  Hence called Peace Silk

The caterpillars eat only mulberry leaves

Caterpillars prefer castor leaves, but also eat Kessaru and Tapioca (or Cassava) leaves.

Leaves need to be cultivated

These leaves grow in the wild.

Cocoons are uniform, small and white in colour.

Cocoons are large and uneven. Can be white, off-white, or reddish colour

The yarn is not suitable to crochet

The yarn can be used to crochet

The clothes are both hand-woven and made by machines

Cloth is largely made by hand. It continues to be a cottage industry

Silk cloth is soft, but needs extra care

Silk cloth has a cotton, matte-like finish, with a silky touch, sturdy and easy to maintain.

The mulberry silk tends to generate static electricity

Does not generate static electricity, and so the cloth will not stick to your body.

Less breathable fabric than Eri silk.

More breathable fabric

Has thermal properties – Cool in summer and warm in winter.

Has better thermal properties than mulberry silk.

A highly commercialized industry

A cottage industry mostly using natural dyes.

Considered a luxury material. Consumed more by the well to do.

Is widely used even now by the local communities. across economic strata. It is not cheap, but the products are treasured.

Wool

Eri Silk

Wool is mostly obtained from furry animals like sheep, but also fromrabbits, goats and alpacas. Wool which is a protein fibre is composed of keratin.

Eri Silk is also a natural protein fibre. The protein fibre of silk is made primarily out of fibroin and is created by Samia Cynthia Ricini moth or Philosomia Ricini moth.

For spinning yarn, the wool fibres go through a scouring process to remove impurities such as grease, dirt and other debris.

Cocoons are boiled in water to remove a gummy substance, after the moths emerge.

Wool being a short that needs to be hand spun or machine spun into a continuous yarn for use in knitting or weaving

The eri cocoons are open-mouthed making it the only staple silk fibre that needs to be spun like wool and cotton for use in knitting and weaving

Wool has good insulating properties.

Er Silk silk is not as good as wool in retaining warmth.

Wool can feel scratchy when worn next to skin

Eri silk is a no itch fibre, feels smooth & soft when worn

Wool is mostly used only for winter wear

Eri Silk is an all-weather fibre due to its isothermal properties.

Wool fibre doesn’t wrinkle easily and springs back to shape when stretched.

Produces static electricity when rubbed.

Eri silk has low shrinkage, excellent drapability is smooth and comfortable to wear, without static electricity and pilling

Wool, although hydrophilic, tends to pill because on the surface of the wool fibres, the scales stick to each other and to the fabric.

Eri silk is hydrophilic fibre, hence can absorb a lot of water, making Eri silk fabric less prone to pilling.

Wool is affordable and widely used

Is widely used by the local communities, is not cheap, but the shawls are sought after and treasured.

          Cotton

Eri Silk

Cotton is a delicate, feathery staple fibre that develops in a ball around the seeds of the cotton plants.

Eri Silk is a natural protein fiber. The protein fiber of silk is made primarily out of fibroin and is created by Samia Cynthia Ricini moth or Philosomia Ricini moth.

For spinning yarn, the cotton fibers go through a spinning process to remove the seeds and debris from the fibre.

Cocoons are boiled in water to remove a gummy substance, after the moths emerge.

Cotton produces short fibers that are plied tightly to produce a yarn strong enough to withstand the rigors of weaving

The eri cocoons are open mouthed, the filament is discontinuous hence it is the only staple silk fibre unlike all other silks which are filament in nature.

Cotton is mass produced.

Eri Silk is exquisite

Cotton colours ranges from white to various shades of green and brown.

Eri silk fibres can be white, off-white, or reddish coloured

Cotton fabric draws heat away from the body

Eri Silk starts off feeling quite cold to the touch but heats up quickly and retains heat.

Cotton has good dyeability.

Eri silk is the most absorbent silk, and its colour fastness is better than cotton

Cotton has a good light fastness, so sun exposure is allowed.

Eri Silk’s light resistance is less than cotton, so it is not suitable to be exposed to the sun.

Hard to dry; strong shrinkage; low elasticity; it is easy to wrinkle when wearing, but hard to recover after wrinkle

It is easier to dry than cotton; low shrinkage; full of elasticity; excellent drapability and soft handle; it is smooth and comfortable to wear, without static electricity and pilling.

Cotton has better breathability than silk for the most part.

We say the most part because both fabrics can be woven into lightweight materials that breathe well.

Eri silk has a natural thermometer that helps cool you down in the hotter weather & vice-versa.