Tussar Silk

Wild & Sustainable Silk Fibre.

Tussar silk is a durable and slightly coarse-textured fibre compared to other silks, characterised by a rich, natural brownish-golden sheen that imparts to it a rustic appeal and authenticity. While it is challenging to bleach and dye Tussar silk, the use of chemical dyes has significantly broadened its color range. Esteemed as a valuable wild silk variety, it is produced by tribal communities in Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, with Jharkhand contributing about 70% of the total production in recent times. India also holds the title of the largest global producer of tropical Tussar silk, with other varieties cultivated in China, Bangladesh, Japan, and Sri Lanka.

Tussar silk serves as an exquisite fabric for sarees, dresses, scarves, and kurtas, as well as for upholstery and home furnishing, and is increasingly favored by apparel designers both in India and globally. Odisha's Pattachitra paintings and Bengal's Kantha stitches frequently incorporate Tussar fabric, enhancing their artistic charm and cultural significance through the use of this traditional, locally-sourced material. Image Credits: Tussar worm weaving silk cocoon | CC BY-SA 4.0