Eri Silk vs. Tussar Silk: Comparing Unique Qualities & Costs
I’ve always loved the luxurious look and feel of silk clothing and accessories. Recently, I learned about two unique types of silk fabric – Eri silk and Tussar silk.
Both have distinctive characteristics and production methods that set them apart from each other and from conventional silk fabrics.
In this article, I’ll compare and contrast various aspects of Eri silk and Tussar silk to help you understand their unique properties.
I’ll also provide some tips on choosing between the two for your needs. Let’s dive in!
Unique Qualities of Eri Silk
Eri silk, also known as Endi or Errandi silk, comes from the domesticated Eri silkworm that feeds on castor leaves. Here are some standout qualities of this incredible fabric:
- Texture and Feel – Eri silk has a wooly, coarse texture rather than the fine, smooth finish of mulberry silk. It feels more like felt or cashmere rather than regular silk. The fabric provides excellent warmth in cold weather.
- Natural Color Variations – Eri silk features lovely natural hues ranging from off-white and beige to shades of brown. No chemicals or dyes are used to create these earthy, subdued colors.
- Durability – Fabric made from Eri silk is highly durable and resistant to abrasion damage. Products made from it will last you a long time.
- Hypoallergenic – For those with sensitive skin, Eri silk is a hypoallergenic fabric choice that minimizes allergic reactions.
I love wrapping myself in super soft and snug Eri silk scarves in the winter! The muted natural tones and felt-like texture make them ever so cozy and warm.
I explored the distinctions between eri and mulberry silk, and found it very informative.
Unique Qualities of Tussar Silk
Tussar silk is obtained from the Antheraea mylitta silkworm that feeds on oak and juniper leaves. Here are some noteworthy qualities of this fabric:
- Texture and Feel – Tussar silk has shorter fibers and a rougher, textured feel compared to cultivated B. mori mulberry silk. It resembles raw silk in texture.
- Gold Sheen – The fabric has a beautiful gold tint imparted by its natural yellow hue. This gives it an eye-catching iridescent sheen.
- Color Variations – Tussar silk features a range of natural shades from gold to dark brown based on the silkworm variety. Occasionally, green and blue hues are also seen.
- Lightweight and Breathable – Fabric made from Tussar silk has a lightweight, porous structure that offers exceptional breathability. This makes it suitable for warm, humid climates.
Tussar silk sarees are very popular in India. The lovely natural gold sheen makes them perfect for special occasions. And they are so airy and comfortable to wear!
Production Process of Eri Silk
The production process of Eri silk is quite ethical and eco-friendly. Here are some key details:
- Ethical and Sustainable – The Eri silkworms are reared outdoors on castor plants without harming or killing them during harvest. This makes Eri silk completely cruelty-free.
- Process – To extract the silk, the mature Eri worm spins its cocoon which is collected and boiled to extract the filament. The worm breaks out of the cocoon naturally before harvest so it can grow into a moth. This allows the full lifecycle without causing any mortality.
- Regions Produced – Eri silk is traditionally produced in Assam, Bihar, Orissa, and West Bengal in India, along with parts of Japan and China.
I think it’s fabulous that Eri silk allows the worms to live out their full lifecycle while giving us beautiful silk fabric! This makes it an ethical, cruelty-free choice.
Production Process of Tussar Silk
In contrast to Eri production, obtaining silk from Tussar worms does involve killing the pupae. Here are some details:
- Process – Tussar silk production involves rearing silkworm larvae on oak and juniper leaves. Once they form cocoons, the cocoons are collected and the pupae inside are killed by heat or steam treatment before the adult moth emerges. This allows extracting long continuous filament threads.
- Traditional Methods – Tussar silk production uses more traditional techniques rather than fully automated processes. Most operations including egg sorting, moth rearing, mounting cocoons for reeling, spinning, and weaving are handled manually by specialized artisans.
- Key Producing Regions – Bhagalpur in Bihar, Malda in West Bengal, and a few areas in Orissa and Chhattisgarh are prime producers of Tussar silk in India.
So in contrast to Eri production, Tussar silk does involve killing silkworm pupae before they emerge from cocoons as moths. But it provides livelihoods for many traditional artisans.
Cost Comparison
Now let’s talk pricing! Here’s an overview of cost differences between Eri and Tussar silk:
Silk Type | Price Range | Price Factors |
Eri Silk | $50 – $100 per meter | – Low yield of silk filaments per cocoon- Small-scale artisanal production |
Tussar Silk | $20 – $60 per meter | – Lower cost of rearing oak/juniper-feeding worms- Higher filament yield per cocoon- Mass commercial production possible |
As you can see, Eri silk commands a higher price tag due to lower filament yield per cocoon and small-scale production.
The cost of rearing Tussar worms is lower, giving higher production volumes and price advantage.
But from an environmental perspective, Eri silk offers excellent value through its sustainable production methods.
And the heavenly softness and warmth of Eri silk scarves and shawls makes them a luxurious winter wardrobe investment!
Environmental Impact
When choosing fabrics, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of production too. Here’s how Eri and Tussar silk stack up:
- Eri Silk – Extremely eco-friendly production without harming silkworms. Wastage is minimized as the whole cocoon can be used rather than just reeled filament. The outdoor rearing method integrates well with nature.
- Tussar Silk – Involves killing silkworm pupae so not as environmentally ethical. But the outdoor rearing technique and use of natural forest food plants is relatively eco-friendly compared to intensive indoor commercial silk production.
Overall, Eri silk is the more sustainable and ethical choice. But Tussar silk is not too far behind, as traditional outdoor rearing methods allow a degree of environmental integration.
Use Cases and Preferences
Both Eri and Tussar silk have their pros and cons. Which one should you choose? Here are some recommendations based on specific needs:
- Cold Weather Accessories – Choose Eri Silk for super warm scarves, shawls, and winter stoles. The felt-like dense texture traps heat extremely well.
- Lightwarm Weather Wear – Pick airy Tussar silk for sarees, kurtas, shirts and dresses ideal for hot Indian summers. The breathable fabric keeps you cool.
- Sensitive Skin – Eri silk is a hypoallergenic choice suitable for those with skin allergies, sensitivities or conditions like eczema.
- Cruelty-Free Products – Go with Eri silk if you want completely ethical silk that does not harm silkworms at any production stage.
- Traditional Craft Support – Choose Tussar silk to help sustain the artisanal weaving and reeling communities that handcraft this fabric.
So choose Eri or Tussar silk based on factors like warmth needs, climate suitability, ethical parameters, skin sensitivity, and craft sustainability.
Both have their unique place and advantages.
Comparing eri silk to muga silk revealed some fascinating contrasts.
Which silk takes longer to produce from silkworm to finished fabric – Eri or Tussar?
While the outdoor rearing times may be comparable, Eri silk production involves more manual processing and hand spinning steps compared to Tussar silk.
So putting together the full production chain, Eri silk fabric typically takes longer – about 5-6 months versus 3-4 months for Tussar silk fabrics to make their way from silkworm rearing to final weaving.
The artisanal approach for Eri silk contributes to longer lead times.
Does either Eri or Tussar silk involve chemical dyeing?
That’s an excellent question! One of the best things about both these silks is that they do not require any chemical dyeing to achieve colors.
The natural shades of Eri silk range from off-white and beige to different hues of brown based on the silkworm variety.
Tussar silk also displays a beautiful spectrum of natural gold, yellow, green, brown and sometimes even blue colors.
So you can enjoy these silken fabrics in their natural glory without any toxic chemical treatments.
Which silk would work better for a dress shirt – Eri or Tussar?
For lightweight and breathable warm weather shirts and dresses, Tussar silk clearly wins over Eri silk.
The porous texture of Tussar silk fabric allows superior air circulation, making it the best choice for dress shirts tailored for hot Indian summers.
Eri silk with its dense, insulating texture works fabulously however for heavy winter woolens to retain body heat during the cold season.
So go for Tussar silk shirt fabric to stay cool and Eri silk outerwear to stay snug in winter!
Key Takeaways: Eri vs Tussar Silk
Feature | Eri Silk | Tussar Silk |
Texture and Feel | Wooly, coarse, felt-like | Rough, raw silk-like |
Natural Color Variations | Off-white, beige, shades of brown | Gold, dark brown, occasionally green and blue |
Durability | Highly durable, resistant to abrasion | Moderately durable |
Hypoallergenic | Yes | No |
Production Process | Cruelty-free, worm lives through lifecycle | Involves killing pupae |
Regions Produced | Assam, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, parts of Japan and China | Bhagalpur (Bihar), Malda (West Bengal), Orissa, Chhattisgarh |
Environmental Impact | Extremely eco-friendly | Relatively eco-friendly |
Price Range | $50 – $100 per meter | $20 – $60 per meter |
Best Use Cases | Warm accessories (scarves, shawls) | Lightweight clothing (sarees, kurtas) |
Sensitive Skin Suitability | Suitable for sensitive skin | Not specifically hypoallergenic |
Support for Traditional Crafts | Limited to certain regions and smaller-scale artisans | Significant artisanal involvement across regions |
So there you have it – a comprehensive comparison of Eri silk and Tussar silk! Both are wonderful natural fabric choices.
Pick between the two based on factors like price, warmth, breathability, ethical parameters and craft sustainability.
I hope you found this guide useful. Do share your thoughts and queries in the comments!
I’m also open to trying out Eri and Tussar silk products, so feel free to drop any recommendations.