Eri Silk

Eri silk is one of the rare "peace" silks — harvested only after the silkworm has matured and the moth has emerged naturally from its cocoon, unharmed. Most commercial silk is produced by boiling the cocoon with the silkworm still inside.

Eri silk comes exclusively from northeast India. I work with a small organisation there to bring this ancient, ecologically sensitive fibre from village hands to a wider market.

Because the moth has already emerged, the fibres are shorter than those of conventionally reeled silk. This gives the yarn a feel closer to cotton than slippery silk, with a beautiful, muted sheen. It has a little more elasticity than plant-based fibres like linen, but less than wool. Eri silk is a genuinely beautiful fibre to work with and to wear. Its natural thermal properties make it remarkably transeasonal — warm enough for cooler days, breathable enough for warmer ones.