India is blessed with a rich variety of natural fibres reflecting our composite tradition. It is home to some of the finest fabrics in the world. Among the different varieties of silks, tussar is often considered to be the queen of silks. This makes tussar silk a must have in every woman’s wardrobe.
Why tusser silk fabric?
- It is lightweight, has a luxurious touch, and feels like a charm. It has beautiful coarse texture & drapes beautifully.
- Tussar silk keeps warm in winter and cool in summer and it’s 100% natural fabric.
- Different weight and finish are available in tusser silk.
- It also blends beautifully with cotton & zari yarns and give nice texture.
- Tusser silk garments keeps you comfortable even if you wear it whole day.
What is tussar silk fabric?
- Tussar silk (alternatively spelled as tussah, tushar, tassar, tussore, tasar, tussur, or tusser, and also known as (sanskrit) kosa silk)
- Is produced from larvae of several species of silkworms belonging to the mott
- Tussar silk is valued for its rich texture and natural, deep-gold colour.
- India is the second-largest producer of tussar silk, and the exclusive producer of indian tussar (also known as tropical tussar), which is largely tended to by tribals. Much of it is produced in bhagalpur (where it is called bhagalpur silk), bihar.
How is it made?
Tussar silk is obtained from silkworms that feed on the leaves of the trees saja, arjun and sal. It is also known as “wild silk”. Tussar silk is obtained from silk moths of the antherea mylitta species. The moths look like mirror due to circular markings on them. When boiled, these silk moths produce naturally gold-coloured threads. The cocoons of the silk moths are single-shelled and are oval in shape. Boiling the cocoons is a crucial part of manufacturing silk as it softens the cocoon. This also makes it easier to extract the silk. If the cocoons are boiled after the larvae has left it, it is called “ahimsa silk”.
How to judge the authenticity
You can also identify pure silk. Take a few threads from the warp and the weft and set their ends alight. When they are fully burnt, smell the ash. If it smells like burnt hair, you have just burnt some pure silk. If it doesn’t, and in fact the residue is solid, it is not silk, but some synthetic material.
You Should always buy from Trustworthy brand like DEWY LUPIN, So you don’t have to worry about purity of the fabric.
Maintaining tussar silk fabric
- Tussar is a fine, durable fabric, but like all other types of silk, it is very vulnerable when it is wet. Here are some tips for maintaining it –
- Dry cleaning is the safest option for tussar.
- Remember, do not let your dry cleaned tussar (or any silk for that matter) stay wrapped in plastic too long. Silks need to breathe.
- In case you want to hand wash your tussar fabric, remember to use cold water and a mild liquid soap (preferably which is meant for delicate clothes).
- Do not wring excess water out. Let the fabric dry in shade. Bright sun may cause the fabric to fade.
- Wash dark colours separately and remember never to use chemical bleaches on your silks.
Tussar silk needs to be maintained in order to keep its charm intact.