Eri silk

Eri silk is a type of peace silk produced by the domesticated silkworm Samia ricini. It is primarily produced in the northeastern Indian states of Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya, but it is also found in Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh on a smaller scale.^[1] It was imported to Thailand in 1974.^[2]

Eri is derived from the Assamese word "era," which refers to castor, a plant on which the Eri silkworms feed. The silk is produced by worms that consume the leaves of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis).^[3]

Generally, silk cocoons are boiled with the worm inside to preserve the continuity of the fibers. Whereas Eri silk cocoons are open at one end, allowing the moth to leave before the cocoon is processed. This unique characteristic of Eri silk means it can be harvested without killing the silkworm, making it a more ethical alternative to other types of silk. Thus, the woolly white silk is often referred to as the fabric of peace when it is processed without killing the silkworm. This process results in a silk called Ahimsa silk. Moths leave the cocoon and then the cocoons are harvested to be spun. The eri silkworm is the only completely domesticated silkworm other than Bombyx mori. The silk is characterized by its soft texture and natural colors, which range from white to faint gold, with some variations appearing in rust-red. One of the unique features of Eri silk is its heavier and darker nature compared to other silks such as Mulberry or Tussar.^[4][5]