Tussar silk

Tussar silk (alternatively spelled as Tussah, Tushar, Tassar,^[1] Tussore, Tasar, Tussur, Tusser and also known as (Sanskrit) Kosa silk) is produced from larvae of several species of silkworms belonging to the moth genus Antheraea, including A. assamensis, A. mylitta, A. paphia, A. pernyi, A. roylei and A. yamamai. These silkworms live in the wild forest in trees belonging to Terminalia species and Shorea robusta as well as other food plants like Jamun and Oak found in South Asia, eating the leaves of the trees they live on.^[2][3] Tussar silk is valued for its rich texture and natural deep gold colour, and varieties are produced in many countries, including China,^[4] India, Japan, and Sri Lanka.^[5]

Process

In order to kill the silkworms, the cocoons are dried in the sun. There is a variation where the silkworms are allowed to leave before the cocoons are soaked in boiling water to soften the silk and then reeled.^[2][3] Cocoons are collected which are single-shelled and oval in shape and are then boiled to extract the silk yarn from it. Boiling is indeed very important part in the manufacturing of silk as it softens the cocoon and makes the extraction of silk easier. In conventional sericulture, the cocoons are boiled with the larvae still inside, however if the cocoons are boiled after the larvae have left them, the silk made is then called by 'Non-Violent silk' or 'Ahimsa silk'. In China, the silks are given different names when silkworms are reared on different plants, as the diet of the silkworms has an effect on the quality of the silk (e.g., silk from larvae on wild mulberry is called zhe, while those on the oak Quercus dentata produce hu).^[4]

Tussar silk is considered more textured than cultivated Bombyx or "mulberry" silk but it has shorter fibres, which makes it less durable. It has a dull gold sheen.^[2][3] As most of the cocoons are collected from the forest, it is considered by many as a forest product.

Maintenance

• 1. Dry cleaning is the safest option for Tussar (or any other silk).
• 2. Dry cleaned Tussar should not be wrapped in plastic. Silks need to breathe.
• 3. In case Tussar fabric is to be handwashed, use cold water and a mild liquid soap meant for delicate clothes (or shampoo).

Production in India

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 by tribals. Much of it is produced in the Bhagalpur (where it is called Bhagalpur silk) in Bihar and Malda district of West Bengal.^[6] Tussar silk is also used for Orissa’s Pattachitras and West Bengal’s Kantha stitches. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh also produce Tussar silk.^[2][3] In recent years Jharkhand state has emerged as the biggest producer of Tussar silk.^[7]

Bhagalpur silk

Main article: Bhagalpur Sari

The Tussar silk weaving industry in Bhagalpur, more than a century old, has about 30,000 handloom weavers working on some 25,000 handlooms. The total value of annual trade is around Rs. 100 crores, about half of which comes from exports.^[8]

Uses

The sari is the most important Tussar silk product^[9][10] although it is also used as the base material for handicrafts, furnishing fabrics, and stitched apparel.^[2]

With the introduction of chemical dyes, the range of available colours has increased significantly.^[2] There are fashion designers who use Tussar silk in their creations. The precisely finished and designer garments produced from Tussar silk are known globally and are exported to various countries including Europe, the Persian Gulf and the United States.

References