Silk Fabric

Paithani silk saris of Maharashtra, decorated with the gold dot or coin motif are equally stunning. While Ganeshpur, a village in Bhandara district in the same state is known for its Kosa silk.

In central India i.e. Madhya Pradesh stands out for its Chanderi, Maheshwari and Tussar silk saris

The other notable centers are Murshidabad for Baluchari sari and Tanjore, Kumbakonam and Kancheepuram for their heavy silk saris and Sangareddy and Dharmaswaram in Andhara Pradesh for ikat silk weave.

Production of Silk

Silk worms are reared in different parts of India. There are various species of silk worms that are cultivated in India, the most popular being the mulberry silk moth of China-Bombay Mori - besides the Mooga, Tasar and Eri.

Silk is a fibrous substance produced by many insects principally in the form of a cocoon or covering within which the creature is enclosed and protected during the period of its principal transformation. Usually there are three crops per year of cocoons. Starting from July-August, September-October and November-December.

Each crop acts as a seed cocoon for the next one till the third one has matured. There are two varieties of silk- pure silk and blended silk. The process before the silk is obtained starts with the laying of the egg by the mother moth followed by the emergence of the caterpillar or larvae which weaves a cocoon (also known as pupa or chrysalis) and then the yarn is procured.

The tasar yarn is procured from a fully matured worm while pure silk is obtained from a cultivated one. Tussore (spelt and pronounced in various ways) is the fabric made from the fiber of the Antheraea Paphia which is found in the forest areas of different parts of India.

Today silk is not just restricted to saris. A wide range of ladies' and men's wear like dupattas, garments, fabrics, caps, handkerchiefs, scarves, dhotis, turbans, shawls, ghagras or lehengas, and even quilts, bedcovers, cushions, table-cloths curtains are made of silk.

Grading Silk
Silk is graded in deniers; Today silk is not just restricted to saris. A wide range of ladies' and men's wear like dupattas, garments, fabrics, caps, handkerchiefs, scarves, dhotis, turbans, shawls, ghagras or lehengas, and even quilts, bedcovers, cushions, table-cloths curtains are made of silk.