Tussar Silk

Tussar, also called kosa silk, is a wild silk reeled from cocoons of Antheraea moths that feed on arjun, sal and asan trees rather than mulberry. Because the fibre is shorter and coarser, tussar has a natural gold-beige tone, a slightly textured hand and a dry, papery rustle instead of the slippery sheen of mulberry silk. India is the world's largest producer of tussar, with Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and West Bengal supplying most of the yarn, and Bhagalpur in Bihar known for weaving it. Tussar takes natural and vegetable dyes unevenly, which gives its colours depth rather than flatness, and it is the preferred base for hand-painted Madhubani, Kalamkari and block-printed work. It is lighter than Kanjivaram and breathable enough for Indian summers. Care is straightforward: dry clean, avoid wringing, and keep away from prolonged damp, which can leave water marks on the natural fibre.