There are over 35 kinds of silk found in the textile market. Here we discuss the Mulberry Silk Vs Eri Silk, and it is always a head-scratching task to choose the best out of them. Naturally produced silk from silkworms includes Mulberry Silk, Tussar silk, Eri Silk, and Muga silk. These silk fabrics are widely used in clothing, bedding, and home furnishing. You can compare them to select your desired fabric.

Before Mulberry Silk Vs Eri Silk, Let’s Understanding Types of Silk

Raw silk is produced from many different wild silkworm species. Naturally producing silks are well known for their distinct features:

1. Mulberry Silk: It is the most versatile and high-quality silk available. It accounts for 90% of global silk production. It is extracted from a particular silkworm, Bombyx Mori, which feeds only on mulberry leaves. It is used to make luxury bedding, comforters, and fashion clothing.
   
2. Eri Silk: Eri silk is a good quality silk extracted from domesticated silkworms. It resembles cotton in appearance. It is used to make winter shawls, jackets and bedcovers.
   
3. Tussar silk: It is a wild type of silk well known for its deep golden color, refined texture, and light weight. Tussar Silk is made from silkworms feeding wild plants such as Asan and Arjun. It finds vast applications in apparel and handicrafts.
   
4. Muga Silk: It is a wild variety of silk famous for its durability, golden hue, and glossy appearance. It is obtained from Assam silk moth. It is used in the manufacturing of quilts, sarees, and scarves. Other Types of mulberry Silk: Other non-mulberry silks include Anaphe silk, Fagara silk, Coan silk, Mussel silk, and Spider silk, primarily found in Africa and Asia. These are the rare and exotic varieties yet expensive. They are produced from many insect species. One can opt for a desired variety depending upon its characteristics.

Production Process and Quality

The production processes of all types of silk vary, and the quality of silk depends on them. The silkworm-rearing process of Mulberry and Eri silk is different. Silk extraction begins with the cultivation of silkworms under controlled temperatures and environments. Silkworms undergo molting in their lifecycle.

Mulberry Silk Process

It comes from the cocoons of Bombyx Mori silkworm. These moths lay thousands of eggs, and after hatching, their larvae are fed vast amounts of mulberry tree leaves. They start to spin silk cocoons and then unravel cocoons into lustrous fibers. Sericin protein is the source of silk fibers. It is mainly responsible for hardening of cocoons. The main function of cocoon is protection of silkworms. Then this Mulberry silk yarn is used in textile industry.

Mulberry silk fabric is wide and durable, with a soft texture. It is naturally hypoallergenic, anti-microbial and temperature regulator. Its natural sheen and luxurious texture contribute to its aesthetic appeal.

Eri Silk Process

Eri silk is a protein rich fibre derived from cocoons of the silkworms Samia Cynthia Ricini moth or Philosamia Ricini. The process of spinning yarn its rearing is small-scale and done in homes of rearers in the rural areas. It is also called Peace silk as moths emerge from cocoons after silk fiber production.

Eri silkworms are fed with Castor leaves; Tapioca leaves, and Payam leaves, which are enduring in nature and require low maintenance. Cultivators prefer castor leaves as they promote good health of eri silkworms. Before spinning cocoons, they change their color from deep yellow to green yellow color. After three weeks of cocoon spinning, the silkworm comes out of its cocoon. Eri silkworms are not subjected to death after cocoon extraction. Finally, empty cocoons are gathered to get silk fibres. It requires a process of Degumming in which cocoons are immersed in alkaline hot water.

Comparing Mulberry Silk and Eri Silk

Mulberry and Eri silks have their different properties, texture and color patterns. When you will explore their features, you would easily choose better one with the desired physical characteristics. Here is a look at their some distinguishing features.

Texture and Weight

Mulberry silk is famous for its glossy texture, while Eri silk has a thicker, wooly feel. Eri silk resembles cotton in texture but mulberry silk is sheen and radiant fabric. The smooth texture of Mulberry silk bedsheets enhance sleep and comfort.

Eri silk is typically heavier than other types of silk fabrics making it more suitable for winter wear. It is more likely to be used in making wooly jackets, bedcovers and thick shawls to protect from extreme cold weather.

Care of Eri vs Mulberry Silk:

Due to its delicacy, Mulberry silk fabrics are regarded as extra care silk cloth. They need gentle washing, air drying and no exposure to direct sunlight. It is recommended to iron your silk fabric at very low temperature. On the other hand, Eri silk requires pH-balanced soaps and no harsh chemical exposure for washing purposes. Cottage industry silk cloth is dyed with natural dyes.

Color and Patterns

Mulberry silk is bright white colored with an extra glow in the light. Mulberry silk can be dyed in many different colors and designs, providing many options.

Eri silk is a pure silk which is white, off-white, or dark green silk thread, red colored, while Muga silk has a slight touch of a brownish-golden hue. Its color can fade during the degumming process or exposure to extreme alkaline conditions.

Cost:

Due to its premium quality and high standards, Mulberry silk is considered as luxury material therefore it is more expensive than eri silk. Eri Silk is less costed than mulberry due to its easy availability in the market.

Thermal Properties:

Both Mulberry and Eri silks have paradoxical ability to stay cold and hot both. They are highly breathable fabric with temperature-regulating activity. Both provides a sense of comfortable feeling on the skin but Mulberry is lightweight and Eri is heavier.

Violent vs. Nonviolent silk:

During traditional processing, mulberry silk produces white cocoons using silk filaments. Still, at the time of extraction, cocoons are boiled along with larvae which leads to death of thousands of silkworms petrify after death. In eri silk processing, silk moths leave the cocoons so they remain alive hence, it is considered as non-violent silk. But now, advanced silk processing techniques allow the completion of silkworm metamorphosis.

Uses and Applications

Mulberry Silk Uses

Mulberry silk is an extremely versatile and more breathable fabric fish wool, therefore, it can be used to make a lot of products such as including garments, pillow covers, sleep masks, comforters and bed duvets. This real silk fabric can retain vivid colors that makes it suitable for the manufacturing of wallets, ties and decorative pillows.

Designer western wedding dresses are made from Mulberry silk. Moreover, some hair accessories such as headbands and scrunchies have been made from Mulberry silk fabric. They protect your hair from frizz and damage due to dryness.

Eri Silk Yarn Uses

• Eri silk is thick therefore, it is best for knitting, crocheting and remarkable embroidery designing. A traditional dress of Assam ” Mekhela chador,” is made from eri silk. It consists of two pieces of cloth draped that are around the body. The staple fibers of eri silk are used to make a variety of carpets because it is coarse textured and wooly. Eri is considered as less breathable fabric and used in production of warm shawls and thick coats for winter.

Making a Decision

Choosing the Right Silk for You

• Both are extraordinary and high quality silks but you have to consider all the features like texture, weight, color, and pattern to choose between Mulberry silk and Eri silk. These distinguishing features will help to opt the correct silk for your desired use. Intended use of fabric:Selection amongst mulberry and eric silk depends upon your intended use. Mulberry silk contributes in High fashion garments and delicate bedsheets for its smooth texture whereas, Eri silk can be knitted into sweaters, scarves, embroided kurti and floor rugs. Thick Eri silk has been used to make sleeping bags in textile industry.

Conclusion

Both are natural fibers. Mulberry and silk types of Eri silk have their own properties and importance in the textile industry. Whether you choose the shiny texture of mulberry silk or thickness of eri silk, there is a silk that suits your choice.

Summary of Key Points

• Mulberry silk and Eri silk are two well known types of natural silk with different properties and uses.
• Understanding the production process, quality, and properties of each type of silk can help you decide when choosing the best silk for your needs.