Mulberry Silk vs Tussah Silk

Mulberry silk and tussah silk are both real, natural silk fibres, and both come from silkworm cocoons. The difference is which silkworm, what it eats, and how uniform the resulting fibre is. Mulberry silkworms are farmed and fed a fixed diet of mulberry leaves. Tussah silkworms are wild, feeding on oak and similar leaves, and that difference in diet and habitat shows up directly in the fibre.

How each one is actually produced

Mulberry silk comes from Bombyx mori, a farmed silkworm raised specifically for silk production and fed only mulberry leaves. Its cocoon is spun in a continuous, uniform filament, which is what gives mulberry silk its fine, even texture. Tussah silk comes from wild silkworms that spin less uniform cocoons, feeding on whatever oak or similar leaves are available, which produces a coarser, less consistent fibre. Tussah's natural colour runs deep brown to honey rather than the near-white of raw mulberry silk, and it's often bleached during processing to lighten it.

What actually differs

• Fineness and shine. Mulberry fibres are finer and more lustrous. Tussah is coarser, with a more matte finish.
• Durability. Tussah's coarser structure makes it more resistant to wrinkling and rougher handling. Mulberry is smoother but comparatively more delicate.
• Typical use. Mulberry's fine, even fibre suits bedding and anything worn directly against skin. Tussah's texture and lower cost suit upholstery, handicrafts and heavier home textiles.
• Cost. Wild-harvested tussah is generally cheaper than farmed mulberry, since farming a uniform fibre at scale costs more than gathering wild cocoons.

Which one actually suits what

For anything against skin overnight, a pillowcase, a sleep mask, a scrunchie, mulberry's fine, even fibre is the one built for that job. Tussah's strengths are durability and cost, which matter more for upholstery or heavier textiles than for something you sleep on.

Common questions

Is tussah silk real silk?

Yes. Both mulberry and tussah are genuine silk fibres from silkworm cocoons. The difference is farmed versus wild, not real versus fake.

Which is better?

Neither is better in general. Mulberry suits bedding and anything worn against skin. Tussah suits heavier, more durable textiles where a coarser texture doesn't matter.

Why is tussah silk cheaper?

It's wild-harvested rather than farmed, which costs less at scale, and its coarser fibre doesn't command the same price as mulberry's fine, uniform filament.

Silk Pearl works exclusively in 22 momme mulberry silk, chosen for its fine, even fibre against skin and hair overnight. See the full range in the shop.