Tussar is also called wild silk because its cocoons are not cultivated, but grow in forests where the larvae of the Emperor Moth, Antharea Paphis, feed on the leaves of a type of oak endemic to the regions of West Bengal and Jharkhand, in India, the main producer of this silk.
Tussar silk has a rustic appearance, short fibers, and a natural golden tone. After collection, the cocoons are boiled to soften them, or in the case of Ahimsa (non-violent) tussar silk, the larvae abandon the cocoons before they are boiled. They are then spun and twisted to gain greater strength on the loom and washed to remove sericin, the natural gum that the larva produces to attach the threads to the cocoon. Finally, they are woven on handlooms in the same communities where they are collected. These artisans receive this knowledge from their parents for many generations and their livelihood is entirely based on sericulture.
Appreciating the beauty of these textiles helps preserve a history, the culture of a community, and keep this knowledge alive to be passed down for many more generations, where more than the silk, the treasure is its artisans.