Eri Silk comes from the worm Samia cynthia ricini, found mostly in North East India, and parts of China and Japan. The name Eri is derived from the Assamese word ‘era’, which means castor-oil, the plant on which the Eri silkworm mostly feeds.

Eri silk cocoons are made up of uneven fibres and it cannot be reeled. Often, the moths are allowed to emerge before the cocoons are spun into yarn (often by hand) and this is why Eri silk is the most conducive to Ahimsa silk (also known as non violent or vegetarian silk). Eri silk is thick with a dull sheen and it has a soft, cotton-like feel. 

Eri silk has more strength than some other silks, and at Brass Tacks we like to use a combination of eri and tussar silk to give the garment strength, softness, and a rich sheen. 

Fabric Care: Eri is best cared for by dry-cleaning it. A gentle handwash with a mild liquid soap does not damage the fabric, but it might cause some fibre to form thin layer of fluff on top of the fabric.