Tussar silk is taken from the cocoon of the silkworm without harming the larvae. It is an idigeneous way of taking the product with the least harm to nature. hence also known as ahimsa silk.
Tussar silk is made by the larvae of species of silk moths.(scientific name Antheria Paphia, antheria militia, Antheria proyeli). They live in the wild forests and are not depended on mulberry which is the common source for other silk worms hence tussar is also known as ‘wild silk’. The extraction is mainly done by the indigenous tribals and the threads have a natural golden sheen. It is a source of income for tribals in the areas of its origin primarily in the forests of Jharkhand and Bihar, and in some areas Odhisa, Bengal and Assam.
The natural golden sheen of the silk threads gives it a special place in clothing and garment industry. Tussar has various categories like Katia, Ghhichha etc. Tussar has found its way into a variety of garment mainly sarees, duppattas, jackets and bedlinen. Garments made of Tussar silk is comparatively more porous, cooler than the other kinds of silk therefore airy.