Bhagalpuri Silk: and why you should wear them
It is said that ‘Silk does to the body what diamond does for the hand.’ While people fascinate the silk texture, the material is also believed to be a symbol of wealth and power.
Silk is known as the ‘Queen of textiles.’ One of the most loved clothing materials in the world has many properties that make it unique in various ways.
- It has a smooth surface, and it can resist soil and odors very well. Thus, making it an excellent wearable material for Indian weather.
- Silk is less likely to get wrinkled and is tear-resistant as compared to other fabrics. Doesn’t it become the dream cloth material that we all need?
- Silk dries very quickly.
- Because it has a protein structure, it is hypoallergenic. This means the wearer of silk is significantly less likely to develop an allergy.
- Silk has a unique sheen and thus gives a luminescent character to different colors.
- Silk is known as the ‘all-weather cloth’ because it warms and cools easily.
- Silk can absorb moisture up to 30% of its weight without making you feel damp.
Now all these qualities justify the name, Queen of textiles. Isn’t that a must-have in your wardrobe?
Silk is made in different parts of the world. But there is something special about the Bhagalpur silk. The feel, the colors, the prints that a Bhagalpur silk can provide can be seen nowhere else.
Before we have a look at different kinds of silk, let us learn what Bhagalpur silk has to offer.
The tale of Bhagalpur silk
If Silk is queen, then Bhagalpur is her Kingdom. Bhagalpur has been named the Silk city in India. Grandeur, magnificent, and the evergreen silk fabric is found in Bhagalpur.
Not only in India, but Bhagalpur’s handloom silk has its mark in the world. Celebrities and fashion designers around the globe prefer silk from Bhagalpur.
Image: Silk Handloom industry of Bhagalpur
The prints may change, the designs may evolve, but the fabric’s finesse remains the same every time. It’s a legacy passed down by the weavers of Bhagalpur.
But is that all to Bhagalpur silk? No!
While researching the silk, I found many enticing facts that made me fall in love with the fabric. The silk made in Bhagalpur is Environment-friendly. A minimal number of silkworms are used to make the silk thread with their own unique technology.
People have named the Bhagalpur silk the ‘peace silk.’
Bhagalpur, also being the oldest producer of silk in India, has a lot to offer. Mughals of India were known to be an enormous admirer of the Bhagalpur weaver’s craftsmanship. Bhagalpur is the hub of royalty and tradition, with its silk handloom alive for more than 100 years.
The top fashion cities of the world, Paris, and Milan, have ordered silk from Bhagalpur.
The most intriguing factor that I found in Bhagalpuri silk is the irregularity of the cloth’s weaving pattern. Apart from the different qualities that Bhagalpuri silk bears, it also comes in different kinds. Are you buying a Tussar or a Muga or a mulberry? It’s essential to understand the different varieties of silk before buying one. Let’s head on to these varieties.
Different types of silk provided by Silk Ruute
- Tussar Silk - It is also spelled by the names Tasar, tusser, tussah, etc. is popularly known as the ‘Bhagalpur Silk.’ They are found in live forests or food plants like Jamun and oak.
They are known for their deep golden colors. They represented royalty and sophistication and were worn by many royalties of the golden time. In Indian culture, it is considered auspicious silk and is worn on special occasions.
Tussar silk has a heavy fabric, making it one of the best silks for embroidery and other designs.
It has a porous feel that allows you to breathe freely through the fabric and best for any occasion, any season. Thus, making it the best silk from all other varieties of silk.
To test an original Tussar, you can burn the edges slightly. If it smells like burnt hair without leaving any solid residue, then you know that you bought an original.
- Mulberry Silk - Mulberry is the highest quality of silk ever produced. The mulberry trees are grown, and the leaves are harvested for the silkworms. The silkworms are only fed by mulberry leaves resulting in the production of the finest silk threads. These silkworms give the longest fibers with the purest white, as compared to any other silk fibers.
Mulberry silk is odorless and 100% natural, giving them the best feel for clothing or even bedding purposes. Mulberry silk threads have sericin present in them. A kind of protein that is allergy-free. Thus, making it suitable for anyone to wear. (There is going to be a massive sale-rush for this one!)
Mulberry silk is best for people suffering from eczema.
- Muga Silk - it is one of the rarest silk ever produced in the world. The Muga silk is known for its long-lasting durability.
Muga silk comes with a glossy texture and yellowish tint. The fact that I love the most about Muga is that it ages like fine wine, i.e., it becomes better with age. The older it is, the glossier it becomes.
Muga silk is also known to take the longest of time to get the silk from the cocoons and around one to two months to make a dress or a saree. Thus making it one of the most expensive silks.
- Eri silk - The ahimsa silk is the only silk that doesn’t require the worm to die. The worm eats the castor leaves for 30 days. Once they grow fully, they start spinning the cocoons, which takes around 20 days. After that, it leaves the cocoon and flies off.
Eri silk is preferred mainly by Vegans and Buddhists. A fascinating point about the Eri silk is that the more you wear it, the softer it becomes.
Silk Ruute, a company that originated from the roots of Bhagalpur, has higher visions than just making beautiful silk garments. Apart from producing products from these stunning types of silk, it has much more to offer.
Silk Ruute has a vision to dig deep into the various qualities that silk provides and bring top-quality products made with the help of household weavers. The handloom silk workers of Bhagalpur depend solely on these businesses, and with time the Bhagalpuri silk culture is dying.
Image: Silk weaver of Bhagalpur Industry
Silk Ruute aims to uplift their livelihoods by incorporating handmade products rather than machine-made. This will not only help the weavers but also throw light on the glorious culture of Bhagalpuri silk, the best in India.
The products of Silk Ruute are regionally specialized, and they justify the silk tradition of Bhagalpur.