Eri silk

Eri silk is the product of the domesticated silkworm Samia ricini, found mainly in North East India especially in the state of Assam,^[1] and some part of China and Japan. It was imported to Thailand in 1974.^[2]

Eri is derived from the Assamese word "era," which refers to castor, a plant on which the Eri silkworms feed. The silk is produced by worms that consume the leaves of the castor oil plant (*Ricinus communis*).^[3]

Generally, silk cocoons are boiled with the worm inside to preserve the continuity of the fibers. Whereas Eri silk cocoons are open at one end, allowing the moth to leave before the cocoon is processed. This unique characteristic of Eri silk means it can be harvested without killing the silkworm, making it a more ethical alternative to other types of silk. Thus, the woolly white silk is often referred to as the fabric of peace when it is processed without killing the silkworm. This process results in a silk called Ahimsa silk. Moths leave the cocoon and then the cocoons are harvested to be spun. The eri silkworm is the only completely domesticated silkworm other than Bombyx mori.