Tussar silkworms are the only semi domesticated, and must be partially reared outdoors. Healthy eggs are vital; hence, cultivators protect them by keeping them indoors until they hatch.
The caterpillars are then fed on hand-picked leaves until they are big enough to be transferred outdoors. The caterpillars eat constantly, growing it to over 12 times their original size in as little as 30 days. The cultivators regularly move them to fresh trees, ensuring that they do not run out of leaves (their main food).
They must also protect the caterpillars from predators. When they were ready, the caterpillars began making their cocoons. The cocoons are made from a single continuous filament of silk produced by the salivary glands.
The finished cocoons are hard and compact, cultivators harvest them by cutting their team from the tree. The cocoons are sold to reelers, then they are soaked and steam until cocoons single and broken filament can be unrevealed.
The filaments are so fine that several cocoons must be reeled together to make a single thread. over 4000 pounds are needed for every pound of reeled silk.
A traditional reeler combines silk filament from 4-5 cocoons and reels on his/her thigh to make a single silk thread. Once the silk threads are ready they color/dye them to make colorful silk threads; however the authentic and natural Tussar silk color is dull gold. After the dying process gets completed the weaver arranges the silk thread bobbins on Handloom and starts the weaving process. It’s a very laborious and time taking process. A weaver may take 7-25 days to make a single saree depending on the design.
Tussar silk is produced in many countries, including China, India, Japan, and Sri Lanka. India is the second largest producer of Tussar silk which is largely tended to by the tribal community of India. Most of the Tussar silk production comes from “Bhagalpur” Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh states of India. However, in recent years, Jharkhand is emerging as the leading Tussar Silk producer in India.
Features of Tussar silk
Lightweight:- Tussar silk is very light weight and easy to carry, weight of seven meter Tussar silk fabric will be 150 grams only.
Comfortable to wear:- Tussar silk is skin friendly and can be worn in any weather condition. The interesting fact is when you wear a Tussar silk in winter it will give a cozy feeling and it also can be worn in summers as it gives a soft and smooth feeling on skin.
Durability:- Tussar silks are made from protein fibers of silkworm; hence the silk threads and strong and durable. The shine of a pure Tussar silk fabric never faded even after many years.
