Wild
Silk
As the name suggests, the wild silk is produced from a number
of undomesticated silkworms.
Wild silk is obtained from
caterpillars other than the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori. The term "wild"
refers that these silkworms cannot be domesticated and artificially
cultivated like the mulberry worms.
The wild silkworm feeds on oak, plum, jujube or castor bean plant. This
type of silk is generally difficult to reel and after being processed,
it is worked up as spun silk.
Properties of Wild Silk
- Wild silk filaments are more resistant to acids and bleaches
which makes dyeing the filaments difficult.
- They are highly lustrous and are available in a wide range of
qualities.
- The silk is comparatively cheaper than cultivated silk and is
used for making a wide range of home furnishing items.
- Available in multiple shades, wild silk colors range from light
beige to a deep tan, due to the tannin found in the leaves, which
affect the color of the silk.
Wild Silk Cultivation
Apart from differences in colours and textures, wild silk differs in
one major respect from the domesticated varieties. In this case, the
cocoons that are gathered in the wild, have already been chewed through
by the pupa or caterpillar before the cocoons are gathered. As a result,
the single thread which makes up the cocoon is cut into shorter lengths.
Wild Silk Production
Wild silk is mostly grown in India and China. Since early times, a wide
variety of wild silks have been known and used in China, India and
Europe, although the extent of production has always been far smaller as
compared to cultivated silks. There is some evidence, which indicates
that small quantities of wild silk were already being produced in the
Mediterranean and Middle East by the time the superior, and stronger,
cultivated silk from China began to be imported.
Types of Wild Silk
There are may different types of wild silk including:
United
States