BLACKBERRY Runner

Size 14"x72"
100% silk
Cruelty-free
Hand spun
Handwoven on hand looms
Crafted by tribal and rural artisans from Northern India
Azo-free dyes
Dry clean recommended

Description

This unique, luxurious silk is considered cruelty-free and compassionate as silk worms aren't harmed, unlike in conventional silk making, in which cocoon extraction involves killing silk worms in boiling water. Vacated cocoons are obtained after a patient wait for silk worms to metamorphose into moths. Silk threads are hand spun then handwoven to create this exclusive piece!

Cocoon cultivators, spinners, dyers, weavers and tailors are all part of the community of rural artisans who benefit from this effort.

A Fair Trade product. Handmade by artisans in India.

How It's Made

This special silk known as cruelty-free silk (also known as Ahimsa or non-violent silk) is the most humane of all silk production practices. The silk is harvested after the silkworms have vacated the cocoons as moths. The rupture causes the long, continuous silk strands to be broken into several shorter strands, which are spun into thread using foot pedal machines. This thread may have little nubs where two strands join. This process is highly valued, and offers greater degree of fiber purity. 

In contrast, in conventional silks, the silkworms within the cocoons are killed as part of the process. 

Artisans hand spin yarn, dye with low impact Azo-free dyes, and hand weave the products on wooden pit looms. Each of these steps support local artisan livelihood.