Handloom Eri Silk Scarf (78" x 20")

Pure silk, hand-spun and handwoven on a traditional wooden loom. These scarves were produced by the master weavers in our partner village in Odisha, India. They are soft, thick, rustic, and have a gorgeous luster that we think is more pleasing than the softer shine of commercially-made silk. These scarves are made of 100% eri silk, a species of silk moth raised in India that is considered a “peace” silk or “ahimsa” silk because the moths are allowed to exit the cocoon and fly away before the cocoons are processed (in contrast to commercial sericulture, where silkworm larvae are boiled inside the cocoon and removed manually).

This is not an off-the-rack product and it is only available at Shepherd Textiles. We commissioned a large order of these scarves to use for our own dyeing projects, but we bought enough to share them with our customers. These are very large (78” by 20”) and can be folded in half and worn like a thick scarf, or they could be worn like a thin shawl. Each scarf weighs about 6 oz., more than 1/3 of a pound of raw silk. This is an exceptional craft product that is entirely unlike the mass-produced silk available in stores. Please note that the scarves are quite rustic: the handspun threads are a little uneven, there may be a few darker or lighter threads, and the selvedges are not as perfect as cloth woven on a machine loom. However, we think those features only add to the charm.

For dyeing, we recommend gently scouring first to remove any leftover sericin or dust from weaving. Hand wash in cold water; lay flat to dry. Product of India.