Product description
This fabric made of natural wild muga silk has a distinctive structure and hue. The fabric surface is smooth, but when examined up close there is a very fine, irregular stripe, the result of miniscule differences in the thickness and color of the thread. The shade of this muga silk resembles that of natural, undyed linen. Though it slightly resembles cotton to the touch, it is noticeably lighter and has the slight, matte sheen, typical of wild silk. In spite of its fineness, muga silk is strong and quite durable.
Uses
This muga silk will make a wonderful blouse, shirt, or tunic. Interesting in and of itself, it can make even the simplest piece look great. Choose it for a breezy dress, a throw, a kimono, anything you might otherwise make from a rayon or cotton batiste. Keep in mind that muga silk does not have the drape of some other silks; in fact, it’s more stiff than supple. It will keep its shape well and is easy to cut and sew. This is a good silk for beginning sewers who are just starting to get their feet wet with silk.
Qualities
This fabric is not very dark and is quite fine, so it tends to be sheer. For garments where this is not desired, we recommend a thin lining in a neutral skin tone. However, if you want to highlight this fabric’s structure, consider a white lining.
What is muga silk
Muga is a special type of wild natural silk produced exclusively in Assam, where silk production has a long and storied history. Muga silk is produced by the silk moth Antheraea assamensis, which is native to Assam. The natural color of the fiber ranges from golden beige to a golden yellow; the more saturated the color of this silk gold, the more valued the fabric. In times past, only the nobility could wear it and to this day, the finest, gold-hued muga fabrics number among the most expensive silks (a yard can go for at least a hundred dollars). This may also be because muga silk holds a spiritual value for some groups in India. We stock this gorgeous fabric for you in muted, more affordable shades.
Natural silk comes in a range of varieties that most people have never even heard of. You can find out more in our post on types of silk.
Care
We recommend dry cleaning this fabric at a reliable dry cleaner. In our tests of how to wash silk this fabric stood up to gentle hand washing. If you risk hand washing, use lukewarm water and a delicate detergent for woolens; do not wring or squeeze dry; block dry on a flat surface. Dry iron on the lowest setting. Avoid water droplets.