Yarns And Threads #4551474

Silk-haven, Manchester of the East, Manchester of Assam; these are a few synonyms given to Sualkuchi in Assam because of its large number of handloom silk weaving units. Situated some 30 km from Guwahati in Assam, on the banks of the mighty river Brahmaputra, this picturesque village is a haven for silk fabrics ranging from the golden Muga silk to the ivory white Pat silk and the light beige Eri or Endi silks. Out of these, Pat silk or Assam silk is woven in a traditional Assamese style using mulberry silk yarns native to Karnataka.
Pat Silk weaving in Sualkuchi has been traced back to around 10th-11th century. Patronized by the Pala and the Ahom kings, the craft established itself during that period being a luxury afforded only by the royalty and the noble families of Assam.

Eri comes from a caterpillar found in northeast India and some parts of China, Japan, and Thailand. The name eri is derived from the Assamese word era, which means castor, as the silkworm feeds only on castor plants. The woolly white silk is often referred to as the fabric of peace or Ahimsa Silk as it is the only silk processed without killing the silkworm.
Eri silk is a staple fiber, unlike other silks, which have a continuous filament. The texture of the fabric is coarse, fine, and dense. It is very strong, durable, and elastic. It is darker and heavier than other silks and blends well with wools and cotton. Due to its thermal properties, it is warm in winter and cool in summer. The thermal properties of Eri make it a suitable fabric for shawls, jackets, blankets, and bedspreads. Dress materials and baby dresses are also made from Eri silk fabric because of its soft texture and moisture absorbent quality.

One of the rarest Silks in the world is the Muga silk from Assam. The fact that sets this silk apart from other types of silk is the fact that it has a lustrous, golden yellow color! The word Muga means yellowish in Assamese. Muga silk comes from the Muga silkworm (Antheraea assamensis), which goes back to the age of the dinosaurs and is so sensitive in nature that it cannot tolerate even the minimum levels of pollution. The silkworms are semi-cultivated for obtaining Muga silk in commercial scale. Muga is completely organic and is a strong and attractive natural fiber.
This is a unique fabric where the luster only increases with age. Any type of embroidery by a thread can be done on it. Most importantly, while it has got a naturally golden luster, it is incompatible with dyes and cannot be dyed.