Eri Silk: The Peaceful Fabric Changing Sustainable Fashion
When you think of silk, you probably imagine a glossy, luxuriously soft and fabulously expensive fabric. But behind most silk lies a cruel truth: traditional production involves boiling silkworms alive to preserve the cocoon.
Eri silk is different. Known as peace silk, it’s made only after the moth naturally leaves its cocoon. This simple act of patience transforms Eri silk into one of the world’s most ethical and environmentally friendly textiles that is soft, strong, and made without harm to animals or the earth.
What Is Eri Silk?
Eri silk has been cultivated for centuries in Assam and Meghalaya, where weaving isn’t a business but a way of life. In each village within the areas of Eri silk cultivation, the women gather cocoons by hand, spin and spool the threads, dye these with natural ingredients found in the local areas, and weave beautiful shawls and special garments on wooden looms passed down through generations.
Every piece of Eri silk carries its origin story in the rivers and forests of the Northeast, the women who spin its threads, and the cultural continuity of ethical craftsmanship.
How Eri Silk Differs from Conventional Silk
Unlike mulberry silk, which relies on killing the worm to keep fibers long and glossy, Eri silk is spun like cotton from open-ended cocoons.
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Texture: matte, soft, and subtly irregular with a touch that transmits the feel of the people who create the shawls.
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Durability: stronger and warmer than mulberry silk.
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Look: less sheen, more soul. Ideal for those drawn to quiet elegance.
Eri silk doesn’t chase perfection; it celebrates imperfection. That’s what makes it so special.
Why Eri Silk Matters: 11 Ethical Advantages
1. Non-violent production (Ahimsa silk)
No boiling. No shortcuts. Just a patient wait for the moth’s natural emergence, which provides the silk’s alternative name of Ahimsa, or non-violence/peace.
2. Women-led craftsmanship
Eri production is centered in women-run cooperatives, where weaving knowledge and income empower rural households across Meghalaya and Assam.
3. 100% eco-friendly processing
Natural soapnuts, plant dyes, and local minerals replace synthetic chemicals, keeping the process safe for skin, rivers, and soil.
4. Biodegradable and compostable
As a pure protein fiber, Eri silk returns to the earth without leaving microplastics behind.
5. Low-waste, low-energy production
Every stage from spinning, to spooling, to dyeing, and weaving, happens by hand. Minimal water, minimal emissions, maximum respect for resources.
6. Hyper-local supply chain
From cocoon to cloth, everything happens within a few kilometers radius, cutting transport emissions and supporting local economies.
7. Surprisingly strong and long-lasting
Eri silk shawls last decades when cared for properly and are passed down as heirlooms in the communities that make them. This is the opposite of fast fashion.
8. Naturally breathable and hypoallergenic
Its airy weave regulates body temperature and soothes sensitive skin. Perfect for mindful living and sustainable clothing.
9. Minimal water use
Compared to thirsty crops like cotton, Eri silk production uses a fraction of the water.
10. Protects traditional knowledge
Every Eri piece preserves centuries of indigenous skill, song, and symbolism. Living proof that sustainability and culture can coexist.
11. Small-batch, slow fashion at its finest
At all mellow co., each shawl is woven over days, not minutes. This is ethical luxury that honors time, touch, and tradition.
Why all mellow co. Chose Eri Silk
We didn’t follow a trend, we followed our values. Eri silk aligns with our belief in slow fashion, eco-friendly textiles, and authentic connection. Partnering with a women-led collective in Meghalaya lets us invest in people, not production lines.
Each piece we release is limited, intentional, and filled with stories worth wearing.
Eri isn’t shiny. It’s soulful. It softens with time, holding the memory of every hand that shaped it. Choosing Eri is choosing balance. Balance between beauty and ethics, between comfort and consciousness, and between skin and earth.