Tussah silk is a natural wild silk, clearly different from mulberry silk

Tussah silk is a natural fiber processed from the silk spun by tussah silkworms after they form their cocoons. Tussah silkworms feed on the leaves of oak trees and other plants in the Fagaceae family, and they are mostly raised by free-range rearing in the wild, so tussah silk is also often called wild silk. Liaoning, Shandong, Henan and other parts of China are the traditional production areas for tussah silk.

In appearance, tussah silk fibers are somewhat coarser than mulberry silk. Untreated raw silk naturally has a yellow-brown color and must be bleached to appear light in color. Its silk fibers have many internal pores, and finished products have good moisture absorption and breathability. The feel is slightly on the stiff side, and the luster is not as delicate as that of mulberry silk.

Tussah silk has good strength and toughness, and its resistance to sunlight, acids and alkalis is also decent. It is often used to make silk quilts, silk fabrics, carpets, and industrial silk threads and other products. Among these, tussah silk quilts are fluffy and warm with relatively high cost-effectiveness, and they are very common in the silk quilt market, making them suitable for families that value practicality.

It should be noted that after bleaching, tussah silk becomes close to white in color, and some merchants pass it off as mulberry silk. The two differ in fiber thickness, luster and feel, so when buying you can make an overall judgment by observing and touching, and if necessary, asking for a test report will be more reliable.