Ahimsa Silk
50,000 silkworms are killed to make one silk saree. The cocoons are either steamed or dropped into boiling water before they can metamorphose into moths.
Here is an alternative: Ahimsa silk, produced from the cocoons left behind by silkworms after they have turned into moths. Here is the link to the APCO web page on Ahimsa silk.
Here is another article about Kusuma Rajaiah and his silkmaking process. It also mentions how, not surprisingly, an early call for Ahimsa silk came from Gandhi, who
wore ‘ahimsa’ leather sandals and promoted ‘ahimsa’ silk; the former made from the hide of cows that had died a natural death. He also hoped that the Indian silk industry would use only those cocoons whose worms had already matured into moths and flown out into the world, not boiled to death for the sake of the rich yarn known all over the world as a symbol of India.
Great to hear, we have started using Ahimsa Silk for high fashion garments, and we cater to western designs too. If you need to know more about it please feel free to contact me. Nilam: nilam@revefashions.com, +91-9825027361
Comment by Nilam — July 9, 2008 @ 8:17 am
Great to hear, we have started using Ahimsa Silk for high fashion garments, and we cater to western designs too. If you need to know more about it please feel free to contact me. Nilam: nilam@revefashions.com, +91-9825027361
Comment by Nilam — July 9, 2008 @ 8:17 am