Can You Get Silk Without Killing the Worm?

Yes, you can get silk without killing the silkworm — but it’s not pure mulberry silk. The process is called “peace silk” or “eri silk.”

In traditional mulberry silk production, the cocoons are boiled to kill the pupa inside before the moth emerges. This keeps the silk thread intact and long.

In peace silk production, the moths are allowed to emerge from the cocoons naturally. The moth breaks through the cocoon, creating a hole that makes the silk thread broken and shorter. The resulting silk is called eri silk, and it’s considered more ethical because the silkworm isn’t killed.

However, eri silk has several drawbacks compared to mulberry silk:

• The broken fibers make the fabric coarser and less smooth

• It has a matte, dull appearance instead of a natural luster

• It’s less durable and more prone to pilling

• It’s not as skin-friendly or hypoallergenic as mulberry silk

While peace silk is more ethical, it doesn’t offer the same quality and benefits as pure mulberry silk. For buyers who want both quality and ethics, recycled silk is another option. Recycled silk is made from leftover or waste silk fibers, reducing waste without harming silkworms.

If you’re set on mulberry silk, the traditional process is still the standard. Many buyers choose mulberry silk for its quality, even though it involves killing the silkworm.

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