Silk term glossary (II)

Wild Silk – silk harvested from silkworms that grow in the wild and eat a diet of whatever plant food is available to them. The natural color of wild silk ranges from a light ivory to a darker tan. It is less expensive than cultivated silk and not as durable. Although it is a good choice for many applications it is not the best choice for silk bedding because it is not as durable as cultivated silk.

Tussah Silk – a type of wild silk that typically comes from India or China with the India silk typically having more luster to it.

Thrown or Reeled Silk – a process done by hand to unwind the silk filaments from the cocoon. Most thrown or reeled silk is cultivated silk.