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Silk Fabric Guide: Types, Uses & Price in India
A complete guide to silk fabric in India — mulberry, tussar, eri and Banarasi types, uses, quality checks and current wholesale prices per metre.
Silk Fabric Guide: Types, Uses & Price in India
Silk is the one fabric every Indian wardrobe returns to for weddings, festivals and premium ethnic wear - and it is also one of the most misunderstood fabrics in the wholesale trade. "Silk" on a price tag can mean anything from a Rs. 90/m polyester-blend art silk to a Rs. 5,000/m handwoven Banarasi with real zari, and buyers who cannot tell the difference end up overpaying or under-delivering on quality.
At Clothwala, we supply silk and silk-look fabrics in bulk to garment manufacturers, exporters and fashion labels across India. Here is our practical guide to silk - what it actually is, the main types traded in India, how to judge quality before you commit to a bulk order, and current wholesale price ranges.
What is Silk?
Silk is a natural protein fibre produced by silkworms, most commonly the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori). The fibre is reeled from the cocoon in continuous filaments, which is what gives genuine silk its characteristic smoothness, triangular-prism sheen and strength-to-weight ratio. Wild, non-mulberry silks such as tussar, eri and muga are produced by different silkworm species feeding on different host trees, which is why they look and behave differently from mulberry silk.
- Surface: natural lustre with a soft, non-plastic sheen
- Feel: smooth to slightly textured depending on type, breathable and temperature-regulating
- Drape: fluid on mulberry and Banarasi silk, more structured and slubby on tussar and raw silk
- Character: luxury, heritage, ceremonial and bridal wear
Main Types of Silk in India
India is the world's second-largest silk producer and the only country that produces all five commercially known varieties. The type decides the look, drape and price:
- Art Silk / Silk-Blend - polyester or viscose blended to mimic silk's sheen at a fraction of the cost. Best for linings, budget sarees, decor. Rs. 90-250/m
- Tussar (Tasar) Silk - wild silk with a natural golden-beige tone and a coarse, slubby texture. Best for kurtas, jackets, structured ethnic wear. Rs. 350-750/m
- Mulberry (Pure) Silk - smooth, cultivated silk with the highest sheen and finest drape. Best for blouses, dupattas, shirting, premium linings. Rs. 450-950/m
- Eri and Muga Silk - Assam's speciality silks; Eri is a matte "peace silk" prized in sustainable fashion, Muga has a natural golden sheen. Best for premium and eco-conscious ethnic wear. Rs. 500-1,200/m
- Banarasi / Kanjeevaram Silk - heavy, brocaded silk woven with zari (metallic) thread, often on traditional looms. Best for bridal sarees and heavy ethnic wear. Rs. 1,200-5,000+/m
What Silk Means in Fashion
In Indian fashion, silk is shorthand for occasion and status. It is the default fabric for weddings, festivals and heirloom sarees, and its natural sheen photographs and drapes in a way synthetics still struggle to replicate. For export and bridge-to-luxury labels, silk and silk-satin blends also signal "premium" to international buyers, which is why many garment exporters keep at least one silk or silk-blend line in every seasonal range even when volumes are smaller than their cotton or poly-crepe lines.
How to Judge Silk Quality
Before placing a bulk order, check these quality markers:
- Burn test - genuine silk burns slowly, curls away from the flame, and smells like burning hair, leaving a crushable ash (polyester melts and smells chemical)
- Weight and hand feel - heavier, cultivated mulberry silk feels cool and slightly grainy, not slippery or plastic-like
- Sheen consistency - even lustre across the width, without patchy or overly synthetic-looking shine
- Slub and weave - tussar and raw silk should show natural slubs; unnaturally uniform "silk" is usually a blend
- Colourfastness - rub-test dyed and printed silk to check for dye transfer before bulk confirmation
Silk Price Range in India (Wholesale)
| Type | Best Use | Wholesale Price |
|---|---|---|
| Art Silk / Silk-Blend | Linings, budget sarees, decor | Rs. 90-250/m |
| Tussar Silk | Kurtas, jackets, ethnic wear | Rs. 350-750/m |
| Mulberry (Pure) Silk | Blouses, dupattas, shirting | Rs. 450-950/m |
| Eri / Muga Silk | Premium, sustainable ethnic wear | Rs. 500-1,200/m |
| Banarasi / Kanjeevaram Silk | Bridal sarees, heavy ethnic wear | Rs. 1,200-5,000+/m |
Prices are indicative wholesale ranges and vary with weave, zari content, width, quantity and finish.
Caring for Silk
- Dry clean or hand wash in cold water with a mild, silk-safe detergent
- Iron on low heat, ideally from the reverse side, while slightly damp
- Store away from direct sunlight and dampness to prevent yellowing and weakening of the fibre
Source Silk Wholesale from Clothwala
Clothwala.in is a direct mill supplier of silk, silk-blend and 500+ other fabrics, available in RFD (Ready for Dyeing) and digitally-printed variants, with GST invoicing, pan-India delivery, bulk discounts and export supply for overseas buyers.
Explore our printed and premium fabric range at www.clothwala.in/collections/printed-fabric-wholesale-india or the full catalogue at www.clothwala.in.
