Ask a weaver "what is silk," and you'll get a longer answer than you might expect. Silk isn't one material — it's a family of them, and knowing the difference tells you a lot about what you're actually paying for.
The main types of silk
Our weaving partner walked us through the range: Matka silk, Tussar silk, Muga silk, Nal silk, plain silk, and Katan silk. Of these, Katan sits at the top — the finest, most refined grade, reserved for the most premium pieces.
Tussar silk, by contrast, has a distinctive property of its own: even boiled in hot water, it holds its texture and doesn't lose its characteristic firmness.
Each type behaves differently — different sheen, different texture, different durability — which is exactly why "silk" alone isn't enough information when you're choosing a saree. The specific type matters.
A simple promise, plainly stated
Alongside the technical detail, our partner made a point of saying something simple but important: when a customer pays for silk, they should actually be getting silk. No substitution, no shortcut — the trust between weaver and buyer rests on that being true, every time.
Why this matters
The next time you're comparing sarees described simply as "silk," it's worth asking which kind. The answer tells you more about quality, feel, and durability than the word "silk" ever could on its own.
