The World of Eri Silk.
A silk unlike any other.
Comfortable, breathable and naturally adaptable across seasons, Eri is one of India’s most distinctive non-mulberry silks. Born in Northeast India, it carries a heritage shaped by generations of rearing, spinning and weaving. Its story is one of an ancient material, a living textile tradition and the people and landscapes that have sustained it.
At Ereena, we are reimagining this extraordinary silk for the way we live today.
A silk made differently. Made kind.
Eri silk is produced by the domesticated silkworm Samia ricini, which feeds primarily on drought-resistant, rain-fed castor plants. The name Eri comes from “Era”, the Assamese name for the castor plant. Castor is a hardy crop that can grow with relatively little irrigation and is naturally resistant to many pests, reducing the need for intensive agricultural inputs.
What makes Eri distinctive begins with its cocoon. The Eri silkworm spins an open-ended/valved cocoon, through which the moth can emerge naturally. Unlike conventional silk, where cocoons are boiled with the silkworm inside to extract and reel the silk as a continuous filament, Eri cocoons are not boiled with the silkworm inside. Only empty, open-ended cocoons are processed, and the fibres of the Eri cocoon are spun into yarn. This gives the yarn its distinctive character, with a subtle sheen, fuller hand and understated texture that carries through to the finished fabric.
A silk rooted in place.
Eri silk is deeply woven into the cultural and agricultural traditions of Northeast India. Assam is regarded as the traditional home of Eri silk, with its cultivation and processing extending across Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
For generations, indigenous communities across these regions have reared Eri silkworms, spun yarn and woven the fibre into textiles for everyday life, ceremonies and celebrations. Eri garments were treasured as family heirlooms and passed between generations. The silk was used in traditional dress (Sador - shawl/wrap), household textiles (Borkapor - large cloth) and ceremonial practices, while its warmer, fuller constructions were valued in cooler climates. Buddhist monks were also known to drape themselves in Eri silk.
Eri was not simply a material to be traded. It was part of the rhythm of life, shaped by local knowledge and carried through generations.
Today, Eri silkworm rearing remains an important source of sustenance and income for rural communities across the region, keeping this living textile tradition connected to everyday livelihoods.
Made for the Body
More than beautiful. Naturally intelligent. Eri silk has an unusual combination of physical properties that make it particularly suited to clothing. It is a silk that feels as good as it looks.
Naturally Breathable
Eri's porous structure allows air to move through the fibre, creating a light and comfortable sensation against the skin.
Moisture Managing
Eri absorbs and transports moisture efficiently, helping the body stay comfortable in warm, cool and humid conditions.
Temperature Regulating
Eri is often described as isothermal, helping to moderate the sensation of temperature in changing seasons. Cool when the world is warm, and warm when it is cold.
Skin-Friendly
Eri is gentle on the skin. Combined with its breathability and moisture-management properties, it is particularly comfortable as a next-to-skin fibre.
Naturally Resilient
Its fibre structure contributes to durability and good crease recovery, allowing Eri garments to retain their character through wear.
UV Protective
Our Eri fabrics are independently tested with ratings from UPF 28 to UPF 50+.
Eri, Reimagined by Ereena
From traditional fibre to contemporary fabric
Eri’s versatility extends beyond its natural properties. On its own, or blended with other fibres, it can be developed into fabrics with different weights, textures, drapes and performance characteristics, opening possibilities across fashion, knitwear and modern textile design.
At Ereena, we work with the character of Eri, exploring its possibilities through yarn development, weaving, knitting and garment construction. We work with both GOTS-certified mill-spun yarn and handspun Eri yarn, with our Eri yarns and fabrics tested by SGS India, an internationally recognised body.
Eri’s natural isothermal properties can also be enhanced through the way a fabric is constructed. Lightweight, open constructions allow greater airflow and moisture vapour transmission in warm and humid conditions, while fuller constructions retain insulating air to provide warmth when temperatures fall. In this way, we thoughtfully engineer Eri for comfort across changing climates.
By creating new applications and demand for Eri, we are helping carry traditional knowledge into modern textile creation, while keeping the fibre’s character at its heart.
Keeping Eri’s ecosystem alive
The making of Eri brings together farmers, rearers, spinners, weavers and skilled artisans, whose knowledge and labour carry the fibre from cocoon to cloth. At Ereena, we believe the future of a traditional craft depends on making it economically relevant without losing the knowledge that made it special.
Our work supports fair and responsible sourcing, fair pricing and ethical working relationships with yarn suppliers, weavers and artisans, while creating opportunities for skills, enterprise and women’s participation.
The aim is simple: to ensure that Eri remains not only a living tradition, but a viable livelihood for generations to come.
