Fabrics

Matte Silks and Peace Silks

Ahimsa™ and "Peace" Silks

silkworms, hand raised by cheryl in portland

Peace silkworms hand raised in Portland, Oregon by Cheryl Kolander, promoter of Peace Silk since 1985

For a silk to be Peace silk it must be from cocoons from which the moths have been allowed to freely emerge.

Ahimsa™ and "Peace" Silks:

"PEACE SILK means silk that has been produced thru Peaceful processes." -Isaiah Brown, Aurora Silk apprentice

AHIMSA (TM) true Bombyx Peace silk:

"I'm still amazed every time you send silk samples, they are so gorgeous! the look and feel of the Ahimsa and the indigo silk velvet are purely beautiful. It's wonderful that you link and support these community weavers in this way. I adore these peace silks. " - I.V.

This collection of certified truely Peace silk fabrics is the finest in the world today. Woven only for one small innovator in India, with whom we partner, and assigned exclusively to Aurora Silk for world distribution. The breeder cocoons are collected from the family farms where silkworms of the special "Bangalore" strain of Indian silkworms are raised. As well, live cocoons are purchased and the moths allowed to emerge free. Processing of the silk is done in very small mills. Village scale weaving completes the creation, most of the fabrics are woven on foot-powered hand looms.

The silk for the patented Ahimsa fabrics is all cultivated, mulberry bombyx mori silk. It has been raised to organic standards on small family farms in rural India. Your use of these fabrics bestows merit from all the hardworking people who have brought it to you. Aurora silk is very proud to be the exclusive world distributor for these 100% Peaceful Process fabrics.

NEW!!! Ahimsa™ Light Weight 3-ply

A new lighter weight version of our popular Ahimsa 3-ply fabric.

Ahimsa™ Smooth Spun Silk
This fabric's warp and weft are both smooth spun Ahimsa™ Peace silk. This is the finest 100% Peace, Ahimsa (TM) silk being produced, anywhere.

Ahimsa™ 3-ply Fabric
Exactly twice as thick as the Ahimsa Smooth Spun fabric listed above. The durability, luster and softness of this fabric is perfect for everything and a favorite of designers. Smooth spun Ahimsa™ Peace silk.

Ahimsa™ Pebble Weave
This fabric has been designed to drape and flow! Very strong and durable, perfect for outstanding designer gowns. Smooth spun Ahimsa™ Peace silk. The heaviest Ahimsa (TM) fabric being produced, woven especially for Aurora Silk.

Ahimsa Knit

This is a brand new, very soft knit. This knit is one of a kind and specific to Aurorasilk and 100% organic, ethical and durable!

Amihsa "Lumiere" a light weight floaty plain weave perfect for children's play scarves and layered gowns.

Ahimsa "Pearl" a light weight wersion of the Pebble Weave. This is most like a satin, for it's lovely lustre.

PEACE SILK - NOIL ("RAW SILK"):

Ahimsa "Cream" - a light weight, fine spun and well woven Peace silk noil.

IN STOCK WHOLESALE: SALE!!! "SPA WRAP" SILK AT $15/YD

Ahimsa™ Noil

No longer available, please see Ahimsa "Cream"
Called raw silk in the fashion trade, the true designation of this fabric is noil silk. It is a very versatile "peace" silk, spun thick and nubbly like cotton, with a matte surface and drapey hand. When washed it crinkles into a matte crepe that flows with the body when worn.

Ahimsa™ Super Noil
Called raw silk in the fashion trade, the true designation of this fabric is noil silk. It is a very versatile "peace" silk, spun thick and nubbly like cotton, with a matte surface and drapey hand. This noil is exceptionally strong, durable and thick.

IN STOCK WHOLESALE! STURDY NOIL AT $18/YD

Ahimsa™ Window Pane Noil

Finally a truly rare patterned silk. The weave is made to look like old style window panes. It's very soft and very light. When washed it crinkles into an exceptional drapey texture.

Ahimsa NOIL Knit

Rare noil knit created just for Aurora Silk.

WHOLESALE - KNIT SILK AT $22/YD!

All the above Ahimsa (patented) silk fabrics are: From India. Certified Organically raised, cruelty free, vegetarian friendly; your purchase supports small family farm raising of Organically grown silk, and village level weaving.

PEACE SILKS - other types of PEACE SILK

Wild silk grows everywhere there are leaves that caterpillars can chew.

When wild silk is gathered after the moths have emerged, then it is also PEACE silk.

Eri Peace Silk

A wild silk almost as fine as cultivated silk. Similar to Pongee but softer! Smoothly woven from fine two-ply yarns both warp and weft, in a balanced weave for maximum strength.

From India. Certified Organically raised, cruelty free, vegetarian friendly; your purchase supports rural village wild silk production and small family farm raising of Organically grown silk, and village level weaving.

Golden Wild Silk

Muga Peace silk, handspun, handwoven.
Wild-crafted from wild silkworms in India. The natural shimmery golden beige colour of this rare and exotic silk needs no dye to enhance its exquisite beauty. From India. Your purchase supports rural village wild silk production.

Muga Spun Silk
A beautifully honey coloured Peace silk! This colour is 100% natural and comes from the silk itself, not a dye!

TUSSAH SILKS - Peace silks and Peace silk blends

Brilliance NEW!
A very lightweight and sturdy fabric hand woven with Fine Reeled Tussah both warp and weft.

From India. Small village wild crafted. Believed to be cruelty free and vegetarian friendly.

Tussah Noil
A blend of Tussah silk weft, crossing a cultivated spun silk warp. The weft contains naturally coloured cinnamon silk noils (slubs and accents), to make an especially pretty softly speckled fabric. 45" wide.

From India. Certified wildcrafted/Organically raised, cruelty free, vegetarian friendly.

Dervish Cloth
Tough and strong, rough and ready, yet baby soft when washed! One of the most unusual silk fabrics ever. Home spun, natural shades of brown and dark brown wild silk.

From India. Certified wildcrafted/Organically raised, cruelty free, vegetarian friendly.

Pongee
Sturdy plainweave, this is a very durable, medium-weight matte fabric. Good for work clothes, kids clothes, and sports clothes. 45" wide. From China, guaranteed by us to be 100% natural silk and completely chemical free. Peace silk blend: warp is reeled.

Light Cream Tussah
This is a lightweight, sturdy, sheer fabric with a crisp hand. 45" wide. Plainweave. Is currently Sold Out but we are looking for more. Meanwhile, see Pongee, Eri and Ahimsa fabrics for something equivalent.

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"Baby Blanket" Heavy Tussah
A light bleach gives this fabric a consistent cream colour and makes it "baby soft." 54" extra wide; shrinks to 52" after washing. From China, guaranteed by us to be 100% natural silk and completely chemical free. Believed to be 100% Peace silk, but not certified.

Tough Stuff Tussah
This tussah is truly tough! It is light and durable enough for every day wear. From China, guaranteed by us to be 100% natural silk and completely chemical free. Believed to be 100% Peace silk, but not certified.

Extra Heavy Tussah
Balanced plain weave of thick and sturdy spun tussah, combed long staple. One of the sturdiest fabrics possible, yet washes up soft and lofty. From China, guarenteed by us to be 100% natural silk and completely chemical free. Believed to be 100% Peace silk, but not certified.

"About Peace Silk"

"AHIMSA" means, literally "without violence". I prefer the term "Peace", as it is more positive. Ahimsa is the term used in India, Peace was coined by me in a 1986 article published in FibreArts Magazine, and detailed in the Third Edition of my "A Silkworker's Notebook".

"I consider this the best silk to use for healing purposes. It is the only quality of silk permitted for spiritual purposes. I am so honored when Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, a true spiritual teacher, comes to the US, his followers present him with long traditional shawls of Ahimsa Peace silk, the only quality of silk he wears." - Cheryl Kolander, who IS Aurora Silk

Note: Fabrics in this section are undyed. For colours, please see our Naturally Dyed Fabrics.

** please be aware that many other suppliers unethically use these terms without distinction: I've been offered Eri and Tussah as "Ahimsa". Ahimsa is patented and correctly applied only to Bombyx Mori, mulberry fed, cultivated, naturally white silk.

I've even been offered regular, stiffled (killed) cocoons as "Peace"! (Some people just don't get it!) The term "Peace" correctly means the silk caterpillar has been let to complete its transformation in the cocoon, to freely emerge, mate, lay eggs and die happy. The cocoons are "pierced" and not suitable for reeling, but are degummed, pulled out and spun into soft yarns and threads.

To learn more about Peace Silk, consider purchasing the highly educational "Peace Silk Collection", which Cheryl designed especially for Children's Science Fair projects. It also makes an excellent Textile Guild conference display, or educational program.

To learn the most possible about silk as a textile medium, please read Cheryl's "A SILKWORKER'S NOTEBOOK". Copies of the paperback second edition are in most libraries.

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