Only one place on Earth produces it. Only one climate. Only one silkworm.
Country in the world where
Muga silk is naturally produced:
India (Assam)
The premium Muga commands
over mulberry silk,
gram for gram
The age a Muga silk stole can reach
before its lustre
fully matures
Muga silk comes from the Antheraea assamensis silkworm — a species found only in the wild forests of Assam, in northeast India. Unlike mulberry silk, which is farmed on controlled food, Muga silkworms feed on som and sualu leaves in their natural habitat. They cannot be bred elsewhere.
The climate of Assam — its humidity, its temperature range, its specific leaf species — is not replicable. This is why Muga silk cannot be manufactured anywhere but here.
Muga silk has a natural golden hue that cannot be reproduced artificially. This is not a dye — it is the natural pigment deposited in the silk gland of the Muga silkworm. Most silks fade with age. Muga silk does the opposite.
Each year of wear and careful maintenance deepens its golden tone. A Muga silk stole owned for 20 years is worth more than a Muga silk stole owned for one.
Weight for weight, silk is stronger than steel. Muga silk is the strongest of all commercial silks — its tensile strength exceeds that of both mulberry and Tussar by measurable margins.
A BHAGALPORE stole, properly cared for, will outlive you. This is not hyperbole. This is material science.
| Property | Muga Silk | Mulberry Silk | Cashmere | Pashmina |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Assam, India only | Global (China, India) | Central Asia | Himalayan Kashmir |
| Natural Colour | Golden | White / cream | Grey / brown | White / beige |
| Durability | 25+ years | 10–15 years | 5–10 years | 8–12 years |
| Price per stole | £650–£2,200 | £80–£300 | £200–£800 | £100–£400 |
| Lustre with age | Increases | Fades | Piles | Fades |
| Machine washable | No | No | No | No |
| Availability | Very rare | Common | Moderate | Moderate |
Muga silk requires almost nothing. Follow these four practices and it will reward you with decades of deepening beauty.
Cold water hand wash with silk-safe soap, once or twice a year.
Air dry in shade. Never in direct sunlight, never in a tumble dryer.
Store flat or rolled, never hung. A hung silk stole distorts its own drape over time.
A silk sachet — not cedar — in the storage box. That is all.