Delighted to introduce our 'mulberry silk guy' Rajaiah Kusuma

Our mulberry silk - often referred to as peace silk or Ahimsa (non- violent silk) is produced by a family business headed by Rajaiah Kusuma who has been instrumental in spearheading the production of mulberry silk in India - a process that allows the silk worm to complete its lifecycle, maturing into a moth. This differs dramatically from the practise of boiling the worm alive, as happens in more traditional silk production. Rajaiah's story is inspirational and he told us it all began with a question posed to him in the 1990s by the former First Lady of India, who asked if a silk saree could be produced without involving any cruelty to the silk worms. After much research over a number of years Rajaiah was able to produce a sample sari made from Ahimsa Silk. In 2000, after further research, he was able to find a viable way for bulk and commercial production of Ahimsa Silk, and the rest, as they say is history. The term Ahimsa was coined by Mahatma Gandhi who also hoped that the Indian silk industry would use only those cocoons whose worms had already matured into moths and flown out into the world, not boiled to death for the sake of the rich yarn known all over the world for its richness and lustre.

Rajaiah tells the world that his achievement is the fulfilment of the hope of Gandhiji in the invention of Ahimsa Silk by avoiding the killing of millions of innocent silkworms for the sake of human commercial benefit. 

We are proud to have our collections made from Rajaiah's mulberry silk.

About mulberry silk

The natural strength, beauty and benefits of silk are hard to beat. Silk is one of the strongest natural fibres, meaning that our mulberry silk collections are made to last. We only use peace silk, ensuring that our production is cruelty-free with the mulberry silk fibres extracted only after the moths have left the cocoon.

Because of the particular way it is produced, our mulberry silk is more like a fine linen with a beautiful matte lustre rather than the shiny finish of traditional silk satins. We keep our mulberry silk pillowcases and the interior of our eye masks its natural, undyed ivory colour so it is kinder to your skin hair.

The benefits

Sleeping on a mulberry silk pillowcase provides the best natural care for your skin and hair. Unlike cotton, a mulberry silk pillowcase doesn't absorb moisture but encourages a proper temperature and moisture balance that helps to keep skin hydrated and healthy. It also won't absorb a night cream or serum letting your beauty products do their job as you sleep. Silk fibres are also anti-static, which helps to reduce pull and hair breakage, keeping your blow-dry in great condition for longer and the hairline protected.

Silk contains natures protein, 18 essential amino acids, and cellular albumen which speeds up the metabolism of skin cells, helping reduce signs of ageing and fine-lines. Silk is naturally hypoallergenic, thanks to a protein created by the silk worm called seracin, it doesn't attract dust mites and is a natural fungal repellant, which can be beneficial for minimising the symptoms of sensitive skin conditions such as Eczema.

Both cosy and cooling, silk is a breathable and natural thermoregulator, helping to retain warmth or expel heat as the body's temperature fluctuates. This is especially beneficial for those who are experiencing poor sleep quality, night sweats, and hormonal changes such as pre and post-natal symptoms and perimenopause, helping your body maintain a more comfortable, natural state and gain a deeper sleep.

Caring for mulberry silk

Our mulberry silk pieces are made to last so looking after and laundering them well is key. The natural silk fibres and hand-block prints of our products will soften over time and develop subtle, unique qualities. Here's how to keep yours in beautiful condition.

To machine wash

Wash on a delicate cycle with a mild detergent

N.B. Leh Sapphire pieces are DRY CLEAN ONLY

To handwash

Handwash using lukewarm water and mild detergent. Do not soak, scrub or wring

To iron

For best results iron from damp on the reserve using a low heat iron setting. Trust us, it gives the nicest finish and is the handiest way to dry your garments.

A few more laundering tips...

• Wash like colours together or wash separately
• We don't recommend using special silk detergents, as we prefer to use gentle non-biological detergent to give our products a great finish
• Some detergents can cause the colour to fade somewhat over time, as is the nature with natural fabrics
• Our mulberry silk pieces can be dry cleaned
• Mulberry silk dries very quickly. Hang to dry, out of direct sunlight
• Do not tumble dry
• Like all natural fabrics, there can be a slight contracting of the silk weave after washing which relaxes out when ironed