Denise Bird uses a specific breed of silk worm only found in the state of Assam in India. The cocoons are collected from the forest floor by local communities who wind the fiber by hand and then weave it into cloth. While Denise Bird silk isn’t pure white or even a clean ivory, it is a color that is highly regarded and called the “golden silk.” In fact the more that it is washed the more golden in color it becomes. Other silks made by these communities are made with a combination of collected cocoons, spun and woven to create a mixed silk that create several neutral shades, often on one bolt of fabric. These are not your traditional wedding silks, but if you’re making your dress, you’re not a traditional bride. But you can feel good about using an ecological and socially responsible fabric. The weavers and spinners of this fabric are supported by their craft and help to save their indigenous knowledge of the fiber making process. For a list of stockists and outlets that carry these silks, you can find them through Denise Bird’s list and at Fine Fayre. [Image from Denise Bird website]
