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Pat Silk
Aside from its scenic beauty, lush forests, and flourishing wildlife, Assam is also known for its traditional production of silk, or sericulture. Alternatively referred to as Mulberry Silk, Pat Silk is one of the finest crafts of this bountiful state. Brilliant white or off-white shades come into the picture, making this type of silk eternally elegant, pure, and luxurious. Derived from Mulberry silkworms, it is high quality and durable alongside being distinguished.
Tracing Its Origin
The inception of silk production in Assam can be traced back to the 3rd Century BC with the help of a political, literary piece written by Kautilya titled ‘Arthashastra,’ which praised the suave silk fabrics, going as far as to describe the feel of it as butter, and of luxurious quality.
Back in 1946, during the independence movement, Gandhi Ji visited Sualkuchi. A designer, Rajen Deka, created a weave out of his portrait.
The pat cloth was highly impressive, and the weave was predicted to be a dream weave in India. He fell in love with it. The pat cloth was highly impressive, and the weave was predicted to be a dream weave in India.
How It's Made
As a result of selective breeding and evolution, Mulberry worms rely on humans for reproduction. The silk production process begins with the extraction of raw silk by the cultivation of silkworms, the period where they feed and grow. When the silkworms start pupating in their cocoons, they are dissolved into
hot boiling water to create long and separated fiber strands. These individual strands are then added to the spinning wheel, where yarn is made, and the fabric is finely woven.
Design Elements
Pat silk is one of the favourites of the Assamese due to its natural sheen, enduring resistance, and beautiful colour. Naturally white or off-white, Pat silk is domestic and is made with the larvae of the pat silkworms that prefer to feed on nuni, a white Mulberry plant. Designs in this silk are predominantly inspired by nature, with traditional motifs of flowers, creepers, animals, human figures, and other ornamental patterns being the most common. However, these designs may vary as per the tribe producing or using the silk.
Pat Silk Today
Mulberry silk is not very versatile in its uses and is local so it can be used in mekhela chador, sarees, dhotis, lehengas, and suits. The variety is limited since the community has denied adapting to modern trends and clothing. This silk is also produced in other states known as significant hubs like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The production of mulberry silk has plummeted over the years, but centres can still be found in Jorhat, Darrang, Sibsagar, Sualkuchi, and Golaghat. Pat silk, also known as mulberry silk, is a luxurious and durable type of silk that is produced by silkworms feeding on the leaves of mulberry trees. Compared to other types of silk like Eri silk, Muga silk, and Mishmi silk, Pat silk has a finer texture and is smoother to the touch, making it a popular choice for high-end clothing and accessories.
Image Credits
Assam Pat Silk Saree | Getkrat | Indiamart | Meesho | Outlook India | Olee Fashion | Poppyapps | Silkalay | Weaver Story | Wikipedia