NagaSilk

About NagaSilk

NagaSilk is a Kohima-based enterprise working at the intersection of traditional craft and ecological responsibility, producing authentic Eri silk textiles from the heart of Nagaland. Also known as Ahimsa silk, or “non-violent silk,” Eri silk is harvested only after the silkworm has completed its natural life cycle and emerged from its cocoon on its own, unlike conventional silk production, which requires boiling the cocoon while the pupa is still alive. This single distinction places NagaSilk firmly within the growing movement toward cruelty-free, sustainable sustainable fashion and positions the brand as a genuine steward of an indigenous, low-impact textile tradition.

The Eri Silk Process

NagaSilk’s production follows a three-phase model rooted in village-level, small-batch practice. In the pre-cocoon phase, the team develops and maintains plantations of Kesseru, Tapioca, and Castor plants, the exclusive food source for Eri silkworms — unlike Mulberry silk, which depends on a single crop, this diversified planting approach supports better land use and food security for rearing communities. During the cocoon-rearing phase, artisans nurture the silkworms according to Ahimsa principles, allowing them to complete metamorphosis undisturbed. Once the moths have emerged naturally, the empty cocoon shells are collected, degummed, hand-spun, and woven into fabric using traditional Naga looms. Every stage of this process happens at the village level, keeping the carbon footprint of the finished textile remarkably low and ensuring that value stays within the community that produces it.

Products

NagaSilk’s catalogue includes handwoven mekhelas (both full and half-length), shawls, stoles, co-ord sets, men’s wear, and silk coats, many finished with natural dyes rather than synthetic colourants. Products are woven in traditional Naga motifs, including designs incorporating Muga silk accents alongside the brand’s core Eri silk fabric. Because each piece is handwoven to order in small batches, NagaSilk operates without the overproduction and textile waste that characterise fast fashion — a meaningful contribution to responsible handloom and textile production in India.

Community Impact

Beyond textile production, NagaSilk has invested in rearing centres, marketing yards, cottage basin reeling units, and modern equipment such as trays, ventilators, and spinning machines to support the sericulture farmers and artisans it works with. The enterprise runs training and skill-development programmes designed to uplift the socio-economic status of rural sericulture workers, creating market linkages and stable employment while preserving a weaving tradition that is otherwise at risk of fading. This model reflects the kind of community-anchored, low-scale enterprise that Nagaland‘s hill economy depends on, where sericulture offers rural households a sustainable alternative income stream tied directly to the land.

Visiting NagaSilk

NagaSilk welcomes visitors who wish to arrange a tour to observe artisans at work and learn firsthand about the Eri silk production process, offering a rare, transparent look into a supply chain that most fashion buyers never see. The brand operates out of Kohima, Nagaland, and is reachable by phone and email for order and visit enquiries. For those exploring the wider Northeast Indian handloom landscape, NagaSilk stands out as a clear example of how a small, tradition-rooted enterprise can build a modern brand around sustainability rather than working against it — proof that heritage craft and environmental responsibility can grow together rather than in conflict.

Why NagaSilk Belongs in the Green Directory

NagaSilk qualifies for listing in Prakati’s Green Directory on the strength of its non-violent silk-harvesting method, its village-level low-carbon production model, its use of natural dyes, and its direct investment in rural artisan livelihoods. It is precisely the kind of small, community-driven, physically-grounded sustainable business that the directory exists to surface.