Mulberry Silk Cocoon Table Runner

The Mulberry Silk Table Runner by Tanana Silk preserves the cocoon as both material and design. Rather than reeling the silk into thread and weaving it into cloth, artisans steam individual mulberry cocoons flat before arranging and sewing them together by hand. Each pale oval remains visible, creating a luminous surface with softly irregular edges and a crisp, almost paper-like feel.

From Cocoon to Textile

Undyed Silk: The snowy white and warm ivory tones occur naturally within the mulberry cocoons rather than being produced with dyes.
Steam-Flattened Form: Each cocoon is opened with steam, transforming its compact shape into a delicate, translucent layer while retaining its fibrous character.
Hand-Sewn Composition: Artisans join the flattened cocoons individually, building the runner piece by piece instead of producing it on a loom.
Organic Geometry: Overlapping forms, visible stitching, and subtle changes in opacity create a quiet pattern that belongs entirely to the material.

Tanana Silk & Madagascar

Madagascar Craftsmanship: The runner is handmade from beginning to end in Madagascar through a process requiring close attention at every stage.
Ethical Cocoon Harvest: Chrysalises are carefully removed and protected so the moths can complete their life cycle—a labor-intensive departure from conventional silk production.

On the Table

Against Dark Wood: Walnut, oak, and other richly toned surfaces bring the runner’s translucent cocoon shapes into sharper relief.
Understated Tableware: Clear glass, simple ceramics, and restrained flatware allow its unusual construction to remain the focal point.
Layered Over Linen: A natural linen cloth provides a soft woven contrast to the crispness and irregular outline of the silk.
Beyond Dining: Its long format can also introduce light and texture across a console, sideboard, or display table.

Product Details

Maker: Tanana Silk
Material: Undyed mulberry cocoon silk
Construction: Individual cocoons steamed flat and hand-sewn together
Color: Natural snowy white with warm ivory variation
Texture: Lightweight, crisp, and paper-like
Dimensions: 14 x 72 in
Origin: Handmade from start to finish in Madagascar
Certification: Fair Trade Certified
Variation: Differences in size, color, stitching, opacity, and edge shape are inherent to the handcrafted process

Ideal For

• Creating contrast across dark or richly grained dining tables
• Adding dimension to monochromatic and neutral table settings
• Pairing with linen, stoneware, clear glass, or understated metalwork
• Bringing an unexpected textile element to a console or sideboard
• Allowing natural material and visible construction to define the tablescape

Neither woven cloth nor conventional table linen, this hand-assembled field of mulberry cocoons captures silk at its most elemental—luminous, tactile, and unmistakably shaped by hand.