Luxury in fashion is no longer just about high-end labels or mass-produced couture. Increasingly, it’s about rare materials and the craftsmanship behind every thread. From hand-harvested spider silk to vegan-friendly lotus fabric, here are five of the most exquisite and expensive fabrics in the world.
Mulberry silk is regarded as the world’s finest and most refined silk variety. Harvested from the Bombyx mori silkworms that are fed exclusively on mulberry leaves, this silk is prized for its smooth, lustrous finish and durability.
Unlike other silks, mulberry silk threads are continuous filaments, which makes the fabric exceptionally strong and glossy. The intensive care in feeding and harvesting, combined with the quality of the fibre, explains why this silk commands a price of up to ₹12,000 per yard.
Often synonymous with winter luxury, Pashmina is far more than just a soft shawl. It is handwoven in Kashmir using the fine undercoat of Changthangi goats, found at high altitudes in Ladakh. The wool is combed, not sheared, from the goat during the moulting season, ensuring sustainability and animal care. The real artistry lies in the hand-spinning and weaving process, which can take weeks for just one shawl. The final product is featherlight, incredibly warm, and a legacy piece. Premium Pashmina shawls range from ₹30,000 to over ₹2 lakh, depending on the intricacy of the weave and embroidery.
Rare, labour-intensive, and entirely plant-based, lotus silk is one of the most unique fabrics in the world. Made from the sticky fibers of lotus stems, it is crafted by skilled artisans who must extract thread from thousands of lotus stalks each day.
Native to Myanmar and now found in parts of Cambodia and India, lotus silk is hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking, and eco-friendly. It's a slow fashion favourite, popular in the realm of “quiet luxury”—the understated opulence of conscious consumers. The price reflects its rarity: scarves and robes can cost anywhere between ₹21,000 and ₹4 lakh.
One of the rarest textiles ever created, Golden Spider Silk is harvested from over 1.2 million orb-weaving spiders in Madagascar. The result is a glowing, golden-hued silk that is five times stronger than steel by weight and naturally iridescent.
Unlike silkworm farming, spiders can’t be domesticated or raised in masses, making this material essentially unproducible at scale. The only item ever made was a shawl that was sold for £300,000 (approx. ₹3.2 crore). It remains more of an art piece than apparel!
