Silk
This page highlights the qualities of Wildlife Friendly® certified Malagasy wild silk, the commitment of local farmers and artisans, and the unique landscapes and species that benefit from this community-centered conservation model. It also invites you to join a supply chain that values nature, heritage, and inclusive development.
Certified Wildlife Friendly® Silk
Wild silk is a rare and remarkable natural fiber, produced by native silk moths that depend on Madagascar’s remaining rainforests. Harvested using traditional, low-impact methods, Malagasy wild silk is hand-spun and hand-crafted by local communities into textiles that reflect centuries of cultural knowledge. Through Wildlife Friendly® and Fair Trade practices, the production of wild silk supports the regeneration of ecosystems and provides meaningful income to rural families.
Wild Silk Fabric
Wild silk is made from raw silk cocoons of endemic silkworms in Madagascar. Wild silk species must live in the forest and cannot be cultivated like traditional silk.
Mulberry Silk (Bombyx mori)
Natural, Undyed: WS $103 sqm
Dyed: WS $103 sqm
Wild Silk - Ceranchia Open
Natural, Undyed: WS $38 sqm
Dyed: WS $53 sqm
Wild Silk - Ceranchia Dense
Natural, Undyed: WS $90
Dyed: WS $115 sqm
Malagasy Farmers
In Madagascar’s northeastern rainforests, local farmers, supported by Conservation through Poverty Alleviation International (CPALI) and its social impact brand Tanana Madagascar, are leading a community-centered approach to wild species conservation. Through locally driven initiatives, they are enhancing biodiversity, restoring native landscapes, and creating sustainable income by cultivating wild silk in traditional agroforestry systems.
Tanana Madagascar, certified Wildlife Friendly™, transforms wild silk into Fair Trade textiles while returning 100% of sales revenue to Madagascar. The collection of wild silk cocoons encourages farmers to plant and protect native host trees in degraded areas, strengthening habitat for wildlife and improving long-term community resilience. Through this work, Malagasy farmers are demonstrating the power of nature-based enterprise to restore ecosystems and reduce poverty.
Malagasy Landscapes
Madagascar is home to 5% of the world’s biodiversity, with most species found nowhere else. Protecting this unique natural heritage while strengthening community resilience lies at the heart of Tanana Madagascar’s nature-based solution.
Farmers are developing agroforestry systems that integrate food crops, native wild silk host trees, and high-value species like vanilla and cloves. This landscape-level approach, known as reconciliation ecology, restores biodiversity and creates habitat for wildlife in human-managed areas, extending conservation beyond protected zones. In 2025, 20,000 seedlings will be planted to scale up local silk and raffia production and strengthen ecosystem and community resilience across the region.
Wild Silk Cultivation
Tanana Madagascar works with key wild silk moth species to support a growing network of Malagasy farmers and artisans. By cultivating native host plants and using gentle harvesting methods that allow silkworms to mature, communities create a new source of income rooted in ecological stewardship. The empty cocoons are steamed flat and stitched together, forming a uniquely textured, handcrafted textile.
Wildlife Friendly production in Madagascar is shaped by local ingenuity and a deep respect for nature. Its success depends on textile companies committed to building transparent, traceable supply chains that support biodiversity, strengthen local livelihoods, and deliver long-term value.
Support Nature-Positive Practices
Help us create an opportunity for Wildlife Friendly + Regenerative silk in the sustainable and luxury textile market. Let's support a responsible fiber that gives back to the Earth and supports farmers' livelihoods.
Reforestation
Local farmers have planted over 30,000 native species trees since 2009, contributing directly to the reforestation of the endangered Madagascar rainforest.
Conservation
By providing subistence farmers with sustainable supplemental income, Tanana Madagascar encourages inter-cropping practices using native plant species, thus contributing to the protection and conservation of endemic flora and fauna.
Education
Tanana Madgascar supports farmers and artisans to earn enough to send their child to school.
Fair Labor
Tanana Madagascar offers regular employment to a team that would otherwise have little access to paying jobs.