Equal means they are the same.

7 = 5 2

5 2 is the same as 7.

Equivalent could be something different that has some quality that is the same. For example: "Wal-Mart replaced my Panasonic T.V. with an equivalent Sony T.V."

Now there are places where people unravel silkworm cocoons and breed silkworms, so this stage is often skipped: reeling silk, crocheting silk, separating fibers, twisting, weaving by machine; according to the needs of the market, it is bleached, dyed, slightly bleached to white, dyed and exposed for dryness