Know the quality of silk products

You’ve probably been thinking about investing in silk products lately, but wondering how to choose a good quality silk piece. Especially with so many choices available online, it can be honestly overwhelming and confusing at times. Knowing the quality of silk products can be surprisingly easy with the following 5 key factors that we put together for you to shop smarter and get the best value and quality of money. 

• Material - what’s the fabric made of?
• Grade - is the silk quality good enough?
• Weave - is the fabric smooth and skin-friendly?
• Momme - how much silk is used in the product?
• Safety - is the silk free from toxic chemicals?

Material - 100% mulberry silk

When you are looking for real silk products, insist on Mulberry Silk, which is regarded as the finest quality silk produced by a specific species of silkworm - Bombyx Mori. And the name Mulberry silk is derived from the food source of mulberry leaves that silkworms feed exclusively on. Compared to other silk fabrics like Tussar silk, Eri silk or Muga silk, Mulberry silk is the softest and the most durable type of silk, incredibly beautiful and luxurious.

When you buy silk products, it’s worthwhile to know if they are made from 100% mulberry silk and not blended with other cheaper silk to sacrifice the quality. At Adora Silk, we guarantee you that all of our products are made from 100% pure mulberry silk.

Grade - 6A grade raw silk

Raw silk reeled from silkworm cocoons is examined and classified into grades. According to GBT 1797-2008 Raw Silk Quality Standards, raw silk is divided into a total of 11 grades - 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, A, B, C, D, E, F, with 6A being the best quality. For better understanding, grades are classified based on the following test items:

1. Size Deviation / dtex
2. Maximum Size Deviation / dtex
3. Evenness Change II Degree
4. Cleanness
5. Neatness
6. Evenness Change III Degree
7. Winding (Breaks)
8. Tenacity
9. Elongation
10. Cohesion

Hence the higher the grade, the better quality of silk fibres used in the making of silk products, with regard to softness, smoothness, strength, durability, and overall sophistication.

Note: Above grading system only represents the quality of raw silk/silk fibres, not the silk fabric. Other factors like weave types, momme, and dyeing process should also be taken into consideration when assessing the quality of silk fabric.

Weave - Charmeuse/satin weave

For different purposes and usage, mulberry silk fibres can be woven into various fabric styles by using different weaving techniques. The most common styles include Charmeuse, Crepe de Chine, Chiffon, Georgette, Organza, Taffeta, Habutai etc. Among all that, Charmeuse silk is the most popular silk fabric for bedding, pillowcases, sheets, clothing, and accessories. Why? Because it’s woven in a particular pattern - satin weave, which brings out extra lustre and smoothness on the front side and leaves a matt finish at the back. This unique feature makes Charmeuse silk incredibly smooth and comfortable to touch, wear, and sleep on.

All Adora Silk products are made with Charmeuse silk with an exclusive finishing process, giving them a distinctively smooth hand feel and lustrous appearance compared to many other brands available.

Momme - silk weight

Momme (mm) is the unit used to measure the weight of silk, very much like the thread count used to measure cotton quality. Higher momme means more strands of silk are used in the making of fabric, hence the heavier and denser the silk would be. In metric terms:

• 1 Momme = 4.3056 gram / ㎡
• 12 Momme = 51.7 gram / ㎡
• 16 Momme = 68.9 gram / ㎡
• 19 Momme = 81.8 gram / ㎡
• 22 Momme = 94.7 gram / ㎡
• 25 Momme = 107.6 gram / ㎡
• 30 Momme = 129.2 gram / ㎡

Is higher momme always better? That depends. Charmeuse silk usually has a momme between 12 and 30. Silk with 19 momme and below are considered lightweight, which is well-suited for scarves and sleepwear. 22-25 momme are considered to be of better quality, ideal for luxury silk bed linens with excellent durability. Anything above 25 momme would be considered heavy silk. Although it appears with richer lustres on the surface, bedding made with 30 momme may compromise in breathability due to the heavyweight.

That said, we recommend 22 momme Charmeuse silk as it is a perfect balance for bedding and clothing in regards to quality, durability, and affordability.

Safety - free from harmful chemicals

It stands to reason that fabric safety is significantly important to our health, especially those in contact with our skin on a daily basis. When you buy silk pieces, look closely if they have been tested and certified by an independent institute to be safe from harmful substances.

All Adora Silk products are certified STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, a globally recognised and trusted safety label in the textile industry. From raw materials to the finished products, including components like buttons and zippers, all are tested to be free from harmful dyes and chemicals. Rest assured that any Adora Silk items you bring home are safe for you and your family, as well as sustainable for the planet.