Mulberry silk: your 12 questions answered
Share
The short answer
Mulberry silk is the filament spun by the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, which feeds on mulberry leaves: one continuous protein thread per cocoon. On a label, read four things: the fibre (100% mulberry silk), the weight in momme, the grade (such as 6A) and a certificate number you can check.
The questions people ask most often about mulberry silk, on forums and before a first purchase, each answered in a minute. The linked guides go further.
What do the words on a silk label mean?
| On the label | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| 100% silk | The fabric is silk alone |
| Mulberry | Which silk: the filament of the domesticated silkworm |
| 22 momme | The weight: about 95 g of silk per square metre |
| Grade 6A | The grade of the raw silk, before weaving |
| OEKO-TEX® number | A certificate you can check online |
Where Siluxe fits
Each Siluxe piece is 100% mulberry silk, 22 momme, Grade 6A, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, certificate 26.HCN.36686, tested for harmful substances, and designed in Paris: the silk pillowcase ($99), the eye mask ($41) and the bonnets. Complimentary delivery from $100 on USD orders: the pillowcase and the eye mask together qualify.
FAQ
1. What is mulberry silk?
The silk of the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, raised on mulberry leaves. Each cocoon is one continuous filament of a protein called fibroin, with a usable length of about 600 to 900 metres, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
2. Is mulberry silk the same as pure silk?
“Pure silk” or “100% silk” says the fabric is silk alone: EU labelling allows those words only when a product is made of one fibre. “Mulberry” says which silk. A precise label says both, as ours does: 100% mulberry silk.
3. What does Grade 6A mean?
It is a grade of raw silk: it describes tested qualities of the reeled silk, such as evenness, cleanness and strength, before it is woven. It is not a certificate for the finished product. Our guide to Grade 6A goes further.
4. What does momme mean?
Momme is the weight of silk fabric. One momme is about 4.34 g per square metre, so 22 momme is about 95 g. A higher number means a denser fabric, not a better one by itself. Our 22 momme guide compares 19, 22 and 25.
5. What is the difference between reeled silk and spun silk?
Reeled silk is unwound from the cocoon as long filaments. Spun silk, Britannica explains, is made from short lengths from damaged cocoons or broken during processing, twisted together into yarn. Filament silk has the smooth, even surface that a pillowcase is chosen for.
6. Does real silk rustle?
Not necessarily. Britannica notes that the rustling sound of some crisp silks, called scroop, does not come from the fibre itself: it comes from processing, and it does not indicate quality, as is sometimes believed. Read the label instead of listening to the fabric.
7. How can I tell if a pillowcase is real silk?
Start with the sewn label: it must name the fibre and its percentage. Then look for the momme, the grade and a certificate number. Shine proves nothing: polyester satin shines too. Our silk or satin guide walks through the label test.
8. Why does mulberry silk cost more than polyester satin?
Because of how it is made. Silkworms are raised on mulberry leaves, each cocoon is reeled as one filament, and degumming, which leaves silk soft and lustrous, can take away as much as 30 per cent of its weight, Britannica notes. Polyester is a synthetic fibre made in quantity.
9. Are the eye mask and the scrunchies the same silk?
At Siluxe, yes. The pillowcase, the eye mask, the headband, the scrunchies and the bonnets are all 100% mulberry silk, 22 momme, Grade 6A, under the same OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certificate, 26.HCN.36686, tested for harmful substances.
10. Can you iron silk?
Yes, gently: on low heat, on the reverse, or with a light touch of steam. Creases from a drawer or a suitcase also soften once the pillowcase is back on the pillow.
11. Why should silk dry out of direct sun?
Britannica notes that silk tends to break down with long exposure to sunlight, and that it is weaker while wet. So press it in a towel instead of wringing it, dry it flat, away from sun and heat, and never in a tumble dryer.
12. Silk pillowcase or silk bonnet: do I need both?
Not always. A pillowcase gives your face and hair a smooth surface with nothing on your head; a bonnet keeps the hair together, whatever pillow you are on. Our pillowcase or bonnet guide helps you choose.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Sericulture: the silkworm and its filament, spun silk, degumming, scroop, sunlight and wet strength.
- Your Europe (European Union), Textile label (last checked 13 July 2026): “100%” or “pure” for one fibre only.