How to Tell Real Silk from Fake Silk/Real Silk vs Fake Silk

At TAIHU SNOW, beautiful and luxury silk items are sold with high quality and compeitive price all the time. We spare no effort to introduce clients merits of sleeping on silk, as well as how to get the best value from silk bedding or accessories. Unfortunately, the popularity of silk has attracted too many unscrupulous traders into this market. Since most consumers likely unable to tell the real silk from fake silk, it gives some dishonest merchants opportunities to disguise fake silk or inferior silk as genuine silk.

 

how do I know if my silk is real?

A few tips and tricks that can help you to work out the differences between a quality silk fabric and a synthetic man-made material as follows.

Check Momme & Choose Mulberry Silk

Read the product description, check if you see the word “Momme”/mm. The momme count is the fabric weight of silk fabrics (it's used instead of thread count). Higher momme count means thicker fabric and higher quality. Some sellers try to trick you into buying "silk" without declaring the momme weight. Always ask for this measurement before you purchase silk online.

Apart from that, confirm the silk fabric content is 100% mulberry silk. Mulberry silk is known for being the highest quality silk on the market. This type of silk originates from China and is being used for luxury items all over the world. Mulberry silk is a 100% natural silk with a softer and smoother feel compared to synthetic and silk blend varieties. Some retailers blend silk with other fiber content to produce silk fabrics that are not 100% silk. Others use less expensive short fiber silk, or wild silk, either of which reduce smoothness and durability.

 

Silk vs Satin

Silk luster is defined by how softly it catches and reflects light. That look cannot be replicated with synthetic fabric. Indeed, synthetic silk appears shiny rather than lustrous.

What is the texture of silk? Although both silk and satin are smooth on the front, satin is more slippery than silk. The reverse side of polyester satin fabric will feel "harder" and more like plastic, whereas the reverse side of silk charmeuse is still soft but with a duller finish.

All TAIHU SNOW products have a charmeuse weave that is smooth and lustrous on the front but dull on the back. Fake silk feels slick on the front and plastic on the back.

 

Check OEKO-TEX or Other Safety Certification

Pure mulberry silk is naturally hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial for people with asthma, eczema, dust allergies and other skin disorders. Before purchasing, you should check if the silk is certified by an independent testing and accreditation program such as OEKO-TEX for safety and purity. Although synthetic fiber and fabrics can be certified by OEKO-TEX, it is a costly and time-consuming process. You will not find it on a synthetic fabric disguised as silk. OEKO-TEX®certified fabrics will either be labeled or visible on the company website.

 

Price

Compared to other materials, the silk is more expensive because of its multiple benefits for hair and skin, and on its special process technology. Silk is also a symbol of ancient oriental culture. Originally used and made in China, since the late 20th century, silk items have become more common all over the world.

 

Silk Ring Test

Take a finger ring and try pulling the fabric all the way through the ring. Genuine Silk should delicately glide through the ring with ease, while other fabrics are likely to get caught and bunch up.

This test is sometimes affected by the thickness of the silk. For instance, thicker silks will be more difficult to pull through.

 

Silk Burn Test

This is a sure-fire test if follow the safety guideline. When burned gently with a lighter, silk will smell similar to burned hair and with stop burning when the fame is removed. It also produces brittle ash. However, fake silk materials will smell more like plastic and do not produce ash.