Guide
Silk vs. satin, and what 22 momme actually means
The most common mistake when buying a “silk” pillowcase is comparing the wrong things. Satin is a weave. Silk is a fibre. A satin pillowcase can be made of polyester — and most cheap ones are.
Momme: the number that matters
Momme (mm) measures the weight of silk fabric. Bedding silk usually runs from 16 to 30 momme.
- 16-18 momme — light and inexpensive, but thin and prone to wearing out with regular washing.
- 22 momme — the sweet spot. Dense, durable, machine-washable, still feather-light against skin. This is what we make.
- 25-30 momme — heavier and pricier, with diminishing returns for most sleepers.
6A grade: the fibre quality
Mulberry silk is graded from C up to 6A. Grade 6A means long, uniform filaments with no short-fibre fuzz — which is what produces that cool, slippery surface hair glides over instead of catching on.
Side by side
| 22 momme mulberry silk | Satin | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A natural protein fibre spun by silkworms fed on mulberry leaves. | A weave structure. Usually polyester or nylon, sometimes silk. |
| Breathability | Naturally temperature-regulating; cool in summer, warm in winter. | Polyester traps heat and moisture against the skin. |
| Moisture | Absorbs far less of your skincare and natural oils than cotton. | Non-absorbent but non-breathable, so it can feel clammy. |
| Longevity | At 22 momme, withstands years of cool machine washes. | Pills and loses its sheen relatively quickly. |
| Price signal | Genuine 22-momme silk is never bargain-bin cheap. | Very low prices almost always mean polyester. |
Three checks before you buy
- Does the listing state a momme weight and a grade? Vague “silky” language usually means polyester.
- Is it silk on both sides? Some pillowcases use a silk face with a synthetic reverse.
- Does it say mulberry silk specifically, not just “silk-like” or “satin”?