Mulberry silk vs Other Silk? It is known as the best silk thread on the earth. Produced by the Bombyx mori silkworm, it is renowned for its extraordinary quality, lustrous appearance, durability, and softness, making it a favorite in high-end fashion garments and available in various colors.

Other silk include Eri silk, Muga silk, and Tussah silk. The most common mulberry types are Spider Silk, tasar silk, Anaphe silk, Fagara Silk, and Coan silk. Meanwhile, Rayon and silk satin weave are well-known artificial silks.

Before Mulberry Silk vs Other Silks, Let’s Introduction to Silk Fabrics First

Silk is a protein-rich fabric naturally produced from silkworms. Raw silk, an unrefined silk with a natural yellowish color and coarser texture, is produced from cocoons and varies depending on the silkworm species. It is woven into valuable textiles. Silk is divided into different types, natural or artificial, based on its synthesis.

Natural Silk vs Artificial Silk

Natural silk is made from the cocoons of silkworms, while artificial silk is made from plant cellulose. Natural silk is a more durable fabric with tensile strength and extra-long fibers. Artificial silk has a slightly rougher texture.

Natural silk is more expensive than artificial silk because it is pure silk, which is difficult to produce. It is produced after careful processing and harvest of silk worm’s cocoon. These cocoons are immersed in boiling water to extract fine long fibers. The silk produced, especially mulberry silk, is of superior quality to other silk types due to the meticulous production process involving silkworms feeding on Mulberry tree leaves.

Artificial silk is produced from wool, cotton and linen fibers. It is also called synthetic silk. It is easy to produce and a cheap alternative to Natural silk.

How will you distinguish natural and artificial silk?

Natural silk has a glamorous sheen, especially when brought in light. Artificial silk is not evenly smooth and has less shiny appearance. You can understand the difference by hand feel of both fabrics but critical assessment needs a Flame test.

For this, you have to burn a thread from the edge of silk fabric, if it burns with a burning smell of human hair, then it is 100% natural silk fabric, and if it gives off odors of burning chemicals, then it is an artificial silk. The sericin protein in natural silk causes the burning smell.

Types of Natural Silk

Natural silk is produced from silkworm species and insects. The mulberry silkworm, which feeds on mulberry leaves, is particularly significant in producing mulberry silk, known for its fine and lustrous fibers. The raw materials for peace silk are plants such as Mulberry, oak, pine, and juniper trees. Following are the different types of natural silk:

Mulberry silk

Mulberry silk is the highest quality silk produced by the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori). This silk accounts for 90% of silk’s global production. It is primarily cultivated through sericulture, which involves carefully rearing mulberry silkworms on a diet of mulberry leaves.

Originating mainly in China, these silk fibers are known for their lustrous appearance and are primarily used in high fashion clothing, particularly formal wear, wedding dresses, silk pillowcases, and lingerie.

Muga silk

Muga silk is produced exclusively from wild silkworms in Assam and has a beautiful golden hue. Muga silk is the most expensive of the wild silks and is used to make chaddars, shawls, and Riha- sador sarees for Assam.

Eri silk

Eri silk is spun from the cocoons of the ailanthus silk moth (Samia cynthia). Eri wild silk is the highest quality and cultivated silk preferred by many traditions, including Buddhist monks. It has wide applications in the textile industry for producing jackets, blankets, quilts, home decor, and bedspreads.

Tussar silk

Tussar silk extracts from the cocoons of moths of the genus Antheraea. This type of silk has a natural golden beige to brown color. It is a coarse textured variety of silk. This furnishing fabric is used to make khula sarees and stitched apparel.

Silk Production and Quality Factors

Silk production practice is called sericulture, where silkworms are reared in captivity and fed mulberry leaves. Silk production was first evolved in Neolithic China during Yangshao culture (5000 BC to 3000 BC ). It first originated with the wife of a Chinese emperor while she was having tea; a small cocoon of silkworm was dropped into her hot cup of tea. She was amazed to note that the cocoon disclosed a long fibrous thread. For over 2500 years, the Chinese kept silkworm production a mystery. Eventually, silkworm production evolved in other Asian countries.

Silkworm cocoons are reeled into long silk fibers. After the degumming process, colored pigments are removed. Different types of silk are produced from different sources. Silk production quality depends upon

• quality of raw materials
• Cocoon viability and firmness
• quantity of raw materials

Factors Affecting Silk Quality

The quality of mulberry silkworms depends on factors such as the kind of silkworm, the quality of the mulberry leaves, the quality of the cocoon, and the production process. Silk quality is also dependent upon environmental conditions. Under a controlled and optimum environment, silkworms release the best quality, long, and tensile silk fibers.

Comparing Mulberry Silk to Other Natural Silks

Following features are noticed and studied when choosing mulberry or other silk varieties:

Chemical properties of Mulberry silk thread:

Chemically, silk filament is durable because of its linear chain of polymers. They contain strong Hydrogen bonds. Under wet conditions, it loses its strength because Hydrogen bonds hydrolyze underwater activity.

Chemically, silk fibers contain two proteins, sericin, and fibroin, in varying proportions. These proteins are responsible for the remarkable quality of silk fabrics. Fibroin gives the smell of burnt hair on heating, whereas sericin is albuminous.

Texture and weight comparison

Mulberry silk is the best quality silk for its natural sheen and soft texture, while other types of silk, such as Eri silk, have a dense, wooly feel. Mulberry silk is lightweight, while other types such as Tasar silk are heavier.

Color and pattern comparison

This silk is pure white colored glossy fabric, but can be dyed in many different colors and designs using natural dyes only. Other types of silk, such as Muga silk, have a natural golden hue. This hue is removed during processing and bleaching.

Durability and softness comparison

It is extremely durable and soft, with a rough texture, while other types of silk, such as Tussah silk, are tougher and less durable. Other silks can not beat mulberry in its soft and shiny texture. But mulberry silk requires more care than others.

Unique Properties of Mulberry Silk

Hypoallergenic properties

Mulberry silk has hypoallergenic properties, making it a great choice for people with sensitive skin. Hypoallergenic means it will not irritate the skin or trigger any flare-ups of skin condition symptoms.

Scent

This silk is also different from other silk because it does not produce odor. Other varieties of silk have a specific scent that people may or may not like, but the good thing is that mulberry silk has a 100% less scent.

Moisture-wicking abilities

Mulberry silk pillowcase fabric has moisture-wicking abilities and leaves a cooling effect for a comfortable sleep environment. Sleeping on a pillowcase made of Mulberry silk pillowcases fabrics will not dehydrate your skin by maintaining its pH. It helps to get a deep night’s sleep without getting sweaty.

Protection for hair:

Mulberry silk prevents frizz and damage to hair. Unlike other silks, it produces the least friction during sleep and reduces the chances of knots and tangles. Silk hair scrunchies and headbands are very useful hair accessories.

Thermoregulation activity:

Mulberry Silk is an effective thermal regulator. Its insulation properties keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. It is a highly breathable fabric. It ensures real beauty sleep no matter the weather is hot or cold. It is more soft and comfortable than cotton or silk pillowcases and bedding.

Advantages of Mulberry Silk Fabrics

Wide range of colors and patterns

Mulberry silk benefits include being naturally white but can be dyed in many different colors and designs. Buying silk products provides a much wider range of patterns and colors. Its long white fibers are delicate yet tensile at the same time.

Best uses for mulberry silk

Some of the uses of mulberry silk are classic silk, which can be used to make soft and comfortable clothing, valuable accessories for hair and skin, and silk sleep masks. They include:

• scrunchies
• Bedspreads
• garments
• lingerie
• home furnishings
• silk sleepwear
• Is 100% mulberry silk vs 100 % silk the same? No, both are not the same. 100 silk encompasses mulberry silk, eri silk, spider silk, and other types, but 100% mulberry silk means it originated purely from mulberry silk worm’s sericulture. It is free of impurities and harmful chemicals and renowned for its remarkable properties such as durability, glossy texture, breathability, and highest quality. Therefore, both terms are different.

Conclusion

Mulberry silk has been known as the world’s best quality silk for its high quality, comfortable feeling, luxurious appearance, and composition purity. It is superior to other silks available on the market. It is termed as real silk fabric for its natural fibers.

Which silk reigns supreme?

• Mulberry silk is considered the supreme type of natural silk due to its durability, softness, versatility, and elegance. Other silk varieties rank in an ascending position compared with mulberry silk. After knowing the benefits of this remarkable sheen fabric, choosing Mulberry over other silk varieties is not a head-scratching task.

Final verdict on mulberry silk vs other natural silks

• While other types of silk, such as Muga silk and Eri silk, have distinct properties and benefits, Mulberry silk is the best all-around choice for those looking for a high-quality silk fabric. You can blindly rely on Mulberry silk’s delicacy, elegance, and strength.