What Is Mulberry Silk?

Mulberry silk is silk from one specific silkworm, Bombyx mori, farmed and fed a diet of nothing but mulberry leaves. That restricted, controlled diet is what makes mulberry silk what it is: a finer, more uniform fibre than any wild silk, because a farmed worm on a single consistent food source produces a more consistent cocoon than one foraging on whatever's available. It's the reason mulberry accounts for the large majority of silk produced worldwide, and it's what almost all silk bedding and sleepwear is actually made from.

What actually makes it different from other silk

A wild or semi-wild silkworm, the kind that produces tussah, muga or eri silk, eats what's naturally available and spins a less uniform cocoon as a result: coarser, often coloured, sometimes less enclosed. Mulberry's controlled diet and farming produce a fine, near-white, highly uniform filament instead. That uniformity is what a stated momme figure is actually measuring, and it's why mulberry, not the wild silks, is what's used where a smooth, consistent surface against skin matters most. The specific comparisons are at mulberry vs tussah, mulberry vs muga, and mulberry vs eri.

Momme and grade

Momme measures the weight of the fabric, and it's the number worth checking on any listing, since it's specific to real silk and doesn't apply to a synthetic. 19 to 22 momme is the range most bedding is built from; heavier keeps climbing in weight and price without necessarily suiting a pillowcase or mask better.

Grade is a separate measure, describing the filament's length and uniformity. It's a real part of how silk is classified in the trade, but unlike momme, there's no independent body checking a seller's grade claim against the fabric, so it's worth treating as one input rather than the deciding one.

What mulberry silk is actually good for

• Less hair friction. A smooth, uniform fibre lets hair slide rather than catch, which is the real mechanism behind less breakage and fewer tangles overnight.
• Less pressure on skin. The same smoothness means less pulling on skin against a pillowcase or mask.
• Hypoallergenic by structure. Silk's smooth fibre doesn't trap dust and allergens the way a rougher, looser weave can.

Common misconceptions

"It's too delicate for everyday use"

Handled properly, mulberry silk holds up for years. It needs specific care, not fragile handling.

"It can't be machine washed"

It can, on a cold, delicate cycle with a silk-specific detergent, ideally inside a mesh bag to keep it away from zips and hooks. Hand washing is the gentler option, not the only one.

"Higher momme always means better quality"

Not past a point. 19 to 22 momme covers what bedding actually needs; beyond that you're mostly paying for weight the fabric doesn't need for that use.

Where it comes from

Mulberry silk production traces back to ancient China, and the wider mechanics of how any silk fibre is reeled and processed are covered at what is silk.

Common questions

Is mulberry silk the best type of silk?

For bedding and anything worn against skin, its fine, uniform fibre is what that job actually needs. Wild silks like tussah or muga suit different uses, where their durability or colour matters more than uniformity.

Why is mulberry silk more expensive than other fabrics?

It's farmed and reeled largely by hand, on a controlled diet, which costs more than machine-spinning a synthetic or harvesting a wild fibre at scale.

How do I know if mulberry silk is genuine?

Check for a stated momme figure and a fibre content label. A listing that says only "silk" or "silky feel" with no momme number is worth a closer look.

Silk Pearl works exclusively in 22 momme mulberry silk, OEKO-TEX certified. See the full range in the shop.