5 Types of Silk

Before you buy silk products, you should know some basic types. If you know the difference between the different types of silk, you can quickly find the right one when buying a silk piece

Charmeuse Silk

Charmeuse, light and elastic, is a well-known method of weaving silk fibers. Charmeuse fabric is perhaps the most versatile type of silk fabric. Charmeuse offers a natural combination of properties that make it unbeatable for many purposes, and can be used for everything from silk sleepwear to silk bedding. You can consider Charmeuse if you've ever seen silk with a shiny side and a matte side. Not all Charmeuse is the same. Charmeuse woven silk, made on a traditional narrow loom, offers a deeper, more luxurious fabric than modern and less expensive "seamless" woven Charmeuse silk.

Mulberry Silk

Mulberry silk, named for the mulberry leaves on which the uniquely bred silkworms feed, is still technically a Charmeuse silk. The difference in silk quality comes from a unique type of silkworm. Mulberry silk is the finest silk in the world. This is because of careful breeding, strict nutrition and attention to detail. So it  is commonly used to produce high-end silk sheet for a comfortable and luxurious sleeping experience.

Tussah Silk

Tussah silk is actually silk made by wild silkworms that haven't been bred. Because the worms aren't fed or protected as strictly as farmed silkworms, this type of silk isn't as soft and durable as farmed silk. Most wild silk comes from India.

Habotai Silk

Habotai, a medium quality silk, sacrifices the longevity of mulberry silk for a significant cost savings. To produce Habotai silk, a lower-quality silk is sand-washed until it reaches a softness comparable to higher-quality silks. During this process, the silk fibers are damaged. Therefore, Habotai silk isn't very durable.

Duppoini Silk

Dupioni is a strong and beautiful silk. But it feels rough to touch. The low quality is due to the fact that this silk is made from irregular cocoons that don't have the same quality as Charmeuse silk. Dupioni silk is used for decorative purposes. Sometimes it can be used in duvets, but due to its quality it doesn't work so well to maintain the temperature.