Six Easy Ways to Tell Real Silk from Fake Silk

At Cillouettes, we only sell the finest quality silk, and we have everything from silk bedding to silk scrunchies. We place great importance on informing our customers about the benefits of sleeping on genuine silk, as well as how to get the best value for money when buying silk bedding and accessories. Unfortunately, there is a tendency for the quality of silk to be diluted in some contexts. The average consumer likely does not know how to tell if silk bedding or accessories are genuine – something many take advantage of to sell fake or low-quality silk as the real thing.

That is why we at Cillouettes have written this guide, so you can tell the difference between real and fake silk.

Six Tips for Genuine Silk

1. Read the product description carefully

The first thing to watch for when buying silk – especially online – is to read the product description. Be especially cautious when you see phrases like "silky soft" and "soft as silk," as these are often used to describe materials like polyester or cotton. Mulberry silk is the purest form of silk available, so we recommend you look for this. Additionally, keep an eye out for whether the product description states the silk quality (1A - 6A) and the weight (momme).

General tip: If you don’t see the word MOMME, it is not quality silk.

2. Silk materials look different from satin

What does silk look like, and how does it differ from satin? We are often asked this question, and we understand why. It can be hard to see with the naked eye, but there is a difference. Silk is known for its sheen, which especially reflects light. Synthetic materials cannot copy this look, as they tend to glimmer more than shine.

Real silk is always shiny and never glittery. Fake silk is glittery and not shiny.

3. Silk feels different from satin

Both silk and satin are "smooth" on the front. Satin, however, tends to be smoother compared to silk. The back of polyester satin will feel "harder" and look like plastic. This is the opposite of silk, which feels soft and has a matte finish.

All Cillouettes products are made with a 'charmeuse weave,' which is smooth and shiny on the front and matte on the back. Fake silk, on the other hand, will feel smooth in front and plastic-like on the back.

4. Read the label carefully

Genuine, natural silk will always be labelled. Look for terms like 100% silk or 100% mulberry silk. The label can often even state the specific quality of silk and its momme weight, which corresponds to the thread count. (Read about momme weight here).

Artificial silk may be labelled with terms like "silky," "silk satin," or "satin weave." However, you should be cautious if you see terms like "synthetic," "polyester," or "artificial." Here you can be sure it is fake silk.

5. Look for OEKO-TEX certificates

With OEKO-TEX or other independent product safety certifications, you can protect yourself against toxic chemicals. Generally, silk is a natural hypoallergenic material and does not irritate even the most sensitive skin. Fake silk often will not be certified with OEKO-TEX®, so one indicator is to look for certification against the use of harmful substances. You can check if the product is certified either on the product’s label or via the company’s website.

6. Pay attention to the price of silk

When it comes to silk, you get what you pay for, but of course, you should never pay too much. Silk – even genuine silk – comes in a range of price levels. We recommend you compare prices among several reputable silk companies. A good rule of thumb is that silk pillowcases in 50x50 cm should cost at least 30 $ (200 DKK). If the price is below this, it is likely fake silk material or a cheap blend.

At Cillouettes, we are very transparent about the factors that go into pricing our silk. The main factors include weight (momme), weaving, and the quality of the silk.

There is also the burn test for silk. You can read about it here, so you can learn to tell silk apart.