Elevate with Silk Momme: The Benchmark of Luxury

Silk momme is the unit through which silk is measured just like how thread count is used to measure cotton. One thing to keep in mind is that they are nothing alike. In this blog, you shall articulate silk momme. What is it, how does it matter, and why it is important.

What is Silk Momme?

Momme = Weight of silk 

According to history, the momme unit was introduced by the Japanese to measure the density of silk. The higher the momme, the tighter the weave, meaning silk incorporated per square inch. This was introduced as the silk thread is very refined.

In metric terms, 1 momme= 4.34 grams/square meter. 

One crucial thing to note is that the “thread count” DOES NOT apply here.

Thread count is used to measure and identify the quality of cotton but it is NOT at all the same with silk. 

Silk is a completely different fabric. Each strand of silk is 1/10th the thickness of human hair. The thinness of the strand shouldn’t be misjudged. Note that it is stronger than steel of the same diameter and is the strongest natural fiber. Due to such a refined thread, the thread count would be extremely high (in thousands) which wouldn’t be feasible so momme was introduced and it is still a standardized way to measure silk today. 

For example:
Weight of a silk scarf which is generally 12-16 momme. So it would be,16×4.34 sqm= 69 grams per square meter.

22 momme VS 25 momme

Traditionally, 22 momme and 25 momme are used for curating silk bed sets, pillowcases, and other upholstery items. However, new blends consisting of 30 momme and higher are also gradually being used. One thing to keep in mind is that the higher the momme, the higher the opacity of the fabric which leads to a softer feel, high color payoff, and longevity. Nonetheless, 22 to 25 momme is traditionally used in bedding.

Is Thread Count Viable In Silk?

No, absolutely not. If you come across a silk supplier/manufacturer who is using thread count as their silk reference, you should look elsewhere. It is likely that the merchant/supplier doesn’t have an understanding of their product or they are constituting cotton, viscose, or other composition to their product and claiming it as silk. If you want to know more in detail about thread count viability in silk, you can visit here. So how can you be careful in the silk market?

Understanding your Silk

Know what kind of silk you would want to use and for what purpose. For bedding and upholstery, mulberry silk is the way to go. Please know that silk is classified on various factors as thread, strength, elasticity, cohesion, and breaking points. This is the time to not go cheap. No one would sell you pure silk for cheap. Undoubtedly the finest quality of mulberry silk would naturally cost more than the adultered or mixed ones in the market. 

Dyeing and processing of silk

When you’re choosing silk for your bedding or your upholstery, you need to keep in mind that the silk material is going to be in contact with your skin for several hours straight. So it is crucial that the chosen fabrics are treated with utmost care and don’t involve any harmful adulterants for dyeing or processing which can be detrimental to health. Furthermore, the finishing of the silk is crucial for exceptional skin comfort .

Finishing of Silk

Just getting the right yarn quality is not enough. Evidently the quality of silk also depends on the way that it is made. Moreover, the finishing of the silk yarn, the weave, the warp/weft count, the dyes that are used, and other treatments. Our silk fabrics are carefully thought out and executed. They are made from the most supreme quality of yarns and treated with care for your comfort and durability. The final result is a smooth fabric with a rich colour payoff and just the right shine. The finished processed silk in woven in various yarns to process desirable fabric for bedspreads and upholstery needs. You can view more about silk in bedding and upholstery here.

Please note that for some colors and thread densities, the silk yarn is first dyed before proceeding for weaving to maintain the right colour penetration and look. 

Conclusion

With the world lost in the internet, a lot of cheap and mix variants have arrived that make it near impossible to concrete the right quality and finish. Moreover, our fabrics are skilfully curated with the finest materials. You can view our website to browse through our selection of purest mulberry silk fabrics or contact us through email and we’ll be happy to assist you!

NOTE- RaaHaa Fabrics does not take any credit for the photos/pictures used in this article. The images in this article are as a reference from different sources on the internet.