Although extremely different, silk and satin are very often confused.
The first thing to know is that silk is a material while satin is simply a weaving technique.
Silk, also nicknamed “the queen of fibers” because of its numerous benefits for skin and hair , is a material made from 100% natural proteins.
Satin is simply a type of weaving which consists of weaving the threads very tightly to obtain a shiny fabric.
The term Silk Satin therefore means that the Silk was woven using weaving techniques called Satin.
There is therefore silk satin, cotton satin but also polyester satin. This is why it is very important to always check the label on a “satin” item to find out what material it was woven from.
How to distinguish silk satin from polyester satin?
Although having completely different benefits, silk satin and polyester satin can look the same, making it difficult to tell the difference between the two fabrics. That said, there are still indicators that can reveal this difference.
The first indicator is price.
Take satin pillowcases as an example. If they are less than 30 euros, it will certainly be polyester satin pillowcases rather than silk satin. They will probably be just as aesthetic as if they were made with silk, but their benefits on skin , hair and sleep will be non-existent.
The same goes for all satin textiles which are at a very low price compared to the usual prices for silk. It is therefore necessary to do several research before making a purchase.
The second indicator is the texture and appearance of the fabric.
It is possible to distinguish a silk satin fabric from a polyester satin fabric by rubbing the fabric between your fingers. Real silk will warm up while polyester will not change temperature.
Regarding the appearance of the fabric, you should know that excess shine does not mean that the fabric is made from real silk. On the contrary, if the fabric shines too much, it is potentially polyester, simply because silk has more of a pearly multi-colored shine.
The third indicator and the safest of all: The lighter test.
If you want to be sure and remove all possible doubt, you will have to burn a piece of the fabric.
When exposed to fire, silk will burn slowly and smell like burning hair. Any other synthetic material will melt and smell like plastic.
Learn more about the different ways to recognize real silk
Discover the different points to take into account when purchasing a silk item
Why choose silk satin if polyester satin can be just as soft and shiny?
If you are just looking for an inexpensive item with a nice shine, polyester satin is a very good compromise.
For those who, in addition to appearance, are looking for a fabric with many benefits, silk satin is undoubtedly the best option.
Indeed, silk is a naturally breathable material , it has this impressive double capacity which consists of absorbing humidity then emitting it.
If you sweat, the silk will absorb that sweat so the fabric doesn't stay damp, and then it will release that moisture so the fabric doesn't smell bad. This effect is non-existent when it comes to polyester or any other synthetic material.
Silk's ability to emit moisture makes it inhospitable to germs, dust mites and bedbugs. It therefore has incredible hypoallergenic properties.
Silk fabrics are the perfect allies for people suffering from allergies. This effect is once again impossible to obtain with a material such as polyester.
Silk is also known to have thermoregulatory properties allowing the body to maintain an optimal body temperature.
As your body cools, the silk fabric will warm up, and as your skin warms up, the silk will cool down.
This ability comes from the fact that silk is made from the fibers which constitute the cocoon of the larva. The role of this cocoon is to maintain optimal environmental conditions so that the larva can transform into a butterfly. Silk therefore allows us to benefit from these same benefits offered by the cocoon.
Polyester, for its part, is a static, flammable and very hot material. In other words, unsuitable for hot weather.
Although similar in appearance, the difference between silk satin and polyester satin lies in the benefits provided by the nature of the material.
Satin and silk, the perfect combination
You will have understood, satin and silk are like day is night. The first is a weaving method while the second is a material.
Satin can be woven from several materials, natural or synthetic. The fabric obtained will always have a very beautiful shiny appearance, but the benefits will be non-existent if it is woven from synthetic materials.
The best way to take advantage of the advantages of Satin and Silk would therefore be to combine them. This combination produces a fabric of incomparable shine and softness, while preserving all the benefits of silk.
Discover the benefits of silk
Discover the difference between cotton and silk
Learn more about the different silk weaving techniques