Mulberry silk is one of the oldest types of silk. It comes from the Morus Alba tree and was made popular in China over 5,000 years ago.
Mulberry silk is the highest quality silk available for purchase. In addition to its unique softness, its beautiful appearance, and its strength, it draws its popularity from the many benefits it confers .
What type of textiles is mulberry silk used for?
Mulberry silk is the most qualitative and luxurious type of silk on the market. It is used in clothing manufacturing, typically for high-fashion textiles, high-end furnishing fabrics and luxury bedding.
Very resistant and durable in nature, fabrics made from mulberry silk are perfectly suited to frequent use.
Its shine and softness make it an exceptional choice in the world of haute couture, and its hypoallergenic and antifungal properties make it an essential ally in luxury bedding.
Beyond textiles, mulberry silk is also used in the medical industry.
The fibers that make up mulberry silk are 100% natural, strong and biocompatible. These fibers make excellent thread for stitches as they do not dissolve in the body or become incorporated into the skin.
How is mulberry silk made?
Silk manufacturing, also called sericulture, was developed by the Chinese thousands of years ago. They started by harvesting silk from wild butterflies, then decided to domesticate the Bombyx Mori butterfly for the exclusive production of mulberry silk.
Mulberry silk is therefore made from the cocoon of the Bombyx Mori butterfly.
Before transforming into a butterfly, the caterpillars, also called silkworms, feed exclusively on white mulberry leaves, hence the name mulberry silk.
As they grow, the caterpillars will secrete a liquid made of fine fibers, which will turn into long, uninterrupted threads.
These threads are a white shade, incredibly smooth and durable, and will make up the cocoon.
The cocoons are then unraveled, and the long strong threads that constitute them are spun and woven to create the silk fabric.
The life cycle of a Bombyx Mori butterfly depends on the production of the cocoon. Without these natural fibers created through their diet, they cannot reach maturity and reproduce, and without them reproducing, the manufacture of mulberry silk would be impossible.
What are the characteristics of mulberry silk?
Mulberry silk fibers have natural protective qualities, which help protect caterpillars from fungal and bacterial infections, regulate their temperature, and keep dust away so they can transform safely.
These characteristics, which keep the caterpillar safe inside its cocoon, also benefit humans, making mulberry silk one of the best textiles in the world.
Mulberry silk has unique benefits. It is 100% natural, odorless and hypoallergenic.
Mulberry silk contains a natural protein called sericin , which counteracts allergic reactions. Mulberry silk is a perfect material for people with sensitive skin or prone to allergies.
Mulberry silk fabrics are also very durable and resistant. Each strand of silk has the same tensile strength as steel of the same size and weight.
What is the difference between mulberry silk and other types of silk?
Because the silkworms of the Bombyx Mori butterfly are fed only on mulberry leaves, the resulting silk is some of the finest available in the world. Pure white in color, and composed of long fibers, mulberry silk is more refined than any other silk.
Unlike all other types of silk , the fibers produced by mulberry silkworms will have a uniform quality: their diameter, color and texture will be almost similar from one cocoon to another.
The quality of a silk fabric is defined in part by the length of its threads. The longer the threads, the smoother the resulting fabric will be and free from lumpy filaments that could cling to skin or hair.
The great particularity of mulberry silk is precisely the length of its fibers.
Wild silks, such as Tussah , Muga or Eri silk, are less uniform in color and texture, with shorter strands.
The silk fibers produced by wild silkworms can vary from cocoon to cocoon due to their varied diet. The threads that make up their cocoons are therefore shorter, and when woven, the result will be quite rough.
To recap, here are the main differences between mulberry silk and all other types of silk:
Uniformity : The diet of Bombyx Mori silkworms favors the creation of long, refined fibers. Other types of silk produce shorter fibers, creating anomalies in the fabric once woven.
The color: Mulberry silk is always a pure white shade, which gives it a luxurious character. Other types of silk may have less uniform hues due to the varied diet of wild silkworms.
Texture: Fabrics made from other types of silk can be quite rough to the touch, while mulberry silk is very soft.
The scent: Mulberry silk is the only silk to be completely odorless.
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What are the benefits of mulberry silk?
The benefits of mulberry silk are numerous. Here is a brief list:
Benefits for the skin:
Mulberry silk fibers contain 18 amino acids and proteins that our skin nourishes. This is why mulberry silk bedding is one of the best there is.
When we use silk pillowcases and sheets, which are in contact with our skin for several hours, the latter benefits from the benefits of amino acids and regenerates itself during sleep.
Mulberry silk pillowcases prevent the appearance of wrinkles, fight acne, and promote skin hydration.
The benefits for hair:
Mulberry silk helps hair fibers better retain their natural moisture, making hair less prone to breakage.
Silk pillowcases produce much less friction when in contact with the hair compared to pillowcases made with other materials.
The use of mulberry silk pillowcases and nightcaps is an excellent ally against frizz, tangles, and split ends.
Hydrated during sleep, hair will be softer and shinier when you wake up.
The benefits on sleep:
Mulberry silk is very soft, extremely comfortable, but also temperature-regulating. Mulberry silk fabrics have this impressive ability to adapt to the temperature of the human body.
The fibers of mulberry silk are those which constitute the cocoon of the Bombyx Mori. These fibers create an ideal atmosphere for the development of the insect. The good news is that by using mulberry silk items, we also benefit from the properties of these fibers.
With materials such as cotton, you will need to purchase different comforters for different seasons. With silk, a single comforter will be enough. As your body warms up during the night, the mulberry silk fabric will cool, and as your body cools, the silk will warm up.
These incredible temperature regulating properties make mulberry silk an exceptional choice when it comes to bedding.
Mulberry silk sheets and pillowcases are also the solution for people who suffer from night sweats.
Mulberry silk is an excellent insulator while being breathable. It is capable of retaining up to a third of its weight in moisture, then evacuating it without producing the slightest unpleasant odor.
For people with sensitive skin or prone to allergies, mulberry silk is the perfect material.
Thanks to the sericin contained in its fibers, mulberry silk prevents the occurrence of allergic reactions. It is hypoallergenic and antibacterial,
Mulberry silk fabrics make extraordinary textiles for people with sensitive skin or noses.
Mulberry silk is undoubtedly the ideal choice for menopausal women who suffer from hot flashes, for people who are prone to night sweating, for people with allergies or sensitive or acne-prone skin and for anyone who wants to improve and preserve the texture of your hair and the beautiful appearance of your skin.
Where to buy mulberry silk fabric and at what price?
Mulberry silk can be purchased in fabric stores, but also online.
When you make your purchases, you will need to pay attention to the product description and make sure that your fabric is made from 100% mulberry silk.
You have to be very careful because even if it is mentioned that the fabric is 100% silk, it would not be surprising if this refers to wild silks which include any type of insect secretions. The mention “mulberry silk” is therefore very important.
It is also very common to find “mixed” fabrics with several different types of silk. These fabrics will obviously not be at the same level of quality as a 100% mulberry silk fabric.
The other points to take into account are the “ mommes ” , which correspond to the weight of silk contained in the fabric, and finally, the “ Grade ”. silk used in fabric. These two points are decisive for the quality of the product.
In terms of price, mulberry silk is on the high end of fabric prices. It starts at around 20 euros per meter. This price may vary depending on the weaving technique , dyeing and weight .
Some mulberry silk fabrics can cost up to 70 euros per meter.
Regarding bedding items, prices will vary depending on the number of “ mommes ” and the “ Grade ” . A 19 momme mulberry silk pillowcase, for example, will cost between 30 and 50 euros depending on its size.
Depending on the moms, the price can be higher and go to more than a hundred euros. 30 mommes is considered the highest quality weight for bedding and also the most expensive.
Below these prices, the quality of the product must be questioned.
For thousands of years now, mulberry silk has been considered the fabric of choice for many people. As durable as it is beautiful, this fabric allows us to enjoy all the benefits that nature can offer.
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