Six easy ways to tell the difference between real silk and fake silk

At Cillouettes, we only deal in the best quality of silk, and we have everything from silk bedding to silk scrunchies. We attach great importance to informing our customers about the benefits of sleeping on real 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 the silk to deteriorate in some contexts. The average consumer probably doesn't 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's why we at Cillouettes have written this guide so you can tell the difference between real and fake silk.

Six tips for real silk

1. Read the product description carefully

The first thing you should pay attention to when buying silk - and especially online - is to read the product description. Pay particular attention when phrases such as "silky" and "soft as silk" appear, as they are often used to describe qualities such as polyester or cotton. Mulberry silk is the purest form of silk available, so we recommend that you go for this. In addition, you should keep an eye on whether the product description states the silk quality (1A - 6 A) and the weight (momme).

General tip: If you do not see the word MOMME, then 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 frequently asked this question, and we understand you! It may be hard to see with the naked eye, but there IS a difference. Silk is known for its luster, which is particularly reflected in light. Synthetic materials cannot replicate this look as they tend to shimmer more than shine.

Real silk is always shiny and never glittery. Fake silk is shimmery.

3. Silk feels different than satin

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

All Cillouette's products are made with a 'charmeuse weave', which is smooth and shiny on the front and matte on the back. Fake silk feels smooth on the front and plastic like on the back.

4. Read the label carefully

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

Artificial silk can be labeled with terms such as "silky", "silk satin" or "satin weave". However, you must of course pay attention if you see the term "synthetic", polyester" or artificial" - here you can be sure that 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. In general, silk is a natural hypoallergenic, and therefore does not irritate even the most sensitive skin. Fake silk will often not be certified with OEKO-TEX® certification, so an indicator may be to look for certification against the use of toxic substances. You can see whether the product is certified either on the product's label or via the company's website.

6. Pay attention to the price of the silk

When it comes to silk, you get what you pay for, but of course you should never overpay. Silk - even real silk - comes in a variety of prices. We recommend you make a price comparison with a number of different reputable silk companies. A good rule of thumb is that silk cushion covers in 50x50 cm must cost at least $30 (DKK 200). If the price is below this, it is probably a fake silk material or a cheap mixture.

At Cillouettes, we are very transparent about the factors that go into the pricing of our silk. The most important factors are, among other things, the weight (momme), the weave and the quality of the silk.

	Genuine 100% Mulberry Silk	Synthetic substance or mixed product
Product description	100% Mulberry Silk	Misleading "Silky" or "Silk feel"
Appearance	Shiny	Sparkling
Feeling	Soft/Smooth	Smooth
Label	Will read "Mulberry Silk"	No label
Security	Certification OEKO-TEX	No certification
Price	Price per meter of silk DKK 100-150	DKK 100-200 per pillow cover

In addition, there is the fire test for silk. You can read about this here , so you can learn to tell the difference between silk.