What to look for when choosing a silk pillowcase

When you are looking for a silk pillowcase, it’s difficult to say that there is such a thing as a bad silk pillowcase. There may be different weights and grades and qualities of silk, but at the end of the day, anything that is silky smooth and allows your face and hair to glide over the surface will be wonderful and will feel great as you sleep. There are a few things that you might like to consider when purchasing a new pillowcase. After all, an educated shopper will always make better choices.

1. The Type of Silk in your Silk Pillowcase

Look for a silk pillowcase made from 100% pure mulberry silk. Mulberry silk comes from the Bombyx mori silkworm, a species whose diet consists exclusively of leaves from the Mulberry tree. The finest silk in the world is grown and woven in China, where they've been making silk for more than 4,000 years (fun fact: the Chinese discovered silk by accident). Mulberry silk threads are the best on Earth; they are smoother, stronger, and more uniformly colored than any other variety of silk. The single silk fiber is stronger than a steel fiber of the same diameter. At the same time, silk charmeuse (the most popular weave) is smooth and luxurious to the touch and feel. Mulberry silk charmeuse is smooth and friction-free; it helps eliminate bed head, frizz, and sleep wrinkles while allowing skin and hair to retain precious moisture. If you’re looking for the pinnacle of luxury and beauty benefits, buy a charmeuse weave pillowcase labeled pure mulberry.

2. Know about thread count

Although the phrase thread count gets thrown around a lot, as long as your silk pillowcases are above 400 or so, it doesn’t matter. Extremely high thread counts are often not reliable and might be better avoided unless the manufacturer clearly states the facts behind the number. Some manufacturers will twist 2 or 3 threads together to make one yarn, yet use the number of threads in the thread count. That means that a piece of fabric that has a thread count of 200 may be marketed as having a 400 or 600 thread count because there were 2 or 3 threads used when making the yarn. The result is something that should feel ultra-smooth but does not.

3. Design Details Matter in a Silk Pillowcase

Small but essential details mean a lot to the look and feel of your silk pillowcase. A hidden zipper, for example, is out of sight, but some people find it uncomfortable to sleep on; zippers also have the potential to catch, snag, and break. It comes down to personal preference. We recommend silk pillowcases with fabric closures, such as the signature "envelope closure" used on all Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases. Similarly, we suggest choosing a real silk pillowcase with French seams; the fabric is folded over and sewn for a finished look without "raw edges." Check the details such as closing (zipper, envelope) and stitching which reflect personal preference.