Silk bedding or satin: why 90% of buyers purchase the wrong thing
You search for silk bedding online and see: "satin bedding", "silk satin", "satin silk". Looks similar. The price is similar too. You buy — and at home you realise it is something completely different. This happens to the vast majority of people buying silk bedding for the first time. And it is not your fault — it is a systematic, misleading marketing practice that almost nobody talks about openly.
The problem: satin and silk bedding are not the same thing
This is the biggest source of confusion on the textile market:
Satin — is a weaving method, not a material. The satin weave creates a shiny, smooth surface. This weave can be used with any material — cotton, polyester, acrylic or genuine silk.
Silk bedding — is bedding made from natural silk produced by silkworms. It can be woven in satin, percale or another weave.
In other words: genuine silk bedding can have a satin weave, but not all satin bedding is silk. Most of what you find online as "satin bedding" or "satin pillowcase" is pure polyester woven in a satin pattern. It shines. It looks expensive. But it is not silk bedding.
What do 90% of people actually buy?
Do an experiment — search for "silk bedding" in any popular online shop. Most results will be one of the following:
Polyester satin — the cheapest option, usually up to 10–20 €. Shines like silk bedding but is synthetic, does not let the skin breathe, gets warm, generates static electricity and gives hair and skin none of the benefits that genuine silk bedding provides.
Acetate satin — slightly better than polyester, but still synthetic and without the properties of genuine silk bedding.
Cotton satin — already a natural material, smooth and pleasant, but also not silk bedding. It lacks the silk proteins (sericin) that are beneficial for skin and hair.
Genuine mulberry silk bedding — what you are actually looking for if you want skin and hair benefits.
How to recognise genuine silk bedding?
1. Momme number (mm)
Genuine silk bedding always has a stated momme number — this is the unit of measurement for silk density. Quality silk bedding — 19–25 momme. If the momme number is absent from the product description — it is almost certainly not genuine silk bedding.
2. Composition on the label
Look for: 100% mulberry silk or 100% natural silk. If it says "satin", "silky", "silk-like" or "silky texture" — it is polyester or a blend. That is not silk bedding.
3. Price
Genuine 22 momme silk bedding costs from 40–50 € for a pillowcase and upward. If you see "silk bedding" for 8–15 € — it is 100% polyester.
4. Burn test (at home)
Genuine silk smells like burning hair when it burns and turns to ash. Polyester melts when burned, smells of plastic and forms a hard ball. This is the most reliable home test.
5. Certificate
Quality silk bedding has an OEKO-TEX® or GOTS certificate. Look for it in the product description.
Why is genuine silk bedding worth its price?
Many people ask — do you really need to pay more? The answer depends on what you are looking for.
If you are buying "just for the shine" — polyester satin is perfectly adequate.
If you are buying silk bedding for skin and hair benefits — only genuine silk:
- Reduces friction damage to hair — the surface of silk bedding is exceptionally smooth, hair does not rub or break during the night. Particularly important for dyed, chemically treated or brittle hair.
- Does not dry out the skin — silk bedding does not retain moisture from night cream or serum. The cosmetics stay on the skin rather than transferring into the pillowcase.
- Regulates temperature — silk bedding warms when cold and cools when warm. Polyester only gets hot.
- Naturally resistant to mites — silk proteins (sericin) are naturally antibacterial and do not create a favourable environment for dust mites.
Mulberry silk bedding — why is it the best?
Not all silk bedding is equal. Mulberry silk bedding is the highest quality variant, produced from silkworms that feed exclusively on the leaves of the mulberry tree (Morus alba). The result — longer, more uniform, stronger and purer silk threads than other silk varieties.
Cheaper "wild silk" or "tussah silk" is also genuine silk bedding, but coarser, less shiny and with shorter, less uniform threads. It works, but does not deliver the same effect for skin and hair.
What to choose: a practical guide
| Need | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Just shine, small budget | Cotton satin |
| Everyday bedding, natural | Percale or cotton |
| Sensitive skin, breakouts | Silk bedding 19+ momme |
| Hair care, brittle hair | Silk bedding 22+ momme |
| Premium sleep, all benefits | Mulberry silk bedding 22–25 momme |
Where to buy genuine silk bedding?
The biggest problem — labels. Even well-intentioned shops sometimes describe their products inaccurately. Always check: the momme number, composition, certificate and price.
In Savashome's silk bedding collection you will find genuine mulberry silk bedding with a clearly stated momme number, OEKO-TEX® certificate and transparent composition — no "silky texture" deceptions. All products are made from 22 momme mulberry silk and clearly labelled showing what you are buying.
In summary
- Satin = weaving method, not a material
- Satin bedding ≠ silk bedding (usually polyester)
- Genuine silk bedding is recognisable by: momme number, "100% mulberry silk" label, price from 40 €+, OEKO-TEX® certificate
- Benefits for skin and hair come only from genuine silk bedding — not from polyester, even if it shines
Next time you see "satin bedding" for 12 € — you will know exactly what you are buying and what you are not.