What Does 6A, 22-Momme, 100% Mulberry Silk Mean?

Not all silk is the same. They vary in thickness, weight, density and other factors that affect the overall quality...

By Blissy Editors Beauty contributor March 3, 2020

We know, it’s a mouthful! And if you aren’t “in the know” then this can be really confusing.

But all of this information lets you know what kind of silk it is and the quality of it.

This is really important when you’re searching for any kind of silk product.

There are a lot of companies out there that won’t even give you this information and just tell you that “they’re the best” even though they sell you a super cheap product that can deliver the benefits that it should.

But we’re not those companies. We’re the real deal! So we’ll tell you everything you need to know to help you make an informed purchasing decision.

What does 6A mean?

Silk is graded on an A, B, and C scale. Each letter referencing a different type of silk product quality. A being the finest, highest quality silk product and C being the lowest.

The Number takes the grading and makes it a step further.

For instance you could have 3A, 5A, or 6A. 6A being the highest. So when you see a silk product that is graded 6A, you can be sure that that is the highest quality of that specific type of silk that you can buy.

What is 22-Momme?

Momme is a unit of measurement, much like thread count in cotton. You can’t use thread count for silk, however, because the silk fibers of silk are much thinner in diameter than those of cotton so you can easily reach a high number for a thread count.

That’s why momme is used instead. Momme describes the silk’s weight and density.

Higher momme means there is more strands of silk per 100 yards of fabric, therefore making the product heavier.

So if they weigh that fabric, and say it’s 19 pounds, the momme would be 19-momme

The higher the momme, the higher the quality and the more durable the fabric is.

Momme can range anywhere from 11-momme to 25-momme.

The higher the better? For the most part. 19-momme, while higher than 11-momme is still considered “lower quality”, while 25-momme is much too heavy for clothes or bedding and is usually used for decor like curtains.

22-momme is the perfect balance and is what you should look for if you’re looking for silk bedding or clothes.

What is 100% Mulberry Silk?

Mulberry Silk is created by silkworms who feed on mulberry leaves. The silk they spin their cocoons into is then used as silk in silk products. Mulberry silk also has a long history of being used in fine linens.

Mulberry Silk is the best silk you can buy for textile purposes.

There are other kinds like spider silk for instance that’s incredibly strong, but that silk is also incredibly expensive and not available to the public.

"100% silk" means the fabric consists only of Mulberry silk. This is important because some companies will blend mulberry silk with other cheaper silks to make a cheaper product. Mulberry silk is incredibly soft and durable.