Many people believe that 100% mulberry silk is the same as 100% silk, but that’s not quite true! In fact, 100% mulberry silk does not equal 100% silk. Silk is a broad term that includes various types, such as mulberry silk, tussah silk, and castor silk (also known as cassava silk).
Mulberry silk is just one kind of silk! It’s the most prized among silk fabrics, which is why some sellers may mislead consumers into thinking that all silk is mulberry silk.
Today, Let’s talk about the characteristics of mulberry silk, tussah silk, and castor silk, as well as tips on how to identify genuine silk products!
Mulberry Silk
Mulberry silk comes from domesticated silkworms in the south, which are typically fed mulberry leaves. It’s a natural fiber, often referred to as “natural silk.” This silk is produced from mature silkworm cocoons that secrete silk liquid during cocoon formation, which then solidifies into long, continuous fibers.
Long Fibers with Great Insulation
Mulberry silk fibers are long, offering excellent elasticity and toughness. They can stretch several meters without breaking, making mulberry silk quilts airy and warm, with great insulation properties.
Soft Texture with a Beautiful Shine
Mulberry silk is naturally white and crystal clear, requiring no chemical bleaching. Its slender fibers are evenly distributed, giving mulberry silk products a soft, silky feel and a lovely shine.
Tussah Silk
Tussah silk comes from wild silkworms in the north, which feed on Tussah leaves. It’s a unique natural textile material found in China.
Pale Yellow and Tough
The original color of tussah silk is gray-black, but it turns light yellow after a chemical fading process. Unlike the smooth and soft mulberry silk, tussah silk is tougher and produces strong, durable fabrics.
Shorter Fibers with Less Gloss
Tussah silk fibers are shorter and not as soft as mulberry silk. The fabric has a more structured feel, so tussah silk quilts don’t snuggle as closely as mulberry silk quilts. Additionally, because tussah silk starts as dark brown, it must be chemically bleached, resulting in less shine overall.
Castor Silk
Castor silk comes from wild silkworms that feed on castor leaves, cassava leaves, and crane leaves. These silkworms are very adaptable, but their cocoons can’t be reeled for silk. Instead, they are used as raw materials for silk spinning, collectively referred to as silk.
How to Identify Silk Products
Burn Test: Silk is a natural fiber that is flame-retardant. When you burn it, it will extinguish once the flame is removed. The burned area turns gray-black, and if you pinch it, it crumbles into powder. You’ll also notice white smoke and a smell similar to burnt hair.
Dissolution Test: Place the silk in disinfectant agent and wait about 30 minutes. If it dissolves completely, it’s real silk. If it doesn’t, it might be a synthetic fiber or another material pretending to be silk.
Check the Care Label: Don’t just take a merchant’s word for it when buying silk products! Always check the care label, focusing on the filling parameters (which should specify the type of silk used, e.g., mulberry silk > tussah silk), the length of the silk fibers (filament cotton > medium filament cotton > short silk cotton), the proportion of silk, fabric parameters, and the silk grade.
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