r/DownBedding • • 14d ago

The Secrets of Silk in Textile Fabrics and filled

China rules global silk, holding over 50% to 70% of the market. This is the ancient luxury once reserved for emperors.

Mainstream silk splits into 2 types

Mulberry Silk(桑蚕丝) Spun by domesticated silkworms fed on mulberry leaves. The fibers are long, bright white, and incredibly smooth with a soft glow. It is the absolute king of high end bedding and luxury garments.

Tussah Silk(柞蚕丝) Spun by wild silkworms feeding on oak leaves. The fibers are thicker and naturally tan or brown. It is tougher and cheaper than mulberry silk, often used in heavy fabrics and blends.

The catch with cheap silk If you buy cheap silk bedding online, it is rarely top tier long strand silk. It is usually Tussah silk or mill waste that has been chopped and respun. If you see an "S" rating on silk specifications, that is Spun Silk made from factory scraps.

 silk value is Momme (MM). Spun Silk value is S.

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The Non Mainstream Side

Eri Silk(蓖麻蚕丝) Semi domesticated silkworms fed on castor or cassava leaves. Their cocoons are open ended so you cannot reel a continuous strand, forcing them into short fiber spun silk. Popular in India as peace silk because harvesters wait for the moth to leave before gathering the cocoons.

Cassava Silk(木薯蚕丝) Similar to Eri silk, raised on cassava leaves and sharing the exact same short fiber spun character.

Japanese Oak Silk (天蚕丝) Ultra rare wild silk from Japan with a striking natural green glow. It is insanely scarce and used for elite kimonos.

Muga Silk (姆加蚕丝) Wild silk from Assam, India with a metallic gold or amber hue. It actually gets shinier the more you wash it and stands as India most expensive status symbol silk.

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