There are many misconceptions about silk. How about we put an end to them?!
As Montesquieu said: “Skepticism is the first step toward the truth”! It’s therefore urgent to take a step back—a little (if not a lot)—from a number of prejudices that are as fanciful as they are widespread!
Among these outlandish “urban myths and legends”—whose origins are a complete mystery—the ones circulating online just won’t die!
Discovered 3,000 years before our era, silk has always been considered a raw material as refined as it is luxurious, long reserved for an elite few. Now widely accessible, it’s used in the textile industry for its many thermal and antibacterial properties, as well as for its unparalleled luster and softness. It’s no surprise, then, that silk has now found its way into our homes—and especially our bedrooms.
Used in the manufacture of high-quality duvets, pillows, and even bedding, silk caresses, captivates, and gets people talking! Misconceptions are therefore all too common! Here are some surprising and unfounded myths—our top 6 misconceptions about silk:
1 - Silk is cold!
FALSE!
Quite the contrary! Cool in summer and warm in winter, silk is a natural material that absorbs moisture and helps regulate the temperature of your bedding. This property also prevents the growth of bacteria and dust mites and allows the fiber to better regulate temperature.
Thus, a silk sheet, duvet cover, or pillowcase will stay cool in summer and become cozy as soon as the first frosts arrive.
2 - Silk must be hand-washed!
FALSE!
This is the most widespread misconception about silk. Another commonly held belief that is as false as it is widespread!
Silk is a naturally healthy, antibacterial, and hypoallergenic material. For duvets, pillows, and plaids, care with water is therefore unnecessary and could damage the silk and strip it of its natural properties.
Furthermore, the growth of bacteria—which causes unpleasant odors—is limited by silk’s natural antibacterial properties. This means there are even fewer care requirements!
Care for Silk Bedding
All of our silk sheets and silk duvets can therefore be washed in the washing machine!
We recommend a delicate cycle at 30°C and using a detergent specifically formulated for silk, such as Tenestar. Placing the items in a laundry bag will also help protect them inside the machine.
Far from damaging the quality and sheen of your silk sheets, regular care will make them softer and silkier over time.
Care for Silk Duvets
As for our duvets, they are easy to care for. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your bedding and preserve its qualities over the long term:
- Air out your silk duvet two to three times a year, avoiding direct sunlight. This allows the silk to regenerate and regain its volume.
- Protect your duvet with a duvet cover to prevent staining.
If a stain occurs, be sure to clean only the cotton cover, taking care not to get the silk filling wet. To prevent any risk of damaging the silk, we recommend using a detergent specifically designed for silk, such as Tenestar.
When not in use, store the duvet in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight. The travel bag provided is ideal for protecting your duvet from dust while allowing for proper ventilation.
As a last resort, we recommend consulting a professional who is knowledgeable about silk and has a detergent specifically designed for silk. Care under running water is strongly discouraged, as the silk fibers absorb water and lose their natural properties after drying. Be sure to inform the drop-off location of the silk duvet’s value.
3 - Silk is very expensive!
This is indeed one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about silk, yet it’s FALSE!
High-quality silk is expensive to produce. Judge for yourself: on average, between 3,000 and 5,000 silk cocoons are needed to produce 1 kg of silk!
At Maison de la soie, our goal is to strike a balance between the quality you expect from our products and the fair price you’re willing to pay. Compare for yourself—you’ll see!
To enable us to sell some of the most affordable silk bedding and linens on the market, we’ve chosen to sell directly through our online store, without any middlemen.
Furthermore, far from being more expensive than cotton or linen sheets, our silk sheets guarantee high-quality bedding with a proven longevity.
With proper care, your sheets will last for many years, turning your initial purchase into a long-term investment—especially in your health and comfort.
And besides, since we spend a third of our lives sleeping, we might as well do so without making any compromises or sacrifices—don’t you agree?
We’ve also considered those on a tighter budget by developing a silk and cotton line:
4 - Silk is slippery!
FALSE!
While it’s true that silk sheets are less rough than cotton or linen sheets, don’t confuse the soft feel they provide with the dry, cold, and “slippery” feel of cheap sheets made from synthetic fibers.
It’s polyester and sheets made from polyester satin that feel slippery—not silk!
Satin (“charmeuse” in English) is a soft, lustrous fabric that can be made from any type of yarn. Generally, the term “satin” is used to refer to polyester satin, but there are also cotton satin, viscose satin, and so on... Of course, there’s no comparison—either visually or in terms of feel—with natural silk.
So beware of unscrupulous merchants who sell polyester satin as silk satin.
Much cheaper to produce, polyester satin is flooding the bedding aisles at retailers looking for easy sales and who deliberately maintain this confusion.
It’s like comparing a particleboard panel to a solid oak plank!
5 - Silk is fragile!
FALSE!
Did you know that before nylon was invented, parachutes were woven from silk?
Its strength-to-weight ratio makes silk one of the strongest, most tear-resistant fabrics, offering high resistance to wear and tear.
Here again, collective thinking has taken hold, and there are many hasty generalizations!
Let’s not confuse the delicacy of silk lingerie with the durability of a sheet woven from the same material.
It’s all about quality!
In addition to synthetic fibers that attempt to imitate it, there are different types of silk, not all of which are of the same quality. It all depends on the animal that spins the cocoon. The best known—and the one that produces the highest-quality silk—is the caterpillar of the “silkworm” moth, more commonly known as the “silkworm.” The caterpillars of other insects (butterflies, spiders, etc.) also produce cocoons made of silk thread.
Several types of silk are available on the market:
- Habotai silk, produced by silkworms bred in captivity, has a matte, slightly gritty appearance. This silk is therefore less silky and lustrous.
- Tussah silk is produced by wild silkworms and is generally considered to be of inferior quality. The short, broken silk fibers lead to knots and impurities in the weave, which significantly alter its appearance and feel.
- Grade A silk is the highest quality available. This grade of silk requires the selection of superior cocoons that unravel into a long, even thread. For silk bedding, this means there are fewer loose ends. Silk satin is all the more luxurious, soft, and durable. Our sheets are made exclusively from this silk of impeccable quality.
The thread count of your sheets is also important:
The momme is a unit used to measure the density of a silk fabric. For bedding, this can range from 19 to 25.
This is the most important factor when choosing silk bedding, because the thicker the silk satin, the more durable, softer, and visually luxurious it is.
We offer only the highest-quality silk: 19, 22, and 25 mommes. If a manufacturer doesn’t specify the momme weight of its silk sheets, look elsewhere!
Finally, the way the sheet is made adds the finishing touch to the desired comfort:
The price of silk rolls varies greatly depending on their width. It is therefore more economical to sew two strips of fabric together lengthwise to make a large sheet. However, having a seam running down the middle of your sheets is both uncomfortable and unattractive. We only offer sheets without any patch seams.
6 - Silk products are chemically treated!
FALSE!
Silk is a natural fiber produced by silkworms that feed exclusively on mulberry leaves.
Our suppliers are certified to the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, which guarantees the absence of undesirable chemicals. Apart from the ivory color, which is the natural color of silk, dyes are used to color the fabric. However, these dyes comply with the Oeko-Tex® Standard 100.
And what if, after dispelling all these misconceptions about silk, we also told you that your pillowcase is a true natural beauty treatment? So, are you convinced?
All that’s left is for you to form your own opinion and judge for yourself based on the facts…
You’ll then be able to add to the list of beliefs about silk—this time based on actual use of the product—which, as you’ll see, holds more pleasant surprises than disappointments!
Feel free to contact us to learn more about the products in our catalog.
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