What does Momme mean for silk?
When buying silk bedding or silk pillowcases, terms like Momme, 6A silk, or Mulberry silk often come up. Many people therefore ask:
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What does Momme mean for silk?
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Is a higher Momme count automatically better quality?
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What does 6A silk mean?
In this article, we explain the most important quality characteristics of silk fabrics.
👉 Discover high-quality Mulberry silk bedding
Quality standards for silk fabrics
Just like with diamonds or high-quality food, there are also recognized quality standards for silk.
As the world's largest producer of silk, China has introduced various national quality standards. These include:
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GB/T 15551-2016 for mulberry silk fabrics
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FZ 44004-2018 for silk bedding
These standards evaluate the quality of silk products based on three areas:
Internal quality
This includes, among other things:
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Pollutant load
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pH value
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Tear strength
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Density and weight
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Colorfastness
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Shrinkage after washing
External quality
External quality characteristics include:
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Color deviations
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Width deviations
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Weaving flaws
Processing and packaging
Processing also plays an important role:
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Quality of seams
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Embroidery workmanship
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Protective packaging against moisture and dirt
Quality levels of silk bedding
According to Chinese quality standards, silk bedding is divided into three categories:
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Premium
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Grade 1
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Qualified Grade
At Orignee, depending on the product, Grade 1 or Qualified Grade silk fabrics are used.
We pay particular attention to important quality factors such as:
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Absence of harmful substances
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Stable fabric structure
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High colorfastness
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Low shrinkage when washing
What does Momme mean for silk?
Momme is a traditional Japanese unit of measurement for the weight of silk fabrics.
1 Momme corresponds to approximately 4.31 grams per square meter.
The higher the Momme count, the heavier the silk fabric and the more material is used.
Examples:
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16 Momme – light fabric
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19 Momme – common for bedding
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22–25 Momme – particularly heavy and luxurious
A fabric with 19 Momme has approximately 81 g per square meter.
Does a higher Momme count automatically mean better quality?
Not necessarily.
The Momme count only describes the weight of the fabric, not the quality of the silk.
Quality also depends on many factors, such as:
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Quality of raw silk
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Weaving technique
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Dyes
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Processing
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Quality control
Therefore, a higher Momme count is not automatically a sign of better quality.
What is 6A silk?
When evaluating silk, one must distinguish between two things:
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Raw silk fibers
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Finished silk fabric
Raw silk is classified into several quality levels according to the Chinese standard GB/T 1797-2008:
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6A
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5A
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4A
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3A
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2A
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A
The classification is based on criteria such as:
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Fiber uniformity
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Tear strength
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Purity
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Luster
6A stands for the highest quality of raw silk fibers.
Conclusion
Several factors play a role when buying silk bedding:
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Quality of raw silk
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Fabric processing
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Material weight (Momme)
While 6A silk represents particularly high-quality raw fibers, the Momme count only describes the weight of the fabric.
For high-quality bedding, fabrics with 16 to 19 Momme of mulberry silk are often used.
👉 Discover high-quality Mulberry silk bedding
FAQ about silk quality
What does Momme mean for silk?
Momme is a unit of measurement for the weight of silk fabrics. A higher Momme count means a heavier fabric.
Is 6A silk the best quality?
Yes. 6A is the highest quality grade for raw silk fibers.
What Momme count is good for bedding?
For bedding, 16 to 19 Momme are usually used. These fabrics are durable and long-lasting.
