Silk sheets and pillowcases have tons of benefits for your skin and hair. Unfortunately, many business owners are taking advantage of the situation because most people don't know how to tell real silk from fake and are selling the latter. Many people have switched from regular cotton sheets and pillowcases to silk.
What really separates legit silk from fakes is its quality. Silk is known for its soft and smooth surface and its luxurious sheen. It's a highly coveted fabric that many have tried to replicate but failed at. There are, however, certain types of fabric out there that can easily be mistaken for silk if you look at them without inspecting them closely. Among them are polyester, satin, and viscose.
But, for the average consumer, how do you tell real silk from fake silk? Here are some tips to help you out.
How to Spot the Difference Between Real and Fake Silk?
You can do plenty of simple tests to see if the silk you've bought is real or fake. Some tests can be done quickly and easily (usually just by looking at or observing the fabric with your hands and your eyes), while other tests can be a bit more methodological. Check out these different ways to tell real silk from fake.
1. The Burn Test
The burn test is one of the easiest and most popular ways to tell if a fabric is genuine silk or not. You will need to take a small piece of the fabric in question and set it on fire. Real silk will shrink, not melt. The smell of burning real silk should be similar to that of burning hair or burning wool, not burning plastic. Real silk will also self-extinguish compared to fake silk or other silk-like fabrics that will continue burning until you put the flame out. Lastly, the ashes coming from real burnt silk should feel like a gritty powder that's jet black.
The burn test is not only accurate for silk. It can also determine the quality of other fabrics like cotton, rayon, and hemp. You need to know what to look for in the results.
While the burn test is accurate, it's not something everyone can or would want to do. No one would want to burn their newly-bought silk sheet or pillow case for a test, especially if they paid a hefty price. You can do plenty of other things to test the silk's authenticity. Check them out below.
2. The Ring Test
Another test that you can do to see if the silk you just bought (or are planning to buy) is natural and not synthetic is the ring test. This test is quick and easy; all you need to get it done is the silk fabric you're testing and a ring. It's ideal for silk pieces that aren't too heavy or too thick, like this 19 or 22 momme silk pillowcase by THXSILK.
To perform the test, take your silk fabric and thread it through your ring. Genuine silk is soft and will effortlessly go through the ring without crumpling or scrunching up. Depending on your ring's size, it's not very likely to get stuck, either. Fake silk, however, will wrinkle, crumple, and scrunch. If the fabric is quite thick/heavy, it could also get stuck in the ring as the fabric tends to bunch up.
3. The Look Test
Imitation silk or synthetic silk may fool you at first glance, but a closer look and some knowledge about real silk could save you from the hassle of buying a fake one. Silk has a certain look to it that's very hard to replicate. It's not shiny or glittery, but it glimmers when held against the light. It possesses a luster that can only come from how natural silk is produced.
Genuine silk gives off an iridescent luster when it catches the light. It refracts light, making it look like it's turning different colors when you move it around. This is all thanks to the prism-like structure of the fiber that makes up silk.
4. The Fit and Feel Test
If you're not too sure about the results of the look test, another one you can do is the fit and feel test. First, let's talk about the feel test. Having been dubbed the 'Queen of Natural Fibers'. real silk will feel extremely soft and smooth. When comparing natural with synthetic, there should be a noticeable difference in softness and smoothness between genuine silk and imitation silk.
The fit test originally only applied to garments made out of silk. Still, since silk sheets and pillowcases have recently become so popular, people have been using them to test their silk sheets and pillowcases. Put your bedding on and notice how the material clings to your mattress and pillows. They shouldn't have stiff corners, even after being folded, and they should drape seamlessly onto the mattress and the pillow, almost as if it's 'second skin'.
5. The Price Test
This one isn't a test because the price of silk doesn't indicate its authenticity. However, since natural silk is harder to source and produce, it's only logical that it's more expensive than synthetic silk or other silk-like fabrics. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous business people who jack up their prices to make it seem as if their fabrics are natural silk when they're not. One easy way to avoid this is to get your silk sheets and other silk bedding needs from reputable brands like THXSILK, one of the most reputable brands in the silk industry that millions worldwide trust. The Mulberry silk used in THXSILK products is 100% natural.
Why Choose THXSILK?
Finding a well-known, reputable silk bedding and sleepwear seller can be challenging. Not many people will be 100% honest and transparent with you about the quality and authenticity of the products they sell. That's where THXSILK comes in.
THXSILK was established in 2006 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzhou Taihu Snow Silk Co., Ltd. The company provides high-quality silk products for the beauty and bedding niches, such as luxurious mulberry silk sheets and stylish, washable silk nightgowns that are hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites. All THXSILK products are crafted with ultimate luxury and comfort to ensure that customers get the best and most relaxing sleep.
