Beware of These 10 Things when Shopping for a Real Silk Pillowcase in 2024

Sleeping on a silk pillowcase is a great investment in your hair, skin, and overall wellness (see 'Benefits of a Silk Pillowcase' below). But when purchasing a real silk pillowcase buyer beware! Shopping for a silk pillowcase at a large online retailer such as Amazon can lead to confusion -- with so many choices in silk pillows, it is honestly overwhelming.

Two pillowcases with the same price point can be vastly different in quality. Similarly, two silk pillowcases may appear to be the same, but one is priced at twice the cost of the other -- why the discrepancies? A lot of variables go into making a silk pillowcase, including most importantly the weight of the silk and quality of silk. Understanding what a manufacturer says in their product description -- and perhaps more importantly, what they don't say -- about their pillowcase is essential to buying a high quality silk pillowcase.

The silk experts at Mulberry Park Silks have put together this helpful checklist of ten things to think about when buying a silk pillowcase. This helpful list consists of things to consider and questions to ask when reading a silk product listing or description of a silk pillowcase. Armed with this new knowledge, you can shop smarter for your silk pillowcase and get the best value and quality for your money.

10 Things to Consider When Buying a Silk Pillowcase

1. Buy Only a Pure, Genuine Silk Pillowcase

Purchase only real silk pillowcases labeled 100 percent pure mulberry silk. When you search "mulberry silk pillowcase" on Amazon, your search will include silk pillowcases AND satin pillowcases, polyester pillowcases, rayon pillowcases, and even cotton pillowcases.

When shopping on Amazon for your silk pillowcase, make sure you scroll down the page and on the left side under 'Bedding Sheet Material' make sure that you check the 'Silk' box. When you check the 'Silk' box, this will filter out all non-silk pillowcases (like satin pillowcases) and you will only be viewing silk pillowcases.

A good rule of thumb is if the pillowcase is priced less than $20, it is not 100 percent silk, but some other material or very low-quality silk. Silk is an all-natural fiber and more expensive than man-made fabrics like satin and polyester. Don't settle for anything less than a 100 percent natural silk pillowcase. All 100% silk pillowcases will have it prominently displayed on the label. If it's not labeled "100% Silk", it's not pure silk. All Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases are clearly labeled as 100% silk.

2. The Type of Silk in Your Silk Pillowcase

Look for a silk pillowcase made from 100% pure mulberry silk. Mulberry silk comes from the Bombyx mori silkworm, a species whose diet consists exclusively of leaves from the Mulberry tree. The finest silk in the world is grown and woven in China, where they've been making silk for more than 4,000 years.

Fun Fact: Silk was discovered by accident by Leizu, the wife of a Chinese emperor, in 2,696 BC. She was having tea in the imperial gardens when a cocoon fell into her tea and unraveled. Leizu noticed that the cocoon was made from a single long thread that was both strong and soft. Leizu is a legendary figure in Chinese history and is credited with the discovery of silk and the invention of the silk loom.

Mulberry silk threads are the best on Earth; they are smoother, stronger, and more uniformly colored than any other variety of silk. A single silk fiber is stronger than a steel fiber of the same diameter. At the same time, silk charmeuse (the most popular weave) is smooth and luxurious to the touch and feel. Mulberry silk charmeuse is smooth and friction-free; it helps eliminate bed head, frizz, and sleep wrinkles while allowing skin and hair to retain precious moisture. If you’re looking for the pinnacle of luxury and beauty benefit, buy a charmeuse weave pillowcase labeled pure mulberry. Our silk pillowcases are made of pure mulberry silk in a charmeuse weave.

3. Make Sure You're Buying High Quality and High-Grade Silk

Silk quality is graded A, B, or C, with Grade A being the best. Grade A silk is the highest quality long-strand silk from cocoons that are pearly white in color. It is very pure and can be unraveled to great lengths without breaking. Silk grades are also further differentiated by number; Grade A silk comes in A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A, with 6A being the highest and finest quality silk. For any given type of silk, Grade 6A is the finest quality available in the marketplace. This means that a silk pillowcase made from Grade 6A silk will cost more because of the better quality silk used than a pillowcase made from Grade 5A silk.

If a silk pillowcase product description doesn't list silk quality by letter and number, you should assume it is made with lower-quality silk. At Mulberry Park Silks we only use Grade 6A 100 percent pure mulberry silk for our silks sheets, silk pillowcases, and silk hair scrunchies.

Recently, there has been discussion about "Grade 7A silk". Is there a new higher silk grade rating? Or is this just a new marketing ploy? As always, we are here to inform you before purchasing silk bedding. We aim to empower you to make well-informed decisions before investing in a luxury silk pillowcase. Ultimately, we debunk so-called "Grade 7A silk" and explain that it is just a deceptive marketing ploy. Click here to read more about 7A Grade Silk.

4. Silk Weight Preference in Your Silk Pillowcase

5. Verify the Silk is Environmentally Friendly Silk

 

Look for silk pillowcases that are tested and certified by an independent agency or organization to be free from harmful chemicals. All Mulberry Park Silks products are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100* certified and have been tested and guaranteed to be free of all harmful substances, including toxins and irritants.If you don't see OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 clearly labeled, the product is not certified to be safe from harmful substances. All Mulberry Park Silks products are labeled OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

*OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 is a global testing and accreditation program that successfully sets the standards for the screening of harmful substances in consumer textiles. 

The Benefits of Sleeping on a Silk Pillowcase Once a well-kept secret of beauty insiders, sleeping on silk has gone mainstream. Along with regulating body temperature and reducing exposure to allergens, a mulberry silk pillowcase delivers a true night of beauty sleep and supplements your hair and skin care routine: Silk pillowcases are great for hair and sensitive skin. It is naturally hypoallergenic and protects skin from irritation Mulberry silk fibers are coated with fibroin, a protein that makes them antibacterial, antifungal and resistant to dust mites and mold Silk contains amino acids that work to condition hair and skin Silk prevents bed head, and hair breakage, especially on curly or frizzy hair Silk helps skin and hair retain essential moisture, unlike a cotton pillowcase which can dry hair and skin Silk reduces friction on the skin, which minimizes sleep wrinkles Silk bedding regulates body temperature Silk products can be certified to be free of harmful chemicals, toxins, and irritants

6. Design Details and Quality Manufacturing Matters When Buying a Silk Pillowcase

Small but essential details mean a lot to the look and feel of your silk pillowcase. A hidden zipper, for example, is out of sight, but some people find it uncomfortable to sleep on; zippers also have the potential to catch, snag, and break. It comes down to personal preference. We recommend silk pillowcases with fabric closures, such as the signature "envelope closure" used on all Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases. Similarly, we suggest choosing a real silk pillowcase with French seams; the fabric is folded over and sewn for a finished look without "raw edges." Check the details such as closing (zipper, envelope) and stitching which reflect personal preference. All Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases feature a generous envelope closure to hold your pillow securely in place.

7. Silk Pillowcase Size and Color Options

A one size pillowcase definitely does NOT fit all. Your favorite pillow may be standard, queen, or king-sized; a properly sized silk pillowcase is perfectly tailored for maximum comfort and beauty.

Your pillow will have a tag noting its size (standard and queen size pillows are easy to confuse) so double-check your pillow size prior to purchasing a silk pillowcase. Similarly, there is a large choice of colors when buying your silk pillowcase, white and ivory go with almost everything, but a pop of color may be a welcome addition to your bedroom décor.

Note: the color Ivory is the only color that is undyed and the natural color of silk, all other colors, including white, have been dyed. Check your pillow label for size or measure your pillowcase prior to ordering your silk pillowcase.

One way to determine if you are purchasing a pillowcase from a US-based company is if the pillowcase listing has measurements in both inches and centimeters (cm) than it is most likely a foreign company selling silk.

8. How to Care for Your Silk Pillowcase

Silk CAN be easy to care for, so check this care guide before purchasing your silk pillowcase. Look for silk that is machine washable. We recommend using a laundry detergent specially formulated for silk; placing items in mesh laundry bags; and hanging to dry out of direct sunlight. A light iron or a simple smoothing by hand should be all that's needed to keep your pure mulberry silk pillowcase looking and feeling beautiful. Read the pillowcase's care instructions before purchasing. Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases are easy to care for and can be washed by hand or in your machine.

9. Silk Pillowcase Product Packaging and Presentation

If you're shopping silk pillowcases on Amazon, you'll find a range of standard packaging options from basic plastic packaging to beautiful gift boxes. A silk pillowcase is a gift of timeless luxury; it should be presented in a fitting and elegant manner. Look at the packaging in the photos, if there are no pictures of the silk pillowcase packaging expect to receive very basic packaging. All Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases are packaged in a beautiful gift box ready to present.

10. Silk Pillowcases and Price

Last but not least the cost is a consideration when purchasing any silk product. Silk pillowcases come in a range of prices (and qualities!). Do your homework and comparison shop. We believe you'll find that when it comes to silk, you get what you pay for. However, you need not overpay. A reputable company like Mulberry Park Silks will disclose all the information you need to evaluate their silk pillowcases based on quality, weight and size and other factors right in their product listings.

The Bottom Line: read the product listing for any silk pillowcase you're considering. If the above information is not clearly disclosed in the product listing, it's not part of the product.

As a premier online retailer of silk sheets, silk pillowcases, and real silk accessories, Mulberry Park Silks offers a variety of silk pillowcase options to suit any style and budget (see helpful table below). Learn to read silk product listings Our design consultants are available to provide suggestions, answer questions, and give recommendations as needed.