You probably know that picking your perfect silk pillowcase means choosing the ideal size (standard, Queen or King size), color, and momme weight (a weight measurement for silk fabric akin to thread count in cotton sheets). But there's another important factor you absolutely must consider: how your pillowcase closes. You want your silk pillowcase closure to be attractive, effective at holding your pillow in place, and -- of course -- comfortable to sleep on.
At Mulberry Park Silks, the majority of our silk pillowcase collection features a generous envelope closure. However, we also offer pillowcases with a high-quality hidden zipper. A pure mulberry silk pillowcase is a luxury you will enjoy for years to come. You want to make certain that every design detail of your silk bedding works best for you.
Let's take a closer look at a few popular silk pillowcase closure styles and evaluate the pros and cons of each.
Hidden Zipper Pillowcase Closure
By far the most popular closure style for silk pillowcases, the hidden zipper is exactly as described. The zipper itself is tucked into the outside seam of the pillow; when the pillow is closed, it is not easily visible. This is an aesthetically pleasing look particularly as the zippers are often fashioned of metal or plastic in a coordinating tone to the silk pillowcase fabric. Zippers also tend to hold a pillow very snugly in place, which is important as any pure silk pillowcase is going to be inherently quite slippery.
However, it is hard to assess the quality of the zippers used across various brands in terms of smooth operation and durability. At Mulberry Park Silks, our pillowcases are offered with your choice of envelope closure or high-quality SBS zippers and lace tape, which is softer and lighter to prevent damage to the silk. Our zippers are also “covered,” which means that the back of the zipper is secured by a dedicated layer of fabric at the bottom to hold it in place; this design protects the tail of the zipper and prevents it from detaching from the pillowcase. Lastly, an open zipper can snag or tear in the wash, so be sure to zip your pillowcase before laundering and always put it inside a mesh laundry bag.
Hidden Zipper Pillowcase Pros and Cons
- Pros: Attractive (nearly invisible), holds pillow tightly in place
- Cons: zipper hardware quality can vary, need to use extra care when washing
Envelope Pillowcase Closure
This is the next most popular style, and a very comfortable choice for a silk pillowcase closure As the name suggests, an envelope closure silk pillow case folds around your pillow with a flap to hold it in place. This eliminates the need for a zipper. An envelope closure is also a guarantee of comfort and coziness. When you buy a silk pillowcase or silk sheet set, you want a smooth, relaxing, feel; there is nothing like slipping into a silk bed sheet set or laying your head on a silk pillowcase. With an envelope closure, all you feel is beautiful silk.
With that said, some envelope closures are better than others. An envelope closure that is too short and doesn't have enough fabric is likely to slip off the pillow. Slip pillowcase, for example, makes a style with an envelope closure; however, that envelope flap measures only 6.5 inches. The flap on a Fishers Finery silk pillow case also measures just 6.5 inches. A Mulberry Park Silks pillowcase, on the other hand, builds a very generous 7+ inches of fabric into its envelope flap, which is far more effective for holding the pillow in place.
Envelope Pillowcase Closure Pros and Cons
- Pros: Attractive, comfortable, nothing to break
- Cons: Can slip off if envelope flap isn't big enough
Button Pillowcase Closure
This style of pillow closure most often found on a decorative pillow cover. Although a button closure holds a pillow securely in place, it is unlikely that you'll see a button closure on any pillowcase made for sleeping. The main reason for this is, of course, the fact that you would absolutely feel the button if you slept on it. Therefore, a button closure pillowcase has only one “sleeping side,” which makes it far less desirable.
Button Pillowcase Closure Pros and Cons
- Pros: Hold pillow effectively in place
- Cons: Not really made for sleeping pillows
How to Care for Your Silk Pillowcases and Sheet Sets
While a silk pillowcase is a bit of indulgent luxury, caring for it can be surprisingly easy. At Mulberry Park Silks, our natural silk pillowcases can be easily washed by hand or by machine in a gentle cycle, learn more here. We always recommend using a detergent specially formulated for silk and placing your items in fine mesh laundry bags (note: use separate bags for the fitted sheet and flat sheet). Never put silk in the dryer; silk is a natural fiber, and should be hung to dry, indoors or out, away from direct sunlight.
Learn More About Silk
The Mulberry Park Silks mission also encompasses educating our clients about silk bedding and showing them how to get the best value for their money. Check out our blog for education and information, specifically the blog post that describes the difference between pure silk and satin (“synthetic silk”) and this post that reviews ten important things to consider when buying a silk pillowcase.