This article takes a deep dive into lesser-known but very important factors that impact the value of your silk pillowcase.

My mom always used to say, "How you do anything is how you do everything." At the time, I didn’t understand why she kept saying it or what it really meant. But today, with time and experience, I can confidently say that this phrase perfectly embodies how we at Mulberry Park Silks design all of our products. Here is my belief: If your attitude is that the product you deliver is "good enough" or "no one will notice” when you cut corners, you’re signaling to your customers – either consciously or subconsciously – that you really don’t care about your work.

At Mulberry Park Silks, we care deeply about every product we make. We are perfectionists, and insist that everything we produce represents the finest quality and value. That’s why we make a habit of communicating exactly what to look for when purchasing a silk pillowcase (pure mulberry silk of Grade 6A, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certification) and why we produce the best silk pillowcase in the market; you can read more about that here. 

Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into some of the lesser-known, but vitally important, factors that impact the quality of your silk pillowcase: better (and more expensive) components; stitching that is more secure; and the amount of silk actually used in each product. So read on to learn what Slip, Blissy, and other silk pillowcase makers don’t want you to know!

All About Zippers in Silk Pillowcases

Most silk pillowcases feature a “hidden zipper” for looks and comfort. But not all zippers are created the same; the quality of the zipper and the style of “tape” used to secure it play a critical role in the longevity and feel of your silk pillowcase. One thing to look for is the manufacturer of the zipper itself; you may recognize the names of leading zipper manufacturers such as YKK, Talon, and SBS (the largest zipper manufacturer in the world and the brand we use here at Mulberry Park Silks). While zipper styles vary, seeing a well-known brand name zipper is an indication that the manufacturer is investing in quality and durability. Additionally, the preferred style of zipper tape for a silk pillowcase is “lace” tape (as opposed to standard or “normal” tape); lace tape is softer and lighter, which will reduce damage to delicate silk fabrics. All Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases are made with SBS zippers and lace tape.

Additionally, you should look for zippers that are “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. All Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases feature covered zippers for maximum durability.

Silk Pillowcase Stitching: Understanding Seam Styles

If you’ve read our product descriptions, you may remember that we always mention that our pillowcases feature a French Seam. This is an important distinction, because silk pillowcases can be made with two different styles of seam: overlock and French seam.

Overlock Seam

This stitch is done with 3, 4 or 5 threads on a special serger machine. Two of the threads wrap around the edge of the fabric, and a knife trims the fabric edge straight so that the threads can wrap around it. This is a quick and easy seam that is commonly seen in silk pillowcases.

French Seam

French seams are sewn twice, enclosing raw edges within a seam. There are no visible raw edges to fray. It is a good finish for sheer fabrics. The finished seams can be made very narrow. This seam takes more time and requires more fabric and precision cutting. French seams look more finished and are of higher quality because they take more time.

At Mulberry Park Silks, we take great pride in our French seams, which deliver a finished look and stronger durability.

Take the guesswork out of finding your perfect pillowcase #open-quiz-tools/perfect-product-finder/help-me-choose-the-best-silk-pillowcase-for-me

Silk Weight: Making Sure You Get What You Pay For

The weight of silk is measured in momme, which is similar to thread count in cotton pillowcases. Higher momme count silk is more tightly woven with more silk in the fabric; high momme silk also has thicker individual silk strands; you can learn more about momme in silk here. Mulberry Park Silks sells pillowcases in 19, 22, and 30 momme weights (find out which momme weight pillowcase is best for you here).

In general, we recommend purchasing a silk pillowcase of at least 19 momme weight.

Whatever momme weight pillowcase you purchase, you want to be sure that the count is accurate; the standard of silk specification allows for variations of ±0.5 momme. This means that silk that is labeled 22 momme could range from 21.5 to 22.5 actual weight. However, some silk manufacturers add a “weighting agent” to their silk during the dyeing process; this is NOT disclosed to buyers other than referring to the silk as “upgraded.” 

We believe this process is dishonest, and that anyone purchasing silk should be aware and on the lookout for this misrepresentation. Rest assured that at Mulberry Park Silks, we never use any type of weight increasing agent on our fabric. Additionally, we have taken the trouble of weighing our silk pillowcases against those of our competitors. We are not suggesting that these companies are being less than honest in their measurements; however, in all cases, our silk pillowcases are heavier. (See comparison tables below).

Mulberry Park Silks never uses weighting agents. We have also weighed our pillowcases alongside those of similar size/momme weight from our competitors.

A recent phenomenon in the silk world is the emergence of so-called “Grade 7A silk" We are here to tell you that no such silk grade exists within the standard silk grading system. If you purchased “7A Grade silk", you unfortunately fell victim to a marketing scheme. To learn more about this fraudulent marketing ploy, click here.

Comparing Blissy Silk Pillowcase vs. Mulberry Park Silks

Queen Zipper Silk Pillowcases in 22 Momme

Both Mulberry Park Silks and Blissy pillowcases are made from 100 percent pure mulberry silk in grade 6A; both are STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® certified; and they retail at similar prices. However, taking a closer look reveals that Mulberry Park Silks measures a bit larger; is made with the more durable and comfortable covered lace zipper; and is finished with the more tailored look of a French seam. Our in-house measurements also show the Mulberry Park Silks style at a heavier weight than the Blissy silk pillowcase. You can read a more detailed comparison of Mulberry Park Silks and Blissy pillowcases.

	Blissy 22 Momme Queen Silk Pillowcase Zipper	Mulberry Park 22 Momme Queen Silk Pillowcase Zipper
Size	29.5” x 20”	30" x 20"
Zipper manufacturer	SBS	SBS
Type of zipper	Common hidden zipper	Lace hidden zipper
Covered zipper	No	Yes
Seam stitch	Overlock seam	French seam
Scale weight (done by MPS staff).	85 grams	88 grams*

* Higher weigh indicates more silk

Comparing Slip Silk Pillowcase vs. Mulberry Park Silks

Queen Envelope Closure Silk Pillowcases in 22 Momme

The envelope style closure is another popular option for silk pillowcases. When you look closely at Mulberry Park Silks 22 momme pillowcases with envelope closure alongside our competitor, Slip, you will note that even in the same size pillowcase, our envelope closure is at least one inch longer. Additionally, Slip is made with an overlock seam, as opposed to the finished look of our French seam. Again, our measurements show that our pillowcases weigh a bit more, all of which makes Mulberry Park Silks a better choice. Read more about how we compare with Slip pillowcases.

Feature	Slip 22 Momme Queen Silk Pillowcase Envelope Closure	Mulberry Park 22 Momme Queen Silk Pillowcase Envelope Closure
Size	30” x 20”	30" x 20"
Closure	Envelope	Envelope
Depth of envelope	6.75”	7.5"
Seam stitch	Overlock seam	French seam
Scale weight (done by MPS staff)	85 grams	89 grams*

Comparing Fishers Finery Silk Pillowcase vs. Mulberry Park Silks

Envelope Closure Pillowcases in 30 Momme

When choosing a silk pillowcase, a 30 momme option represents the pinnacle of luxury (indeed, heavier momme weights are not practical for sheets and pillowcases). Even at this level, Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases outperform the competition from Fishers Finery. The French seam, heavier weight, and larger envelope closure make Mulberry Park Silks a better value. Read more about how Mulberry Park Silks compares to Fishers Finery. Fishers Finery 30 Momme Standard Silk Pillowcase Envelope Closure Mulberry Park 30 Momme Standard Silk Pillowcase Envelope Closure Size 25” x 20” 26” x 18" Closure Envelope Envelope Depth of envelope 6.5” 8” Seam stitch Overlock seam French seam Scale weight (done by MPS staff) 104 112*

Comparing Fishers Finery Silk Pillowcase vs. Mulberry Park Silks

Envelope Closure Pillowcases in 30 Momme

When choosing a silk pillowcase, a 30 momme option represents the pinnacle of luxury (indeed, heavier momme weights are not practical for sheets and pillowcases). Even at this level, Mulberry Park Silks pillowcases outperform the competition from Fishers Finery. The French seam, heavier weight, and larger envelope closure make Mulberry Park Silks a better value. Read more about how Mulberry Park Silks compares to Fishers Finery .

 

	Fishers Finery 30 Momme Standard Silk Pillowcase Envelope Closure	Mulberry Park 30 Momme Standard Silk Pillowcase Envelope Closure
Size	25” x 20”	26” x 18"
Closure	Envelope	Envelope
Depth of envelope	6.5”	7.5”
Seam stitch	Overlock seam	French seam
Scale weight (done by MPS staff)	104	112*

Purchase Silk Pillowcases from a Reputable Manufacturer: Mulberry Park Silks

At Mulberry Park Silks, we take pride in our product, our company, and our commitment to transparency. We want to be your source for fine silk bedding and accessories and promise to deliver the best value in the market (along with all the great benefits to your hair, skin, and beauty sleep like minimizing wrinkles and preventing hair breakage). But as you think about choosing your next silk pillowcase, consider these questions:

1. Who are you purchasing from? Is the company a silk bedding specialist, or simply a lifestyle company capitalizing on the popularity of silk? 
2. Is the company transparent about the content and origins of their silk? 
3. What is the customer service situation? Can you call and speak to a person? Or are you dealing with an offshore company that ships and warehouses silk?

I want to personally assure you of several things: Mulberry Park Silks is dedicated to pure silk bedding and accessories; we are a sister company to luxury online linen retailer Fine Linen and Bath and are experts in fine home linen. 

We are happy to educate our clients not only about the benefits of silk, but also about what to look for, how to tell a real silk pillowcase from a satin pillowcase, and why high-quality silk is an investment. We are proudly headquartered in the United States, with our corporate offices and warehouse located in Branford, Connecticut. Have a question about our products? Want to know whether to hand wash or machine wash your pure silk pillowcase? Call us! We are available to answer questions by email or phone; when you call, a design consultant will answer your questions personally. We’ll even send you complimentary swatch samples to review at home before you purchase!

Of course, you should also feel free to call and ask for me by name, Tom Ceconi. I am always happy to chat with any member of our Mulberry Park Silks family.