How to Buy Real Silk Online
A Practical Guide to Quality, Momme, and Craftsmanship
Silk looks effortless when it is done well. It drapes, cools, and settles against the body in a way that feels quietly reassuring, not flashy. When it is done badly, it feels thin, slippery, and strangely tiring to wear.
This article explains how to buy real silk online, specifically for people who care about comfort, longevity, and craftsmanship, and who want to avoid paying luxury prices for disappointing fabric.
Explore artisan silk sleepwear.
What “real silk” actually means when you’re buying online
Real silk is a natural protein fiber, traditionally produced from mulberry-fed silkworms, woven at sufficient density to regulate temperature, resist tearing, and age well with use.
High-quality silk has:
Measurable density, expressed as momme weight
Long, continuous fibers rather than short or chopped filaments
A soft, calm hand feel with a gentle sheen, not a glossy shine
Silk that feels substantial yet breathable is not thicker by accident. It contains more silk per inch.
Why silk quality shows up immediately on the body
Silk is not just visual. It is sensory and physiological.
Dense silk regulates temperature by allowing heat and moisture to move away from the skin, which is why people who sleep hot often report deeper, less interrupted rest.
Low-density silk does the opposite, clinging, overheating, or stretching out of shape under tension.
The way silk behaves is a direct result of how much fiber is present and how it is woven. There is no shortcut around this.
The single most important metric: momme weight
Momme, often abbreviated as mm, measures silk density. It tells you how much silk is actually in the fabric.
In practical terms:
| Type | Momme Explained |
|---|---|
| 16–19 momme | Lightweight and decorative. It feels nice at first but wears out quickly. |
| 20–22 momme | Common in mid-market sleepwear. Acceptable, but not designed for heavy rotation. |
| 25–30 momme | High-density silk, with more fiber per inch, better durability, and improved temperature regulation. |
A move from 19 momme to 27 momme represents roughly 40 percent more silk fiber per square inch. That difference is felt immediately on the skin and over years of use.
Tara Sartoria works with 27 momme mulberry silk specifically because it sits at the point where silk becomes both luxurious and functional, suitable for nightly wear rather than occasional use.
Mulberry silk is necessary, but not sufficient
Mulberry silk refers to silk made from silkworms fed exclusively on mulberry leaves. This produces longer, smoother fibers and fewer impurities.
However, mulberry silk alone does not guarantee quality.
What matters just as much:
Fiber length
Weave density
Finishing techniques
Two garments can both claim “100 percent mulberry silk” and perform completely differently depending on how they are made.
Washable silk is usually a sign of better silk, not worse
This feels counterintuitive, but it is reliable.
Thin silk cannot survive water without degrading. Dense silk can.
For silk to be safely machine washable on a delicate cycle, it must be:
- Tightly woven
- Made from long fibers
- Finished carefully at seams and stress points
Washability is not a downgrade when it is engineered intentionally. It is often evidence of higher momme silk and better construction.
Construction is where most silk garments fail
Fabric quality alone is not enough. Silk is unforgiving of shortcuts.
Key construction signals to look for:
- French seams, which enclose raw edges and prevent fraying
- reinforced ties and waistbands
- generous cuts that allow silk to move instead of strain
French seams take significantly longer to sew and are rarely used in mass production because of the time involved.
Their presence signals garments designed for longevity, not rapid turnover.
A brief moment from the making process
In Vietnam’s historic silk villages, a single artisan often completes one garment from cut to finish.
French seams are sewn slowly, pressed, trimmed, and sewn again so no raw edge ever touches the skin.
This is not efficiency. It is intention.
That difference shows up years later, when a garment still feels calm and intact instead of tired.
Comparing silk quality in real terms
A useful comparison when buying online:
| Type | Momme Explained |
|---|---|
| 16–19 momme | Feels light, photographs well, and often stretches at seams. |
| 20–22 momme | Feels better initially but may lose structure with frequent wear. |
| 25–30 momme | Feels cooler, more grounded, and holds its shape over time. |
This is why higher momme silk is often chosen for garments meant to be worn, washed, and lived in, not simply admired.
Practical questions buyers actually ask
Practical questions buyers actually ask
Silk is one of the oldest textile traditions in the world. How it is made matters.
Individually crafted garments tend to show:
Fewer shortcuts
More consistent seam quality
Greater respect for the material itself
Tara Sartoria garments are individually crafted in Vietnam’s historic silk villages, and ten percent of profits support women’s education and entrepreneurship. This connects longevity of product with longevity of craft.
Summary
Buying real silk online is not about trusting adjectives. It is about understanding density, fiber quality, and construction. Look for silk above 25 momme, clear material disclosure, washable care instructions that make sense, and finishing details like French seams.
High-quality silk regulates temperature, lasts for years, and feels calm rather than flashy. When silk is made with intention, it becomes something you live in, not something you save.
Explore artisan silk crafted for longevity.