Different Types of Silk you Should Know about

How well do you know your silks? 

First things first, not all silks are equal. 

Different types of silk have different properties, and some are more suitable than others for certain clothing pieces, such as silk scarves.

Therefore, we have prepared this mini guide to tell you more about the most common, sought-after types of silk.

Here are the most popular types of silk:

1. Mulberry Silk

Mulberry Silk is the world’s favorite silk that makes up 90% of the global supply of silk. 

This popular silk is produced by the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori and is considered the highest quality silk. Although not all Mulberry Silk produced is of the same quality, this type of silk generally needs special care to maintain its smooth texture.

Since this type of silk is the most highly regarded and famous, it can be easily found in many countries, such as Japan, China, and Korea.

2. Spider Silk

It’s pretty common knowledge that many species of spiders produce silk to spin their webs and wrap up their prey.

Yet, Spider Silk isn’t commonly used as it’s challenging to produce and process large amounts of it, but its output is worth the effort. It is one of the most durable types of silk and is being used to produce wear-resistant clothing, bulletproof vests, and more.

3. Sea Silk

Sea Silk is a gorgeous, rare, and therefore expensive type of silk. Unlike other types of silk, it originates from the Mediterranean region. 

Sea Silk is produced by a specific type of ‘bivalve’ mollusk, known as the ‘Pinna Nobilis, which is unfortunately threatened with extinction. 

This type of silk is only harvested and manufactured by a handful of people, making it difficult to get your hands on Sea Silk.

4. Tussar Silk

Tussar Silk is produced by Tussar silkworms. Unlike other types of silk, it naturally has a distinct light golden to dark brown color. 

Tussar Silk isn’t very soft, but it’s considered more textured than Mulberry Silk. This type of silk is commonly available and is used to make women’s sarees and other clothing pieces.

5. Eri Silk

Eri Silk is a fine silk type that’s almost as white as Mulberry Silk. This type of silk is derived from a domesticated silkworm, Philosamia Rinini. 

Eri silk’s thermal properties mean that it can keep you warm in winter and cool during summer. It’s not a popular silk-of-choice for fabric production because of its elasticity and heaviness. Eri Silk is, however, commonly used in silk-wool scarves, curtains, and bed covers.

Parting Thoughts

If you’re a fan of silk clothing and want to experience the feel of the highest quality silk, you’ve come to the right place.

At Laila Regalado, we use only the best-quality silk to produce printed silk scarves for women.

Explore our collection of designer silk scarves and satin headscarves today!