Which kind of silk do you want?

100% natural Mulberry silk, as there is really no other choice. There are several types of silk available on the market, but always insist on 100% Mulberry silk when you choosing your bedding. Only 100% Mulberry silk consists of long-stranded silk fibers. Wild silk, or more commonly known as Tussah silk, is often passed off as Mulberry silk, but the difference in quality is so blatantly obvious, a simple touch on both would instantly teach you the superiority of Mulberry silk.

Inferior silk is often weaved using the Habotai weave, which is why they are also referred to as Habotai silk. The Habotai silk found on the market is usually made up of broken strands of silk, and sometimes even non-silk fibres. For products like silk scarves and other items requiring shorter fibres and does not need much wear and tear resistance, Habotai silk is a economical solution, but it simply lacks the required durability of 100% Mulberry silk, which is one of the most basic criteria for quality bed linen.

What thread count do I need?

A thread count of 400 or more is essential for any silk to be considered high tier. Despite thread count being a somewhat less useful standard when it comes to silk fabric quality, a thread count lower than 400 means the fabric will be very thin and flimsy, as silk threads are very fine (unlike cotton, for which a 300 thread count can be considered quite high), and are unlikely to last very long. This is why when you consider making a purchase of silk linen, thread count should always be something to check for. An ideal thread count for silk linen is 400-600, with anything lower than 400 being low quality and should not be seriously considered.

Are silk duvets as cozy as other quilts?

Absolutely, if not more so. Silk duvets fillings are very different from other, more common duvet fillings. For example, down-filled duvets go over our bodies with sheer bulk - and obviously, the more bulk there is, the heavier the weight of the duvet. Silk duvets are significantly thinner than down duvets by nature, enabling the duvet to naturally drape over your body. Down duvets form a physical barrier between your body and your surroundings, meaning the heat you give off get reflected directly back at you. This process continues throughout the night resulting in overheating, and the resulting perspiration causes clamminess and dehydration. Silk duvets, by nature, are considered to be "breathing", allowing air to flow more freely and thus facilitating proper dissipation of any extra heat and humidity inside your bed. The result is your body will stay in an environment with just the right temperature, never too hot in the summer and cold in winter.

Do silk duvets have a special odor?

Naturally cultivated and produced silk products do have a unique odor, coming from the residual serecin (a.k.a silk glue) which is the natural adhesive produced by silk worms to form cocoons. As it is literally impossible to completely remove serecin without subjecting the silk to harmful chemical processes, we choose to leave the duvet fillings as is. The smell can be unpleasant for certain people, especially when in higher concentration, but there is no real harm associated; in fact, serecin has been proven to be a bug/mite/bacteria repellent, as well as an agent that prevents the accumulation of melanin (black mole colorant) in your skin.

Generally speaking, the odor is most noticeable when duvets are first unpacked, but usually dissipates after a few hours and becomes unnoticeable after a few days. In the rare case that the odor stays after a few days, hanging the duvet in a well-circulated area should be helpful.

There are manufacturers that choose to bleach the silk filling before the manufacturing process so that their duvets are odor-free. This process completely undermines the natural properties of silk - bleach is extremely harmful to natural protein based textile such as silk and wool. It is best that when you pick a duvet, make sure they are not pre-bleached.

Does my silk duvet require any special care?

Because Lilysilk duvets are made from premium quality long fiber Mulberry silk, your silk duvets and pillows will rarely need thorough cleaning. Airing them regularly each season should be enough to keep the duvets fresh. Place your duvet or pillow in a well-circulated outdoor area on a sunny day for best airing results, but remember to avoid direct sunlight. Doing so will revive the silk and help it to retain its lightness and fluffiness.

Do your silk duvets have pockets?

Lilysilk duvets do not need pockets; instead, the silk is tacked about every 7" (exact interval depending on the dimensions of the bed) to the side of the duvet shell. This stops the silk flossing from moving about inside the shell. Unlike down or polyester duvets, all Lilysilk duvets are filled with layer-by-layer Grade-A long strand fiber Mulberry silk. As a result of silk being layered and the filling tacked during the manufacturing process, the silk floss filling would never clump inside the duvet shell during normal use.