What does “momme” mean in silk fabric?
Momme [mom-ee] is a Japanese word used as a unit of measure of weight for real silk. Momme, often abbreviated as mm, is defined as the weight of a piece of fabric measuring 45 inches x 100 meters. It’s an incredibly long piece of fabric – roughly the length of a football field! One momme = 4,340 grams per square meter; 8 momma is approximately 35 grams per square meter.
The bigger the mommies, the harder and denser the weave will be. During the silk production process, the silk factory will adjust the density and number of silk threads to control the weight – or current value – of the fabric. For example, with a 30 momma pillowcase the silk fibers have to be woven closer than they would be for a 19 momma pillowcase. In this way momme is similar to thread counting, which is commonly used as a measure for weaving cotton sheets.
Anything less than 19 mommas is considered light silk. 19 to 28 mommas are considered medium weight, and anything above 28 mommas is categorized as heavy. When considering a particular weave or type of silk, it is generally considered that a higher weight of silk is of better quality. Most silk sheets and bedding are made of colorful silk, a specific type of weave that allows for shine on the “front” of the fabric with a fuzzy finish on the back. It is often used for items that do not require exposure of the front and back of the fabric, such as pillows, sheets and blankets.
Most silk bedding – sheets, pillowcases and quilts – are made of medium weight silk ranging between 18 and 25 mommes. Knowing the momme of your silk sheets can help you choose the weight of the fabric that suits your style, comfort and budget.
At Silk Factory, silk pillowcases are made from 100% pure 22 mum mulberry silk. These include silk pillowcases, bedding and pillows for young children, along with a rich collection of pure silk gifts and accessories such as sleeping masks, hair bands and rubber bands. Silk Factory silk is soft, comfortable and affordable.
Where to find the best silk fabric?
As for silk, quality is everything. At Silk Factory, all products are made from 100% mulberry silk, which is widely recognized as the finest on Earth. Our Class 6A silk is made from the silkworm cocoon – Bombyx mori – whose diet consists of mulberry leaves. The environment of these silkworms is carefully controlled and monitored so that the larvae can spin finer, smoother and more durable threads.
The silk fabric used for our sheets and pillowcases is also OEKO-TEX® certified (standard 100) and does not contain chemicals. This global testing and accreditation program sets the standard for testing harmful substances in consumer textiles and ensures that the silk products you bring into your home are safe, natural and healthy.
