Silk, a world apart

Light, fluid, precious: silk has fascinated for centuries. But behind this word lie several types of silk and different weaves , which do not all offer the same qualities.

At Maison CÉTOILE , we have chosen silk for its unique softness on the skin, its timeless beauty and its benefits for sleep.
Before choosing a silk pillowcase or pajamas, it can be helpful to understand what distinguishes different types of silk.

The main varieties of silk

Some differences stem from the origin of the fiber itself .

Type of silk	Origin	Appearance / touch	Common use	At CÉTOILE
Mulberry silk	Bombyx mori silkworm fed on mulberry leaves	Very smooth, even, shiny	Lingerie, bedding, haute couture	✅ Yes
Tussah silk (wild silk)	Silkworms living in the wild	Thicker fiber, beige color, irregular texture	Scarves, handcrafted textiles	❌ No
Undegummed wild silk (Raw Silk)	Thread retaining part of the cocoon	A rougher, matte texture	Structured clothing, decoration	❌ No

Mulberry silk is now the most used in high-end textiles because its fibers are longer, more regular, and particularly soft.

The main silk weaves

Once the fiber is produced, silk can be woven in different ways.
The weave influences the look and feel of the fabric.

Weaving	Features	Common use
Silk satin (charmeuse)	Very smooth and glossy on the front, matte on the back	Pillowcases, lingerie, pyjamas
silk twill	More structured and resistant diagonal weave	Silk squares, scarves
Habotai	Lightweight and thin fabric	Linings, scarves

Textiles intended for direct contact with the skin, such as pillowcases or pyjamas , are often made of silk satin (charmeuse) to obtain a particularly soft and fluid surface.

Which is the best silk?

It all depends on the intended use, but for textiles worn or used overnight, the standard remains:

Mulberry silk woven into silk satin .

The quality also depends on the thickness of the fabric, measured in momme .

22 momme : dense and durable silk, ideal for sleepwear
19 momme : balance between lightness and strength
16 momme : thinner, suitable for certain lightweight items

Why we chose mulberry silk

At Maison CÉTOILE , we exclusively use OEKO-TEX® certified mulberry silk , renowned for its softness and consistency.

We select weights suited to each use:

22 momme for pyjamas and some accessories
19 or 16 momme for double-sided pillowcases
a hand-rolled hem for silk scarves

Each piece is designed to offer a lasting feeling of comfort, night after night.

How to recognize quality silk?

A few simple guidelines can help.

The light
Natural silk reflects light in a subtle and changing way, never plastic.

Touch
The surface is soft and fluid, with no synthetic feel.

The kid
The weight of the fabric indicates its density: below 16 momme , durability may be more limited.

In summary

The quality of silk depends primarily on:

of the origin of the fiber (mulberry silk being the finest and most regular)
fabric weaving (satin, twill, etc.)
of its thickness measured in momme

For textiles intended for sleep, the most appreciated combination remains mulberry silk woven into silk satin , renowned for its softness and fluidity.

fluidity.