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Glossary Of Terms Related to Silk
Glossary Index:

Note: We love silk! Thus, we hope to provide information that will allow the consumer to get the most out of her/his purchase as not all silk is of the same quality. This glossary attempts to cover the most common terms a consumer should know and expresses our opinion regarding various types of silk. If you can not find the term your want, please check back as we constantly revise this section .

Fabric Terms

There are many types of silks. Listed below are a few of the more popular ones found in the US. To assess a silk one needs to consider three factors. They are: Silk Type, Silk Weight, and Silk Weave. Silks of the same type might have different characteristics because of different weights or weaves. For example, Crepe de Chine, one of the most popular fabrics for women's blouses, come in a variety of weights. Generally speaking, we feel that a Crepe de Chine of a 14 momme weight is inferior and will not show off all the best characteristics of the fabric. Thus, we only carry a weight of 16 momme or higher in our ready-to-wear line. However, many department stores and especially discount stores will carry Crepe de Chine blouses of 14 momme. These blouses may be advertised as 100% silk (which they are) but will not perform satisfactory as a garment. Likewise, with the so-called washable silks. If they are made from an 8 or 10 momme weight fabric (usually China Silk), they will wrinkle easily and generally wear out rapidly. Silks are naturally strong and wrinkle resistant. If your silk garment does not have these characteristics check their weight or weave.

Silk Fabric Description Weight
Broadcloth, Habotai same as China Silk except heavier; wrinkles less; good for shirts medium (10 mm) up
Chiffon a soft plain wave fabric made with twisted yarns Sheer - Light to Medium
China Silk, Fuji Silk Spun Silk, best for lining and crafts; inexpensive, often called washable silk, wrinkles 8 mm up (light)
Crepe de Chine Popular for clothing; lustrous fabric; superior drape; made from twisted yarns 14 mm popular but inferior; 16 mm is good blouse weight, heavier available
Organza plain weave; sheer silk made of tightly twisted, fine yarns; use for interfacing, veils, under gowns Crisp, Sheer
Charmeuse crepe backed satin; rich luster; drapes beautifully medium; 16 or higher
Pongee a variation of tussah; slight rib and texture; inexpensive light weight; traditional summer fabric
Brocade Jacquard design often with metallic thread, usually contains some rayon; good for jackets heavy
Taffeta hand woven is best; crisp fabric that rustles medium to heavy weight
Shantung slubbed silk, duppioni yarns many weights from light to suit
Velvet pile fabric often containing some rayon; gorgeous drape medium to heavy
Peu de Soie skin of silk; satiny face heavy
Damask jacquard woven silk of elaborate patterns light to medium
Noil (raw silk) spun silk with nubby texture; appearance of soft cotton or wool; easy care, wrinkle resistant; travel well medium to heavy
Tussah (wild silk) wild silk, generally from India, loosely woven heavy, nice for suiting
Washable Silk see: China Silk, Fuji Silk above
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Fabric Weaves

Silks are woven fabrics. Fabric weave helps determine such characteristics as strength and durability of the fabric as well as beauty. Since silk is so strong naturally, less durable weaves may be used to achieve a particular look not capable in other fabrics.

Weave Explanation Comment
Herringbone most durable; diagonal rib switch back and forth creating rows of parallel lines which slope in opposite directions often seen in noil silk suiting
Twill a dense fabric (double thread) with appearance of fine diagonal lines; very strong and soil resistant an expensive weave
Rib variation of plain weave in which the yarns in one direction are heavier than the other creating a rib effect a strong fabric weave
Plain yarns runs alternately over and under one another; most common weave appearance is changed by looseness of weave
Dobby made with a special loon that crates small, geometric figures usually expensive fabric
Jacquard intricate weaving creating complex designs in the fabric popular
Satin uses floating yarns to create the luster of a pearl; imitations and copies: shine; beautiful!. can snag easily
Leno open weave using twisted fibers weak weave

Miscellaneous Terms

To start, we only include a few terms in this section. However, if you would like to see a term added, please e-mail us. Tell us the term you would like to see defined here.

Term Definition
momme silk weight; a silk of 6 momme (mm) is very light; a silk of 22 mm is very heavy (suit weight);
sericin the gum that protects the fiber in its natural state
Spun Silk short silk threads that are spun together to form a longer filament; a lower quality silk often seen in the so called "washable silk" class
Raw Silk refers to spun silk that has been brushed to give a cotton effect; popular; easy care; inexpensive
Dupionni other related terms: dupion, douppioni, shantung; fabric containing slubs, uneven; forms when two silk worms make their cocoons at the same time thus joining together.
Washable Silk This is a term of recent creation. It normally refers to a light weight silk such as "China Silk" (see above) and is not considered suitable for outer garments. It lacks the qualities of a long filament silk. However, it is popular for artist who hand paint scarfs and clothing. (Note: most silks are generally considered washable. See: care of silks.)