Since it’s discovery, silk has been one of the most sought-after and luxury fabrics you can get your hands on. Its popularity comes as no surprise given its many natural properties and benefits. But, as its people’s desire for silk has grown, so has the amount of fake silk on the market.
Made from the cocoons produces by silkworms, it’s a fabric that’s luxurious and unlike any other. However, this hasn’t stopped it from being mimicked and copied. Plus, it can be difficult to determine whether a fabric is genuine, quality silk or whether it’s synthetic or fake.
To help you, the experts at Jasmine Silk have put together a list of ways that you can tell whether the silk you are looking at is real or fake.
Satin in Disguise
One of the most common ways in which people are tricked into buying fake silk is when satin is disguised as silk. It is often called ‘silky satin’ but really isn’t silk at all.
Satin is a type of weave, not an actual kind of fibre. So, it can be comprised of nylon, polyester and will sometimes contain silk extracts. But, it is not the same as pure silk.
Price
Although it is possible for some companies to sell silk at affordable prices, there is a limit to how much you can lower the prices and make a profit. That’s why silk is usually much more expensive than other materials.
It’s more expensive because of its multitude of benefits, and how it is made. But, the price of a garment should give you a good indication of whether or not the silk is real. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Appearance
You can sometimes tell whether silk is real simply by observing the fabric. This can be difficult if you’re shopping online, but, if you do get the chance to see the fabric in person, here’s how you can tell.
Real silk fibres are covered in sericin, one of the proteins which gives silk its moisturising property. This will make the material shimmer, rather than shine. Plus, if you’re looking at silk on something, it is more likely to drape delicately. Other fabrics are likely to be stiffer, and won’t move as freely.
Lusture
The structure of silk fibres is triangular, which reflects light at all different angles. This gives the material a multicoloured sheen. Artificial fabric will not do this, and shines only white, no matter what angle the light comes from.
So if you get the chance, try holding the fabric to the light and watch the colours of shimmering light. If they’re multicoloured, it’s likely silk you’re looking at.
Touch
If you also get the chance to touch the fabric, there are ways you can tell whether the fabric is real silk. First, try bunching the fabric in your hands. Silk will make scrunching sound, similar to the sound of walking on fresh snow. Also, if you rub the fabric between your fingers, silk will become warm while other fabrics won’t change temperature.
Weave
A close-up inspection of the fabric’s weave might be another clue as to whether it is real silk. Lots of silk fabrics are made by hand, which means that imperfections in the weaving could mean its the same thing.
Fabrics that are imitating silk are usually mass-produced by machines, meaning the weave is likely to be very neat. Despite this, it is important to note that some genuine silk is also machine made.
Ring Test
The ring test is a great way of separating the real silk from the fake silk. Simply take a finger ring and try pulling the fabric all the way through the ring. Silk should delicately glide through the ring with ease, while other fabrics are likely to get caught and bunch up.
This test is sometimes affected by the thickness of the silk. For instance, thicker silks will be more difficult to pull through.
Burn Test
You won’t usually be able to carry out this test because it involves damaging the fabric However, should circumstances allow you too, this is a sure-fire test. When burned gently with a lighter, silk will smell similar to burned hair and with stop burning when the fame is removed. It also produces brittle ash.
On the other hand, artificial fabrics will smell more like plastic and will produce no ash.
Learn more about silk in the rest of the Jasmine Silk blog.
