Silk Bedding, the Healthier Back To Basics Alternative

Over the past several years there has been a drive for us all to become healthier, eat better more natural food, exercise more and even improve the way we rest. Consumers have been demanding more natural goods, and we are witnessing a swing of “back to nature” in many retail fields. It is with no surprise then that we are seeing companies supplying healthier goods to meet with customers’ demands.

The world of bedding and linens has not been exempt from this trend and one can now find many natural fibres replacing the more conventional synthetic beddings. Coverings such as polyester and other synthetically made linens are not as sympathetic to our bodies needs as natural products are. Down, wool, cotton and silk are all examples of natural products seeing resurgence in the bedding market. As manufacturing techniques become increasingly sophisticated the prices of production decreases, making once prohibitively expensive bedding products more accessible to a mass market.

Silk bedding has seen a huge increase in both trade and expansion of products recently. The silk filled duvet market in particular has grown tenfold from five years ago. Take a look at silksleep (dot) com who have been trading for several years now exclusively selling silk bedding products. Silk as a bedding product is both natural and healthier than using a synthetic product. Silk bedding by nature is inhospitable to bed bugs as the natural protein in silk repels the bugs and mites, making for a healthier sleeping environment. Some silk duvets are layered using mulberry silk, working enough silk together in a grid pattern to be able to be stitched into a duvet. This layering effect has a beneficial result as the silk allows our body heat to regulate itself, which in turn gives a better more relaxed nights sleep.

Silk linen and pillow slips have also seen remarkable growth in the past few years. This is again because of sophisticated production techniques but also because there is a renewed demand for natural products. There is now a wide range of silk linen on the shelves in many good retailers and online stores. Many sell mulberry silk products which are far superior to other kinds of silk. Mulberry silks have been specifically harvested for a targeted production process. Be it for clothing, bedding or decorating, the durability of mulberry silk over other silks is noticeable and should be favoured if at all possible.

Healthier living is making an impact round the world and bringing new and exciting products to our shores. Silk bedding is just one example of a return to basics trend – thankfully we now live in a world that allows us to go back to basics in style! Next time you are out and about, give natural a second look.

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Silk Sheets – Do You Know What To Look For?

In recent years silk sheets and bedding sets have grown in popularity and are more commonplace on the shelves of retailers than ever before. This is mostly due to advances in bedding manufacturing techniques borrowed largely from the modern cotton and polyester trade.

With more and more retailers stocking silk bedding sets alongside the more traditional cotton and polyester sets, we have noticed some wildly varying pricing schemes. Some silk bedding sets can be ½ the price of others, but yet they look almost identical. So how do we know we are getting a good deal or purchasing inferior silk that won’t last?

There are three main things to look for in a silk bedding set. They are:
1. 100% mulberry silk – Mulberry silk is made up of one continuous strand of silk and is the best possible silk for bedding. Many bedding sets are made up of Tussah or wild silk. This silk is not continuous, but rather made up of broken strands of silk. Only 100% mulberry silk can offer the continued durability and uniformity required in a silk bedding set.

2. Momme weight – Momme is the measurement used to weigh silk. The higher the momme number the more silk has physically gone into the item and therefore the more durable the silk will be. 12-19 momme weight is ideal for silk bedding. Momme weights of lower than 12 are mostly reserved for clothing and silk ties. The higher the momme number the more silk you literally get for your money.

3. 400+ thread count – Although not as important as the first two points, thread count is still important when choosing silk bed linen. A thread count lower than 400 will directly effect the durability of the bedding set. Generally the closer the weave the longer your bedding set will last.

Take a look at silksleep (dot) com for a good example of silk bedding that meets all the above requirements.

It is worth pointing out that with silk you get what you pay for. Cheap silk bedding sets will almost always not be able to live up to one if not all three of the above requirements. Purchasing a cheap silk bedding set is a false economy, as the items will not last. Silk that has met these three basic requirements and is properly cared for will outlast cotton and polyester sheets, proving to be both a luxurious and cost effective investment.

To summarise: When looking for a silk bedding set always insist on 100% mulberry silk, a momme weight of 12-19 (19 being preferable) and a thread count of 400 or higher. Silk bedding sets that meet these requirements are true examples of the best silk bedding sets have to offer – pure luxury.

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Silk Sheets - Should We All Have Them

There has been an increasing amount of press regarding silk sheets and bedding. It seems there is somewhat of a resurgence in the market with more and more retailers importing silk goods. So what is all the noise about? Are the retailers to be believed that silk sheets will change the way we sleep or is this just all hot air?

At first glance silk sheets seems fairly ordinary, the only major difference between them and their cotton counterparts seems to be price. The packaging looks fairly similar, as do the colours. Ivory, chocolate, maroon etc. This, as I was to find out is where the similarities begin and end.

Apparently there are several different verities of silk. Some are better for bedding than others. The main verities are wild silk, which is silk harvested from silk worms in the wild, Tussah silk which is usually silk from the east and has a deep tone to it and the “Rolls Royce” of silks, 100% mulberry silk. Mulberry silk has been specifically cultivated in controlled conditions. By doing this, the silk is of much higher quality than wild silks and the finished product is far superior in both finish and durability.

It is generally accepted that Mulberry silk bedding is the best silk available on the market today. Only mulberry silk can endure the constant use normal bedding has. Other silks such as Habotai silk are available but they lack the durability of mulberry silk. This is usually reflected in the price. Habotai silk has been known to seem softer than it’s mulberry silk counterpart. This is because the silk is often sand washed during the production process. Although this gives a soft feel to the silk, it further destroys the already limited durability of Habotai silk.

Many retailers are keen to point out the hypoallergenic properties of silk bedding and how sleeping on silk bedding helps allergy sufferers. This is mainly due to silk being an inhospitable environment to dust mites, which are a major cause of allergy related complications. In addition to the health benefits silk has the remarkable ability to keep us warm when it’s cool and cool when it’s warm. This is achieved by silk allowing our reflected body heat to dissipate and therefore help us maintain a stable temperature. Simple, but very effective and prefect for people who tend to overheat when using conventional bedding.

Other benefits of silk bedding include kindness to our skin, great durability and even an inherent safety feature! Because silk is a natural protein it is believed it is better for us to use as bedding than cotton. This is because the natural amino acids in silk are less likely to be harmful to our skin and can even help slow the ageing process! This has not been scientifically proven, but it’s worth a try even without the other benefits. Take a look at the silksleep collection of silk pillowcases at silksleep (dot) com for a few ideas. As for the built in safety feature, silk is apparently naturally fire retardant.

Considering the pros and cons of using silk sheets, I think the pros definitely outweigh the cons. The hypoallergenic qualities doubled with the durability makes silk sheets both a healthy and cost effective solution to our bedding needs. Next time you are out and about, take a few minutes and have a closer look at the silk bedding ranges now available. It may well change the way you sleep forever!

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