Try to seek the origins of the world’s most delicate fabric, and you’ll find yourself on a quest into the mythological and the legendary. Silk has always been known as a luxury fabric, but the earliest weavings of it are rooted in Chinese legend and lore. It’s believed the fabric first appeared during China’s Neolithic era, some 5,000 years ago, when the wife of Huangdi, a deity of Chinese mythology, saw a use for the material. While the origins of silk may be a bit on the fantastical side, there is one thing that’s always remained constant - where the material is harvested from.
Even today, nations produce silk through sericulture, the cultivation of silkworms. The most common type of harvested silk is Mulberry, which comes directly from silkworm cocoons bred in captivity. To perfect the production of Mulberry silk, the silkworm is raised in a controlled environment that results in a material that’s rounder, smoother, more uniform in color, and durable. When shopping silk products, it’s worth knowing that Charmeuse silk is, in fact, not a type of silk. Instead, it’s a method of weaving that creates a brighter and smoother sheen on one side and a dull finish on the other.
Shopping for silk is a bit different than, say, buying cotton bed sheets. The former is rated by its thread count, while silk is measured in momme (moe-mie). Much like with thread count, a higher momme equates to a higher-quality fabric that will better withstand daily wear and tear. Not sure what momme you should be shopping for? In general, the higher the better, so keep to anything 19 momme and higher.
As important as the feel and durability of silk is, we also shop based on appearance. That’s why, at Cursive Home, we’ve adopted hidden zipper and envelope-style finishes. Both methods retain the sleek and smooth appearance of woven silk, hiding unsightly seems and metallic zippers. All of our product is crafted from the highest quality silk to guarantee an opulent look and feel for maximum comfort and style.