Post Author
There are umpteen numbers of misconceptions surrounding satin and silk. But, if you had to pick one between them both, which one would you go for? Silk fabric is resplendent and charming since it is made with so much dedication and care.
Satin is attractive to the eye because of the shiny appearance and smooth touch. Through this article, we will look at a wide perspective on both the type of fabrics and which is the perfect fit for your preference.
1. Satin V/s Silk: How Are They Made?
Silk is a natural fiber that is made from the cocoons by the process of sericulture. The most common larvae of ‘Bombyx mori’ is used for the production of the silk. The female silkmoths lay about 300 to 500 eggs, and these slowly transform into silkworms.
The silkworms consume a high amount of mulberry leaves and grow in size. About the time when they hit the six-week mark, they almost grow to their full potential. Post this phase, they are all set to spin their cocoons. You will be surprised to know that each silkworm can produce about 100 meters of silk in just one strand, and it is held together using sericin.
Further, the cocoons are placed in boiling water so that the thread from each cocoon can be extracted without breaking the continuity of the thread. In the future steps, it is washed, dyed, spun, and woven.
Satin is a lustrous weave that is shiny on one side and dulls on the other. It can be produced from a variety of fibers such as polyester and silk. There are variations of satin, depending on the type of weave. So, it is a weave and not a natural fiber.
2. Satin V/s Silk: Types of Weaves and Forms!
The different types of satin weaves are as follows:
- Four harness satin weave: This material has good elasticity and can be stretched comparatively more than other satin weaves.
- Five harness satin weave: This is similar to the four harness satin weave, but there is a certain difference in how it is woven.
- Eight harness satin weave: This type of satin is the most flexible of all.
The different types of silk include Tasar silk, eri silk, Muga silk, anaphe silk, and coan silk, to name a few. There is a lot of variety in satin as well. Some of the forms of satin are antique satin, crepe back satin, messaline, poly satin, and duchess satin.
3. Satin V/s Silk: How To Care for the Materials
You can wash silk clothes in cold water using your hand, whereas satin clothes can only be dry-cleaned. So, maintaining satin clothes is a tad bit more expensive. Ironing is used to remove wrinkles from the clothes, but it is going to be a real struggle to iron satin clothes.
In addition to this, if satin comes in contact with hot water, the cloth can shrink almost immediately because of its low resistance.
4. Satin V/s Silk: Costs
Polyester is an artificial fiber, and it is produced in mass numbers. This makes buying polyester way cheaper due to the bulk quantity. However, silk fibers are expensive because you have to nurture and care for the silkworms. The whole process of sericulture is very vivid and requires a lot of time and effort.
There is a lot of labor effort which goes into the production of a real silk and a quality silk, and this makes it quite a luxurious fabric. To sum it up, the production of silk is more expensive. So, if budget is your prime concern, then you should settle for satin because it is going to be pocket-friendly and avoid silk products.
Silk originated in China about 12,000 years ago, and satin is comparatively new. So, if you are looking for an elegant and glamorous look, it isn’t such a bad idea to go with silk. It can truly create a classy first impression and boost your confidence.
If you are going with satin, ensure that you have selected the right quality of satin. A lot of brands use an extremely cheap form of satin, which isn’t good for your skin, and they might overprice you as well.
Check out the video to understand how silk is produced!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klZeS-g0UHo
5. Satin V/s Silk: Temperature
This might seem a very absurd factor to compare the two materials, but it does play a significant role. Since silk is a natural fabric, it adapts to the environment in a jiffy. The essence of this statement is that it is a more breathable material, and you will never experience extreme temperatures while wearing silk.
Also, please read our article: 9 Famous Bengali Silk Saree Types.
6. Satin V/s Silk: Which Is Better for Skin?
While satin has an extremely smooth and soft texture, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is soft on our skin. The prime reason being it is manmade, whereas silk, on the other hand, is synthesized naturally.
Also, when our skin comes in contact with silk, it reduces friction, thereby reducing the chances of redness and dryness. Manmade fibers are striving extremely hard to replicate the natural fibers, and they have been quite successful in certain domains. But, at the end of the day, nothing beats a fully obtained natural product.
Researchers have even stated that sleeping on a pillowcase made of silk provides added benefits to skin and hair. This sounds fascinating, and you would want to consider buying a silk pillowcase rather than satin pillowcase the next time you go shopping. In addition to this, it has also been proven that silk is good for sensitive skin.
Since silk reduces friction between your skin and the textile material, you will automatically see visible changes because you will no longer rub against the pillow. Also, it is a very breathable material, so this will additionally help your skin retain moisture by pumping oxygen.
7. Satin V/s Silk: Hypoallergenic
A lot of us face discomfort when we go to bed, but silk is the one-stop solution to this problem. We often wake up with red spots on the skin or itchy marks due to mites and other beings. Silk has intrinsic properties that help in keeping these annoying creatures away so that you can sleep like a baby.
Additional reading to check how sleeping on silk can give you beauty sleep: The Beauty Benefits of Silk Bedding
Now that you have seen both sides of satin v/s silk, what is going to be your pick? Do tell us in the comments section below!
Click here to read more.
Last Updated on by Laveleena Sharma