Natural Fibers · 7 min read
Silk: Understanding Weight & Weave
Momme, charmeuse, crepe de chine. What the vocabulary of silk actually tells you before you buy.
Silk is sold by momme — a weight measure. A 16mm charmeuse falls; a 22mm behaves almost like a soft leather. Neither is better, but one will suit a scarf and the other a bias skirt.
Weave decides behaviour as much as weight. Charmeuse shines on one face, crepe de chine mattes evenly and hides the crease, habotai is light and lining-thin.
Read the label for both numbers. Then hold the cloth to the light: quality silk is even, dense, and quiet.