Mulberry silk is a natural protein fiber, strong and light, that takes up about 11 percent of its dry weight in moisture from the air and, in lab tests, shows lower friction against hair than cotton. The evidence does not support health promises: silk is not proven to prevent wrinkles, acne or eczema, and it is not hypoallergenic.

Because we make silk scarves, we hold our own words about silk to the standard of the evidence. Each common claim below is checked against textile references, published studies and US regulators, and we say which ones we use for our silk and which ones we leave out. We last checked these sources in September 2026.

Which mulberry silk claims are true?

Claim	What the evidence says	What we say about our silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber	True. The silkworm spins it from a protein called fibroin, held together by a gum called sericin that is mostly washed out during processing.	Our scarves are 100% mulberry silk.
Silk is gentle on hair	Partly true. In lab tests at TRI Princeton, an independent textile research institute, silk showed lower friction against hair than cotton. Dermatologists say satin or silk may reduce friction on hair.	A silk scarf gives hair a smooth surface to rest against. We make no promise about hair health.
Silk is better for your skin than cotton	Not shown. In a skin friction study, a plain-weave silk was rated rougher and more adhesive than cotton.	We make no skin claims.
Silk prevents wrinkles, acne or eczema	Not supported. A randomized trial of 300 children found silk clothing unlikely to add benefit for eczema. We found no published trial showing silk prevents wrinkles or acne.	We make none of these claims.
Silk is hypoallergenic	Not supported. The term has no federal definition, and silk proteins can cause allergic reactions in some people.	We do not call our silk hypoallergenic.
Silk absorbs 30% of its weight without feeling wet	We found no independent source. Textile references list silk's standard moisture regain at about 11 percent.	We say about 11 percent.
Silk regulates temperature	No neutral measurement we could find shows this for a scarf.	We say light and breathable, nothing more.
Silk is antibacterial or anti-static	Not supported. In the US, a fabric sold as fighting germs needs EPA registration, and silk can hold static in dry air.	We make neither claim.
Higher momme is always better	No. Momme measures weight, and heavier cloth has more body for the same weave.	Ours is 16 momme.
5A is the highest grade of silk	No. Under China's raw silk standard, 6A is the top grade and 5A is the next.	Ours is Grade 5A.

What is mulberry silk made of?

Mulberry silk comes from the cocoons of the Bombyx mori silkworm, which feeds on mulberry leaves. Each cocoon is wound from one continuous filament that runs for hundreds of yards; museum references put a single cocoon filament at 250 to 750 meters. The filament is mostly fibroin. The rest, about a quarter of the cocoon's silk, is sericin, a gum that is mostly washed out, or degummed, during processing, and what remains is soft and lustrous.

Does silk absorb moisture?

It takes up moisture from the air. The CAMEO materials database of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston lists silk's moisture regain at 11 percent: the water a dry fiber takes up from the air under standard conditions. Textile textbooks list cotton at about 7 to 11 percent and polyester below 1 percent.

Liquid water is a different test. TRI Princeton notes that cotton absorbs more water than silk and moves it through the fabric faster, so silk does not wick water better than cotton.

Is silk good for hair?

TRI Princeton measured a lower friction coefficient between silk and hair than between cotton and hair. The American Academy of Dermatology quotes a dermatologist saying satin or silk bonnets and pillowcases "may also reduce friction and preserve your hairstyle." Two details matter: the word "may," and the fact that satin is named alongside silk. The finding concerns friction against hair and makes no promise about hair health.

How strong is silk, and what damages it?

Silk is known for strength and light weight. Our 16 momme silk weighs about 69 grams per square meter, a little less than the same area of standard 20 lb copy paper. It has limits, too: long exposure to light yellows and weakens silk, and because it is a protein, chlorine bleach and enzyme detergents damage it.

Which silk claims go too far?

Skin. Friction depends on the weave as much as the fiber. In one study of fabrics rubbed against the forearm, plain-weave silk felt rougher and more adhesive than cotton, and cotton had lower friction, so the idea that silk is kinder to sensitive skin than cotton is not backed by this research.

Eczema, acne and wrinkles. The CLOTHES trial, published in PLOS Medicine in 2017, randomized 300 children with eczema and concluded that silk clothing is "unlikely to provide additional benefit over standard care." For wrinkles and sleep creases, TRI Princeton calls the effect "still unknown." The FTC's guidance expects randomized, controlled human trials before a product claims a health benefit, and no such trial backs these claims for silk.

Allergies. The FDA says there are no federal standards or definitions for "hypoallergenic." A safety review of silk proteins also records allergic sensitization to silk, so anyone with a silk allergy should choose another fiber.

Temperature and germs. We found no neutral measurement showing a silk scarf keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. Germ claims are regulated: the EPA says a product that is not registered must not claim to fight germs or provide antibacterial protection.

What does 16 momme mean?

Momme (mm) is the traditional unit for silk fabric weight. One momme equals 4.34 grams per square meter, so 16 momme is about 69 grams per square meter, or about 2 ounces per square yard. Higher momme means heavier cloth with more body for the same weave. It does not measure the grade of the thread, the print or the hem, and comparisons across weaves such as twill, satin and chiffon are loose. We use 16 momme so a square has enough body to hold a knot.

What does Grade 5A mean?

Grade 5A describes the raw silk thread, not the finished scarf. China's national standard for raw silk, GB/T 1797-2008, grades reeled silk 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and A, and lower lots fall below grade. That makes 5A the second grade from the top. The grade comes from tests on the thread, such as how even and clean it is and how consistent its thickness is. You may read elsewhere that there are 11 grades, or that 5A is the highest; the standard says neither. A grade also says nothing about printing or finishing, which is why we list those separately.

What can Folk Form say about its own silk?

• Fiber: 100% Grade 5A mulberry silk at 16 momme.
• Testing: tested at the Textile Testing Center of the Vietnam Textile Research Institute, an independent body, not our own lab.
• Print: hand screen-printed through both faces, one screen for each color, so a knot shows the design on both sides.
• Edges: rolled and stitched by hand.
• Proof in the box: a small swatch of the same silk, so you can run the burn test below yourself.

The same silk, print and hem come in every size. The 26 inch square handles hair and neck, and the 36 inch square is large enough for a full head wrap. Our silk scarf size guide compares all four sizes, and what a luxury silk scarf under $200 buys explains how printing and finishing change the price. You can also browse all Folk Form silk scarves.

How do I care for mulberry silk?

• Wash every 3 to 5 wears, by hand, in cold water with a little shampoo or body wash in place of laundry detergent. Skip chlorine bleach and enzyme detergents.
• Squeeze the water out gently. Never wring or twist.
• Dry flat in the shade, never in direct sun.
• Iron on the lowest silk setting while the silk is still faintly damp.
• Store it folded, away from sunlight, perfume and cosmetics.

Frequently asked questions

Is mulberry silk good for your hair?

In lab tests at TRI Princeton, silk showed lower friction against hair than cotton, and dermatologists say satin or silk may reduce friction on hair. No study we found shows a silk scarf changes hair health, so we do not claim that.

Is mulberry silk hypoallergenic?

No. "Hypoallergenic" has no federal definition in the US, and silk proteins can cause allergic reactions in some people. Anyone with a known silk allergy should avoid silk.

Is silk better for your skin than cotton?

The evidence does not show it. A skin friction study rated plain-weave silk rougher than cotton, and a trial of 300 children found silk clothing unlikely to add benefit for eczema.

Does silk keep you cool in summer and warm in winter?

We found no neutral measurement that shows this for a scarf. What holds up is that silk is light and breathable and takes up some moisture from the air.

What is the difference between 16 momme and 22 momme silk?

Weight. At 4.34 grams per square meter per momme, 16 momme is about 69 grams per square meter and 22 momme about 95. The heavier cloth has more body. Neither number tells you the grade, the print or the hem.

Is mulberry silk worth it for a scarf?

For a scarf you will wear and knot often, what you pay for is the fiber plus the print, the hem and the finish. Our guide to luxury silk scarves under $200 shows where the money goes.

How can I tell if a scarf is real mulberry silk?

Burn a single thread or a swatch over a sink, away from anything flammable. Silk smells like burning hair and leaves a soft ash that crushes between your fingers. Polyester melts into a hard bead. It is a home check, not a lab test, and every Folk Form box includes a swatch for it.