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What is the difference between cotton and silk?

Cotton vs Silk

What is cotton?

Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. Under natural conditions, the cotton bolls will increase the dispersal of the seeds.

The fiber is most often spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile. For centuries, Egyptian cotton has been considered the best in the world.

What is silk?

Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular prism-like structure of the silk fibre, which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles, thus producing different colors.

Silk is produced by several insects, but, generally, only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacturing.

Mulberry silk is the highest quality silk available for purchase.

Advantage
SILK COTTON
Material
* extracted from silkworms * natural protein fiber * shiny and elegant appearance
* derived from cotton * soft and fuzzy natural fiber
Comfort
* smooth and glossy surface * feels soft on the skin * very comfortable
* soft yet matte surface * feels a bit tough compared with silk * comfortable
Features
* provides warmth during cold temperatures * stays cool during warm weather
* gives off warm insulation during frigid temperatures * also stays cool during warm weathe
Anti-Allergy
* hypoallergenic * resistant to moisture, dust, mites, and allergens
* not as hypoallergenic as silk * can foster the growth of bacteria
Which Takes the Cake: Mulberry Silk vs. Egyptian Cotton?
If you have shopped for bedding, you probably already know about the top two contenders in the high-end bedding market: Mulberry silk and Egyptian cotton, as both are a big step-up from your regular cotton sheets. Sometimes it can be quite a difficult task choosing between the two. In this article, we will present you with a quick comparison between the two textiles that will hopefully help you in picking out a choice that is more suitable for your needs.For convenience purposes, we will refer to Mulberry silk simply as "silk" and Egyptian cotton as "cotton" in this article.
1.Material
Silk is a natural protein fiber
→Silk is a natural protein fiber
Silk, from the silkworm, the main ingredient is protein, similar to the chemical composition of human skin, hydrophilic, sweat-absorbent, and cool, so the wearing comfort and health care performance are better than any other fiber.
Silk is a natural protein fiber that provides a unique smoothness and softness on the skin. It also features a shiny exterior that has become recognizable by fabric connoisseurs and common folks. In short, silk looks classy and lavish.
Cotton is mainly composed of cellulose fiber
→Cotton is mainly composed of cellulose fiber
Cotton, which made from cotton by spinning and twisting, is mainly composed of cellulose fiber, which is similar to the chemical composition of the paper.
Cotton is widely used for making clothes and bedsheets. It can also be used in combination with other natural or human-made fabrics to make quality but affordable sheets or clothing.
2.Comfort
An all-climate fabric, silk is warm and cozy in winter and comfortably cool when temperatures rise.
→An all-climate fabric, silk is warm and cozy in winter and comfortably cool when temperatures rise.
Its natural temperature-regulating properties give silk this paradoxical ability to cool and warm simultaneously. Silk garments thus outperform other fabrics in both summer and winter.
Silk sheets feature a soft and smooth surface that makes it very comfortable and ideal for some serious cuddling. It is also light and gives the skin a soothing feeling — lasting fleeciness and comfort for a long time.
The cotton quilt is thicker than the silk quilt.
→The cotton quilt is thicker than the silk quilt.
Cotton, which made from cotton by spinning and twisting, is mainly composed of cellulose fiber, which is similar to the chemical composition of the paper. So some people will feel pressure and uncomfortable, especially the people with liquid circulation and the elderly, pregnant women, babies, and other people unfavorably use the cotton quilt. Cotton needs to renovate, even more troublesome.
3.Allergy Friendly
Silk Is Second Human Skin
→Silk Is Second Human Skin
Because of its natural protein structure, silk is the most hypoallergenic of all fabrics.
Silk is its resistance to dust and allergens that often result in allergic reactions. Why is this so, you ask? Silk is hypoallergenic and with its incredible resistance to moisture-causing microorganisms, the development of bacteria ranges from very unlikely to nil. So if you are suffering from allergies or asthma, you should seriously consider getting silk sheets.
Cotton is extremely moisture-absorbent.
→Cotton is extremely moisture-absorbent.
Did you know that your cotton sheets can absorb 27 times its weight in sweat (or water)? During the night, they soak up all of the sweat and cling on to it, becoming suffocatingly heavy overnight. When they’re satiated, they also lose their ability to regulate your body temperature. So if you find yourself overheating overnight or waking up in a sweat, your cotton sheets could be to blame.
Therefore it can help advance the growth of bacteria that lead to allergic reactions. However, this can be prevented with adequate and proper care and consistent and regular washing.
4.Breathability
Silk is highly absorbent and dries quickly
→Silk is highly absorbent and dries quickly.
Silk is composed of a bundle of micro-fibrils, has good breathability. The moisture-wicking ability of mulberry silk is 1.5 times that of cotton fiber, which can absorb and emit the sweat very quickly.
It can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp. Silk will absorb perspiration while letting your skin breathe.
Silk has thermal capabilities whenever the winter or cold season comes around. But when the temperatures soar and the tropical breeze comes in, it keeps cool and remains comfortable to use.
Cotton is not very breathable. You can blame this on their penchant for retaining moisture.
→Cotton is not very breathable. You can blame this on their penchant for retaining moisture.
Cotton is made up of a more complex series of atoms, which are linked into what are called 'polymer molecules.' These polymer molecules link up in repetitive patterns or chains, creating pure cellulose, a substance that makes cotton absorbent, according to Cotton Inc. One reason cellulose makes cotton absorbent is that it contains a negative charge, which helps attract 'dipolar' water molecules and absorb them. Another reason is the cotton's 'hydrophilic properties.'
So while cotton sheets will keep you cozy in the winter, they could become overbearing in the summer.
5.Price
Time Is Money & Takes A Lot of Time to Yield
→Time Is Money & Takes A Lot of Time to Yield
The most important aspect as to why silk is an expensive fabric is because it takes a lot of time, patience, and controlled care to yield silk from insects. Since this is a natural process, no amount of chemical induction or synthetic methods can be used to speed up the process of mother nature.
Silk fabric is sold by its momme weight, which measured in grams per square meter. The silk of 19 momme or above is considered to be high-end. The higher the momme weight is, the more dense and opaque the silk becomes.
Silk us typically associated with luxury, its intricate details, and remarkable quality, leading to higher prices compared to the cost of cotton bed sheets. But it is essential to take a long-term perspective on your investment in high-quality bedding. After all, silk bedding tends to be replaced less frequently, meaning that it can end up providing more value relative to its cost when compared to cotton.
Cotton fabric is sold by its thread count, which is measured by a number of threads per square inch. A cotton sheet with a thread count of 600+ is considered to be decent.
Cotton sheets are more available to anyone and everyone. It can also be found in nearly any department store. Compared to silk sheets, cotton sheets are inexpensive. Cotton, at times, becomes even cheaper when combined with other kinds of fabrics, the likes of polyester.
Not All Silk Is The Same
WHAT MAKES LILYSILK DIFFERENT
1. OEKO CERTIFIED
The OEKO-TEX® standard 100 is developed and managed by the International OEKO-TEX® Association, a group of 16 textile research and test institutes in Europe and Japan, with representative agencies and contact offices in over 60 countries worldwide.
Products that pass the test in this system are allowed to carry a certification label that guarantees to the consumers that the product does not contain harmful substances at levels that can be dangerous to the human body.
Enter the certificate number in the Official Authorization Website; the result will produce details of the validity status, the relevant product class, and the articles covered by this certificate number. If the validity needs to be verified, the contact details of the relevant institutions will be displayed.
2. 6A High Quality Mulberry Silk
3. Our promise:Mulberry silk
We at LILYSILK promise you that every time you see Charmeuse silk and Crepe de chine silk that used on our website, it means Charmeuse silk made from 100% pure and natural Mulberry silk and nothing else.
Our 6A Grade Silk made from the longest silk fibres available – it is the highest grade that exists!
People purchase silk comforter for their even warmth, lightness, breathability, softness, and durability. Different grades of silk provide various quality of benefits of silk comforters.
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