Silk vs. Imitation Silk: How to Identify and Choose?

Silk: A Luxurious Gift from Nature

Silk is a natural protein fiber that is obtained from the silkworm once the insect has created its cocoon. The thousands of silkworms that were used to produce any one silk shirt represent many thousands of individual silkworms' life cycles; all of their combined silk creates the material for each shirt produced. Perhaps the most distinguishable characteristic of silk is the natural sheen that it produces - the sheen does not shine as brightly and harshly as shiny materials do, but has a warm, almost inviting glow, with the light reflected through the fibre as if the silk were somehow alive.

Silk will feel cool and smooth to the skin and provide relief during warm weather. In addition to these benefits, silk is also very breathable and absorbs water and sweat. If the weather is warm, you will stay cool in silk; if it is cold, you will stay warm in silk. The silk fabric has a unique surface texture composed of fine, irregular, grainy fibres, which is a feature that cannot be reproduced precisely.

Silk is a delicate material that needs to be treated with care; it generally must be hand washed or dry cleaned and should not be left in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Additionally, silk is generally easy to wrinkle and can be difficult to remove these wrinkles. The cost of a silk shirt varies based on the quality of the silk and the method of production used in creating the shirt.

Imitation Silk: A Smart Choice Crafted with Technology

Synthetic silk is the general term for a synthetic fabric made from polyester satin and other similar fibers that have a similar texture to that of real silk. Newer modern advancements in textiles have created a product that resembles the appearance of real silk much more closely than synthetics used previously.

Generally, synthetic silk looks shinier than real silk and appears more even in its luster but does not have the same properties as real silk regarding drape, flow, and feel. When touched, synthetic silk generally has a stiffer feel compared to real silk and does not have the same coolness to the touch that real silk does; therefore, even though synthetic silk and real silk may appear to look the same upon first glance, upon examination, you will see that synthetic silk will be extremely smooth and uniform in its surface texture.

In terms of usable performance characteristics, synthetic silk offers excellent crease-resistance; high durability; easy care, including machine-washable capabilities; and great drying ability in moist conditions. Unlike real silk's ability to keep moisture close, synthetic silk does not hold as much moisture, nor does it have as high a breathability rating as real silk. Thus, while real silk dries through evaporation and has the highest level of moisture retention, the drying time of synthetic silk will be much less than real silk in a humid environment.

Price is the main benefit of synthetic silk. The average price for synthetic silk fabric can be anywhere from one to two times less than real silk fabric. Additionally, synthetic silk fabrics will have brighter and more accurate colors than comparable silk fabrics.