Habotai Silk vs Mulberry Silk: Differences, Benefits & Price

Key Takeaways

• Habotai silk and mulberry silk are not the same thing: habotai is a weave style, while mulberry refers to the fibre source.

• Habotai silk offers a lightweight, fluid drape with a soft matte finish, making it ideal for scarves, linings, and accessories, whilst mulberry silk delivers unmatched smoothness, natural thermoregulation, and hypoallergenic properties that make it the gold standard for bedding and sleepwear.

• Habotai silk is one of the most accessible silk options available, with fabric typically ranging from £11.92–£14.90 per yard, whereas premium mulberry silk, such as Mayfairsilk's Grade 6A pillowcases, from £68 and full duvet sets up to £1,125. 

• Mayfairsilk offers Grade 6A, OEKO-TEX certified mulberry silk in 22 and 25 momme, delivering the weight, softness, and refined finish that set truly luxurious bedding apart from the ordinary.

Habotai Silk vs Mulberry Silk: An Overview

At the most fundamental level, habotai silk refers to a plain weave fabric construction, while mulberry silk refers to the fibre origin, silk produced by Bombyx mori silkworms that are fed primarily on white mulberry leaves. This means a piece of fabric can technically be both: habotai silk woven from mulberry silk fibres.

The reason shoppers get confused is that many retailers label fabric as simply "silk habotai" or "mulberry silk" without clarifying that these descriptors operate on entirely different levels. Understanding both terms gives you a significant advantage when evaluating quality and price.

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Habotai Silk

Habotai silk is produced using one of the simplest weaving techniques in textile manufacturing: a plain weave, where yarns interlace in a basic over-under pattern. The result is a fabric with an identical appearance on both the front and back, a tight, flat surface, and a soft, subtle sheen that is noticeably more matte than silk satin.

Weight, Weave & Texture

Habotai silk is available across a broad range of momme weights, which directly affects how the fabric looks, feels, and performs. At lower weights, habotai can resemble polyester (smooth, flat, and with a modest sheen), which means tactile evaluation and fibre verification matter when purchasing. Undyed habotai has a natural light cream colour and accepts dye exceptionally well, making it a popular choice for custom printing and hand-dyeing projects.

• 8mm–10mm habotai: ultra-lightweight, ideal for scarves, eye masks, linings, and delicate accessories

• 12mm habotai: the crossover point where fabric gains enough body for structured garments

• 14mm–16mm habotai: better suited for shirts, skirts, light jackets, and kimonos

• 16mm–18mm habotai: heavier, with a slightly stiffer drape, used for more structured garments and home décor

Lightweight habotai is a popular choice for summer scarves and accessories, offering breathability and comfortable coverage in warm weather. However, undyed habotai typically measures below UPF 10, falling short of the UPF 15 minimum threshold for rated UV protection. 

Lightweight habotai is commonly used for eye masks.

Benefits of Using Habotai Silk

Habotai silk punches well above its weight class in terms of practical benefits. Its fluid drape makes garments move naturally with the body, and the matte finish gives it a softer, more understated elegance compared to glossy silk weaves like satin. For designers who want silk's comfort without the high-shine look, habotai is the go-to choice.

How Much Does Habotai Silk Cost?

Habotai silk is one of the most affordable silk options on the market, largely because of its simple weave construction. Fabric by the yard typically runs £11.92–£14.90, making it a practical choice for designers and hobbyists who need real silk without the premium price tag.

Finished habotai products reflect that same accessibility. Blank undyed scarves start at around £6 for smaller squares, while printed or hand-hemmed habotai scarves from independent makers range from under £20 to over £100, depending on size and finish. 

Mulberry Silk

Mulberry silk is the gold standard of silk fibres. It is produced by Bombyx mori silkworms that are raised in controlled environments and fed primarily on white mulberry leaves. This controlled cultivation process is what sets mulberry silk apart from every other variety.

Because the silkworms are domesticated and their diet is carefully managed, the silk filaments they produce are extraordinarily consistent. Each filament is fine, round, and smooth, with a uniform diameter that results in a fabric surface that is remarkably even and luminous. 

Wild silks, by contrast, are produced by silkworms with varied diets, which leads to irregular, coarser fibres that lack mulberry silk's signature luster.

Why Mulberry Silk Is Considered the Highest Quality Silk

Mulberry silk filaments measure approximately 10–14 microns in diameter, measurably finer than wool and finer than cotton. Each fibre's triangular cross-section refracts incoming light at multiple angles, producing the luminous, pearlescent sheen mulberry silk is famous for.

Beyond its appearance, mulberry silk is, gram for gram, stronger than an equal thickness of steel wire, which is a tensile strength that, combined with its low density, makes it one of the strongest natural fibres by weight. Its protein structure, composed primarily of fibroin and sericin, is remarkably compatible with human skin, making it a genuine choice for people with sensitive skin or eczema.

Benefits of Using Mulberry Silk

The benefits of mulberry silk extend well beyond its luxurious appearance. Its natural protein structure makes it naturally hypoallergenic and less hospitable to dust mites and common allergens, properties that make it especially valuable in bedding and sleepwear applications. 

Mulberry silk is also a natural temperature regulator, keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter by wicking moisture away from the body while maintaining an insulating layer of air within its fine fibre structure. 

For skincare-conscious consumers, sleeping on mulberry silk pillowcases has been widely noted to reduce friction on both hair and skin compared to cotton, helping to minimise sleep creases and hair breakage overnight.

Mulberry silk pillowcases are great for hair health.

How Much Does Mulberry Silk Cost?

Mulberry silk sits firmly at the premium end of the market, and the price reflects both the labour-intensive production process and the exceptional quality of the fibre. Momme weight and grade are the two biggest pricing factors: higher momme means more silk per square metre, resulting in a denser, more durable, and more luxurious fabric.

At Mayfairsilk, 25 momme Grade 6A pillowcases start from £68, individual fitted and flat sheets range from £247 to £380, and full duvet sets range from £800 to £1,125. This is a reflection of what genuinely premium, certified mulberry silk commands at the top of the market.

Habotai Silk vs Mulberry Silk: Comparison Table

Get Premium Mulberry Silk Items at Mayfairsilk

Mayfairsilk uses Grade 6A mulberry silk. 

Now that you know the difference, the choice is clear. If you want genuine mulberry silk (not a weave label, not a vague "100% silk" claim), the grade, momme weight, and certification on the product tag tell you everything.

That is exactly the standard we hold ourselves to at Mayfairsilk. Every product we make uses Grade 6A, long-strand mulberry silk, independently certified to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. Browse our full collection and experience the difference for yourself.

Experience the luxury of Mayfairsilk today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is habotai silk the same as mulberry silk?

No, habotai refers to a plain weave fabric construction, while mulberry silk refers to the fibre source and quality tier of the raw material. The confusion arises because habotai fabric is very often woven from mulberry silk fibres, making the two terms overlap in practice. When a product is labeled "habotai silk," it tells you how it was woven; when it is labeled "mulberry silk," it tells you what it was woven from.

Why is mulberry silk more expensive than habotai silk?

Mulberry silk commands a higher price because of the highly controlled, labour-intensive process required to produce it. Bombyx mori silkworms must be raised in carefully managed conditions and fed primarily on mulberry leaves to yield consistently fine, uniform filaments. The result is a fibre with exceptional smoothness, tensile strength, and luster that cannot be replicated with wild or lower-grade silk varieties. Habotai, by contrast, derives its affordability from its simple, plain weave construction, not from any compromise in fibre origin.

Can habotai silk be used for bedding like mulberry silk?

Technically, yes, but lightweight habotai in the 8mm–10mm range is far too delicate for regular bedding use and would not survive the friction and washing cycles that sheets and pillowcases endure. Heavier habotai above 16mm can work in a pinch, but high-grade mulberry silk woven into charmeuse or satin weaves is purpose-built for bedding. The denser fibre structure and higher momme weight options of premium mulberry silk make it a far better long-term investment for sleep products.

What's the difference between 100% silk and mulberry silk?

A product labeled "100% silk" simply confirms there are no synthetic blends. It says nothing about the quality or origin of the fibre, which could be wild silk, tussah silk, or lower-grade varieties. Mulberry silk specifies both the fibre source and, when graded, the quality tier, with Grade 6A representing the finest, most uniform fibres commercially available. 

What type of silk does Mayfairsilk use?

Mayfairsilk uses exclusively Grade 6A long-strand mulberry silk (the highest grade available in the commercial silk market) across its full range of pillowcases, bed sets, eye masks, and accessories. All products carry OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification, meaning every component from raw fibre to dyes has been independently tested and confirmed free from harmful substances. Bedding products are available in 22 and 25 momme weights, where durability and that signature mulberry silk softness are most pronounced.

*Note: The prices and product listings mentioned above are approximate and may vary over time or by location. Actual costs can differ based on pricing policies, provider experience, and market conditions.