The Real Satin Story

What is Silk? Silk is an all-natural animal product and is a filament fiber formed from proteins secreted by Bombyx mori, or silkworms. Silkworms are not actually worms but caterpillars. Silk production originated in China thousands of years ago and is highly prized for its softness, insulating properties, and strength, and can be quite expensive.

What is Satin? Satin is often called the "cousin" to silk. Satin is not a natural product. Traditional satin will have both a glossy and a dull side and can be made using combinations of other fabrics and materials such as nylon, rayon, polyester, cotton and acetate. Sharmooz satin products are made with 100 % Satin Charmeuse. Charmeuse is a luxury man made fabric (polyester) from finely woven material. We do not use other materials or fabrics (fillers) in our satin products. Satin made with other fibers is less expensive. Charmeuse Satin offers many of the same benefits as silk and is washable.

What are the benefits of using Satin products? Satin products provide many of the same benefits as silk at an affordable price. The many benefits include:

Protects your hair-Cotton products, such as pillowcases, are highly absorbent and will draw moisture from your hair as you sleep. The weave pattern in cotton is very abrasive and will catch individual stands of hair, causing them to tangle and break. Satin is a very smooth material, and allows your head to move easily across its surface, thus avoiding the friction and damage caused by cotton. Satin can also prevent "frizz" and will prevent split ends.

Recommended by medical experts-Medical experts have recommended satin products for patients recovering from cancer, hormonal issues, or those who spend extended periods of time in bed as they recover. The smooth surface helps prevent hair loss and will protect the hair root and hair shaft.

Prevents skin from aging- Over time, we lose the elasticity in our skin. Cotton fabrics often leave creases in our skin and these creases can become permanent. Cotton is a highly absorbent material and will draw moisture from your skin. Satin provides a smooth surface and minimizes the tension or stress that is placed on your skin as you sleep.

Keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer- Silk can handle both hot and cold temperatures. This is a natural property of silk. Silk fabric has an incredible aptitude of maintaing room temperature. At the same time, it is also able to draw dampness away from the body. The result is that you look and feel fresh and cool, no matter what the temperature is. Charmeuse Satin will provide the same effects.

What are the different types of Satin? Satin is a machine woven fabric with synthetic fibers that will mimic the same results as Silk. There are various grades of satin just like there are various grades of cotton and wool. For example, cotton that has a higher thread count is generally a better quality of cotton. Another example is the different types of wool. Cashmere is a type of wool. It is a more luxurious wool, therefore it is more expensive. High quality satin is made from finely woven fibers without added fillers to complete the material.
The different types of satin include:

Charmeuse Satin - medium weight, no fillers such as acetate and/or nylon, superior shine,comfort and high washability - no wrinkling
Duchesses Satin - heavy weight fibers, stiff fabric, great for wedding dresses
Sateen - a mix of cotton and/or nylon and satin
Satin Jacquard - has patterns woven, creating great texture
Crepe Back Satin - great shiny and dull texture, washable, but snags easy
Bridal Satin - heavy weight, usually contains acetate, not machine washable

Which is better, Satin or Silk? The major difference between satin and silk is that silk is a natural product and is more expensive than satin. Satin products will provide the same benefits as silk when made with the better woven technique such as Charmeuse Satin. When considering satin products, it is very important to understand what other materials and fabrics (fillers) are used to create the final satin product. If a higher percentage of fillers are used as compared to the amount of silk being used, the product will not be as effective as silk. We do not use other materials or fabrics (fillers) in our satin products.