Digital printing vs solid dyeing for silk
When a printed pattern earns its cost, and when a solid Pantone colour is the better buy.
Momme is the single number that changes most about a silk garment: how it feels on the skin, how it hangs, how long it lasts and what it costs. If you are specifying sleepwear and someone quotes you "silk" without a momme figure, you are not comparing like with like.
1. What momme actually measures
Momme is a Japanese unit of weight for silk fabric, taken over a fixed area. Practically, a higher momme means more silk per square metre, which gives a denser, heavier cloth. For sleepwear the working range is narrow and well understood: 16, 19 and 22 momme cover almost every programme we produce.
2. 16 momme - light, drapey, price-sensitive
16 momme is the lightest weight we regularly run. It drapes beautifully and feels cool against the skin, which suits chemises, lightweight nightdresses and scarves, and it keeps the unit price down for buyers competing on value. The trade-off is durability: lighter silk shows wear sooner at stress points such as underarm seams and strap joins.
3. 19 momme - the balanced default
19 momme is the weight we recommend for most pajama sets. It holds a piped edge cleanly, resists creasing better than 16 momme, and still carries a soft drape rather than the stiffer hand of a heavier cloth. For a first sleepwear programme it is the safest single choice, and it is usually the weight we quote first.
4. 22 momme - the premium hand
22 momme is noticeably heavier and more opaque, with a richer drape. It is the right choice for robes, premium pajama sets sold at boutique price points, and any style where the customer expects to feel the difference immediately. It costs more per piece because it uses more silk, so it works best where retail pricing supports it.
5. How to choose
Work backwards from your retail price point and your market's climate. Warm-climate buyers generally prefer 16 or 19 momme; premium and gift-driven markets support 22 momme. If you are unsure, ask for the same style quoted in two weights and compare the samples side by side - the difference is immediately visible and it settles the decision faster than any specification sheet.
Our recommendation
For most first custom sleepwear programmes we suggest 19 momme as the default, stepping up to 22 momme for premium or gifting capsules and down to 16 momme for lightweight summer styles. Send us your target price point and we will quote both options so you can decide with real numbers in front of you.
