How to tell if silk is real (the 30-second test)
Fake silk photographs beautifully. In your hands, it gives itself away.
Polyester satin has gotten very, very good at looking like silk online. The lighting is soft, the drape looks right, the listing says "silk" somewhere in the title. Then it arrives. Here's how to know what you've actually got.
Read before you touch
Real silk says 100% silk, ideally with the type, grade and momme. If the listing says satin, silky or silk-like, you already have your answer.
The warmth test
Hold it in your hand for ten seconds. Real silk warms to your body temperature fast. Polyester stays cool and slippery and can feel faintly plasticky.
The sheen test
Hold it under a lamp and slowly tilt it. Silk has a soft, pearly glow that shifts with the angle, almost like it's lit from inside. Synthetic satin has a flatter, brighter shine that looks the same from every side.
The scrunch test
Crumple a corner in your fist, hold it, let go. Silk creases a little, then relaxes. Polyester tends to bounce right back like nothing happened.
If a deal on silk seems too good to be true, the fiber content usually explains why.
Look for the paperwork
Brands that test their product tend to say so. OEKO-TEX Standard 100, for example, means the finished fabric was independently tested against a long list of regulated substances. It isn't a fiber test, but it's a good sign you're dealing with a brand that's upfront about what it sells.
The short version
Read the fiber content, then trust your hands. Real silk warms quickly, has a soft pearly sheen and relaxes after creasing.
