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Momme weight is the single most important specification to understand when buying silk sleepwear, and 19 momme versus 22 momme is the question that comes up more than any other. The difference is real, practical and worth knowing before you spend $200 or more on a piece of silk.
Momme (abbreviated mm) is the weight measurement for silk fabric — equivalent to thread count in cotton. One momme equals 4.34 grams per square metre. The higher the momme number, the more silk is in the fabric per square unit, which means greater density, richer drape, better insulation and more durability.
19 momme is the most widely used weight in quality silk sleepwear and for good reason. It has enough density to drape beautifully and feel substantial against the skin, while remaining light enough that it does not feel heavy or restrictive during sleep. You are aware of it in the best possible way — it has presence, but it does not weigh on you.
At 19 momme, the silk is opaque enough that it does not require a lining, structured enough to hold its shape through the night, and light enough to be appropriate across all but the coldest Australian nights. It is a genuine all-year weight for most parts of Australia, including Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and coastal New South Wales and Queensland.
The Rosé Cloud Sleep Shirt and the Nocturne Lace Silk Slip in the Calliope Studio range are both 19 momme. These are our year-round workhorses — the pieces customers reach for most often and that suit the broadest range of sleepers and climates.
22 momme has a noticeably different quality. The additional silk density gives it what textile people call hand — a richer, more substantive feel. It has more body. The drape is slower and more deliberate. When you hold 22 momme silk, you understand immediately why people describe silk as luxurious in a way that thinner weights only approximate.
22 momme is also warmer. The denser weave traps more air close to the skin, which means better insulation on cooler nights. For women sleeping in Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide or the cooler parts of regional Australia, 22 momme is the appropriate winter weight. It is also the weight to choose if you tend to sleep cool, or if you sleep in a room that is not heated and temperatures drop below 12 degrees overnight.
The Dusk Rose Silk Slip and Sky Muse Silk Slip are both 22 momme. These are our richest pieces, and the ones most often described by customers as feeling like a genuine investment in how the evening ends.
Climate is the primary factor. For mild winters and warm summers — the majority of Australian coastal cities — 19 momme is the correct all-year weight. You will not feel underserved by 19 momme in winter, and you will not feel heavy in it in summer.
For cooler climates, stronger winter cold or anyone who runs cold, 22 momme is better. The extra warmth is meaningful without any of the heaviness of cotton or fleece.
If skin health or skincare are a priority, 22 momme's denser weave provides marginally more coverage against pillow friction and slightly better retention of overnight skincare products — though the difference in this regard between 19 and 22 momme is small compared to the difference between silk and cotton.
If you are buying your first piece of silk sleepwear and are not sure which weight to choose, 19 momme is the safer starting point for most Australian women. If you already have 19 momme silk and want to understand what you are missing, try 22 momme. The difference will be immediately apparent.
Both weights are available in the Sleep and Silk collection at Calliope Studio.
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