The traditional silk weight measurement, explained — what momme is, why it matters, and how to read the numbers when you next buy silk.

There is a small unit at the heart of every silk garment that most shoppers have never heard of. It is called momme. And once you understand it, buying silk becomes a great deal easier.

WHAT MOMME IS

Momme, pronounced mo-mee (often shortened to mm), is the traditional Japanese unit of measurement for silk fabric weight. It has been used across Asia for centuries and remains the industry standard today.

One momme is roughly equivalent to 4.34 grams per square metre. In practice, this translates to a scale that runs from very light chiffons at around 8mm up to heavy silk canvases at 40mm and above.

For most silk garments — shirts, camisoles, scarves, and bedding — the useful range sits between 12mm and 25mm.

THE MOMME SCALE

Here is how to read the numbers when you see them:

• 8–12mm — Very light, translucent silks. Chiffons and voiles. Beautiful but delicate.
• 14–16mm — Light silk suitable for scarves and lightweight garments.
• 19mm — The most common weight for silk pillowcases and bed sheets. A balance of luxury and durability.
• 22mm — Considered the industry benchmark for luxury bedding and better shirts. Heavier hand.
• 25mm — Substantial, heirloom-weight silk. Feels dense against the skin.
• 30–40mm — Silk canvas and specialised uses. Rare and expensive.

WHY WEIGHT MATTERS

A higher momme number does not automatically mean better quality — but within the same silk type, it means more silk fibre per square metre. That translates directly into:

• Durability. Heavier silks resist snagging, wear, and time better.
• Drape. Heavier silks fall with more weight and gravity, which reads as luxurious.
• Opacity. Lighter silks show through; heavier silks hold their shape and colour.
• Cost. More silk per garment means more expensive to produce.

THE GRADE 6A QUESTION

Momme measures weight. Grade measures the quality of the individual silk fibres themselves.

Grade 6A is the highest classification for mulberry silk, judged on filament length, uniformity, purity, and defect rate. A 22mm silk can be any grade — 6A, 4A, or lower. A Grade 6A silk can be woven at any weight — 12mm chiffon or 25mm canvas.

The finest silks are both. High momme + Grade 6A silk is where luxury lives.

Every piece at Ning Dynasty is woven from 100% Grade 6A mulberry silk. The exact momme varies by garment — heavier weights for shirts, lighter weights for scarves — always chosen for how the piece needs to move.

THE ETHOS

Once you learn to read momme, the difference between a real silk piece and a cheaper alternative becomes visible before you even touch the fabric.

It is, in the end, a small unit of measurement. But it holds most of what makes silk worth buying.

Discover the Ning Dynasty collection — 100% Grade 6A mulberry silk shirts, shorts, and scarves, hand-crafted in Beijing.