What does momme mean? How do 19 and 22 momme differ? This guide covers silk weight, weaves, momme selection and care in one place - read it before ordering.
1 momme ≈ 4.3 g/m² - the higher the momme, the heavier, denser and pricier the silk
Momme (abbreviation mm) is the weight unit used for silk fabrics, expressing how much one square meter of fabric weighs. One momme is roughly 4.3 grams per square meter, so a 19-momme crepe satin weighs about 19 × 4.3 ≈ 82 g/m².
Why doesn't the silk trade just say "gsm"? Because momme maps to the fineness of the silk yarn and the weave density — for the same square meter, a higher momme means thicker raw silk and a denser weave, giving a heavier, more fluid and more expensive fabric. When buying silk pajamas, momme is the most direct indicator of grade.
One common misconception is treating momme as a thickness unit. Strictly it is a weight indicator; but since silk density is stable, higher momme does feel thicker. At the same momme, different weaves (crepe satin / crepe de chine / chiffon) look and feel different in body — that's the weave structure, not momme inflation.
| Momme | Weight (approx.) | Hand & drape | Best for | Relative price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 momme | 69 g/m² | Light, airy, single layer slightly sheer | Summer slip nightgowns, short-sleeve sets, masks & scrunchies | 1.0 (baseline) |
| 19 momme | 82 g/m² | Balanced weight, good drape, opaque | Pajama sets, loungewear, robes, sleep masks | ≈ 1.2x |
| 22 momme | 95 g/m² | Heavy, structured, strong drape | Premium robes, hotel bathrobes, gift boxes | ≈ 1.5x |
| 30 momme | 129 g/m² | Very heavy, crisp, almost jacket-like | High-end custom robes, Chinese-style house coats | ≈ 2.2x |
Our advice is blunt: choose by season and price positioning, not by "heavier is better".
Momme decides weight; the weave decides the look
Momme decides weight; the weave decides the look. The four silks most used in sleepwear have completely different characters:
Not sure which to pick? Send us the style sketch and target price, and we'll recommend a fabric-and-momme combination and mail swatches so you can feel them yourself.
Six rules ready to print on the back of your hang tag
Silk is delicate - but not that delicate. Follow these six rules and a silk pajama easily lasts five years:
About momme, pricing and authenticity checks
By weight, 19 momme is about 82 g/m2 and 22 momme about 95 g/m2 - roughly 16% apart. By feel, 22 momme is clearly crisper, drapes harder and is fully opaque. Choose 19 momme for everyday price points and 22 for premium, gift and hotel robes.
Yes. Fabric cost scales nearly linearly with momme: 22-momme crepe satin costs about 1.4-1.5x the 16-momme, and 30 momme about 2.2x. That's why higher-momme styles usually retail 60%+ higher - with better, not worse, margin.
Three checks: weigh it - one momme is about 4.3 g/m2, so weigh and calculate; light it - 16 momme is clearly sheer in a single layer, 19 essentially opaque; price it - the fabric cost of genuine 19-momme silk is fixed, so prices well below market usually mean a problem.
Yes, on the silk/wool cycle - but inside a laundry bag, cold water, gentle spin under 1 minute. Hand-wash gambiered silk or anything with hand embroidery. Full care rules in section 4 above.
Yes. Our partner mills provide composition and weight reports for every batch, and finished-garment orders can include third-party testing to GB/T 18132 (Silk Garments). Tell us at order time - testing takes about 5-7 days.
From fabric to products to OEM service
Tell us the style and target price - we'll recommend a fabric-and-momme combination and mail 16/19/22-momme swatches so you can compare by hand.