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Wholesale Silk Fabric: A Buyer's Guide to MOQ, Pricing & Quality
By MIAOSHENG Silk · November 7, 2026 · 8 min read
Buying silk fabric wholesale is very different from buying off a retail bolt. The terminology, the MOQs, the pricing tiers — none of it is obvious if you haven't done it before. This guide covers the essentials for fashion designers, garment makers, and scarf brands.
1. Understanding Momme Weight
Silk fabric weight is measured in "momme" (abbreviated mm), a traditional silk unit. 1 momme = 4.3 g/m². Here's what each weight is used for:
- 8–12mm — lightweight scarves, chiffon, linings. Best for summer and scarves.
- 14–16mm — the sweet spot for scarves and blouses. Good drape, substantial feel.
- 19–22mm — heavy silk for structured dresses, jackets, and luxury shawls.
- 25mm+ — duchess satin, couture-level. Rare and expensive.
2. The 5 Silk Weaves Every Buyer Should Know
| Weave | Hand Feel | Best For |
|---|
| Habotai | Light, crisp, smooth | Scarves, linings, blouses |
| Satin | Lustrous, smooth, drapes | Dresses, lingerie, scarves |
| Twill | Strong, diagonal weave, matte back | Luxury scarves, ties, suiting |
| Chiffon | Sheer, lightweight, flowy | Evening wear, scarves, overlays |
| Crepe de chine | Textured, matte, crepe surface | Blouses, dresses, trousers |
3. MOQ Tiers Explained
- Sample order (1–10 meters) — no MOQ, but per-meter price is highest. Good for prototyping.
- Small batch (10–100 meters) — 10–20% discount from sample price. Typical for new brands.
- Production (100–500 meters) — standard wholesale pricing. 30% off sample prices.
- Bulk (500+ meters) — best pricing, but requires committing to a single color/dye lot.
Important: When buying wholesale silk, always confirm whether the price is per meter or per yard. 1 yard = 0.914 meters. Chinese suppliers usually quote per meter (米).
4. Spotting Fake or Blended Silk
Not all "silk" fabric is 100% silk. Here's what to watch for:
- Price — if it's under $5/meter for "silk," it's almost certainly a blend or polyester imitation.
- Burn test — real silk smells like burnt hair and leaves a fine powder; synthetic melts and beads.
- Labeling — ask for the fiber content certificate. Real mulberry silk should be 100% silk (純桑蚕丝).
- Price per momme — a quick sanity check: expect $0.6–$0.9 per momme per meter for habotai from China.
5. Dye Lot Consistency
Silk fabric is dyed in batches. Two dye lots of the same color can look slightly different. When ordering more than 100 meters, always:
- Ask the supplier to confirm the same dye lot for the entire order.
- Order 5–10% extra for matching later.
- Save a 10cm swatch of the dye lot so you can reorder the exact color later.
6. Buying from MIAOSHENG
We stock a wide range of 100% mulberry silk fabric from Huzhou, available by the meter or by the roll. Request our fabric catalog and swatch pack to see and feel the quality yourself.