What is a Silk Spinner?
The silk spinner is the silkworm — specifically the Bombyx mori (Chinese) or Bombyx indica (Indian) — that produces the world’s finest natural protein fiber: mulberry silk. At Moonchild we use only silk from these gentle spinners to create our luxurious pillowcases.
1. The Silk Spinner – Bombyx Mori and Bombyx Indica
The silk spinner or mulberry silk moth. Learn how mulberry silk is produced gently and get insights into the natural process. Discover more here.
2. Beneficial Characteristics of The Silkworm
The silk spinner creates a cocoon that is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, dust-repellent and temperature-regulating — properties that transfer directly to our 22 momme mulberry silk pillowcases.
3. The Life Cycle of a Silkworm
The caterpillar phase
The silk spinner feeds exclusively on mulberry leaves for over a month, growing 10,000 times in weight, attracted to the cis-jasmone odorant.
It's cocoon time!!
The larva spins a continuous filament up to 1.5 km long at 20 cm per minute. Only the inner part becomes fine mulberry silk.
Adulthood
After metamorphosis the silk spinner emerges, mates and lays 300–500 eggs. The cycle can repeat up to eight times a year.
Egg life
Eggs hatch in 9–12 days at 24–29 °C.
4. Is Mulberry Silk Real Silk?
Yes — only silk from the mulberry-fed silk spinner is called mulberry silk. It is smoother, stronger and finer than any other variety.
5. How Can We Save the Mulberry Silkworm?
Conventional silk production kills the silk spinner inside the cocoon. Moonchild uses only Peace silk: the silk spinner completes its full life cycle naturally. The butterflies hatch, and we use only the empty cocoons — 100 % cruelty-free.
Silk Spinner vs. Silk Throwing – What’s the Difference?
| Term | Meaning | Moonchild Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Silk Spinner | The living silkworm that produces the cocoon | Source of our Peace silk |
| Silk Throwing | Industrial twisting of reeled silk into yarn | Next step after we harvest empty cocoons |
Why Moonchild Uses Silk from the Finest Silk Spinners
Our 22 momme Grade 6A mulberry silk comes exclusively from silk spinners fed on organic mulberry leaves in Como, Italy. Combined with Peace silk harvesting it is the purest, most ethical silk you can sleep on.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Silk Spinner
What is a silk spinner exactly?
The silkworm (Bombyx mori or indica) that spins its cocoon from mulberry leaves.Is the silk spinner harmed in Peace silk production?
No — the butterfly hatches naturally and we only use the empty cocoon.How many silk spinners are needed for one pillowcase?
About 300 cocoons for a standard mulberry silk pillowcase.Fun Facts
- A single silk filament from one silk spinner can be stretched 20 % before breaking.
- 2.500 silk spinners produce about 500 grams of fine silk.
- On rare occasions two silk spinners spin a cocoon together — called a dupion.
