According to the 2023 report of the International silk Association, the fiber diameter of mulberry silk is only 10-12 microns, which is 33%-60% thinner than cotton fibers (15-25 microns). Its cross-section is triangular in structure and can reflect 95% of ultraviolet rays, achieving a natural sun protection effect of SPF 15+ in hand care products. Experimental data show that gloves containing 22 momme grade mulberry silk have a 30% higher water retention rate than those made of pure cotton. They increase the water content of the stratum corneum from an average of 12% to 19%, and the 18 amino acids in silk fibroin protein (such as serine accounting for 34%) can accelerate the regeneration of epidermal cells. Reduce the depth of fine lines on the hands by 17% (Dermatology Times clinical test, sample size n=120).
The cost-benefit analysis shows that the premium of mulberry silk hand care products needs to be evaluated rationally. The raw material cost of a single pair of 100% mulberry silk gloves is about 28 US dollars, which is 5.6 times that of pure cotton. However, according to the data from the Japanese Fiber Research Institute in 2022, its durability (with over 15,000 times of friction resistance) is three times that of chemical fiber blended materials. The average annual usage cost over the life cycle has dropped from 9.2 US dollars for cotton to 4.3 US dollars. For instance, the mulberry silk repair gloves launched by the luxury brand La Mer (with a retail price of $490) use 6A grade silk (with a silk length of ≥1,200 meters). After 500 washes, the fiber strength only decreases by 7%, while the affordable silk blend product (priced at $80) has a strength attenuation of up to 41% under the same conditions.
Functional verification needs to be combined with technical parameters. The β -folded structure of mulberry silk enables its air permeability to reach 362L/m²/s, which is 83% higher than that of polyester fiber. It still maintains a moisture permeability density of 0.38g/cm³ in an environment of 32°C and 80% humidity, avoiding hand stuffiness dermatitis (the incidence rate is reduced from 18% of ordinary materials to 2%). SilkSkin medical-grade hand mask, approved by the FDA in 2023, increases drug permeability by 22 times through a nano-scale silk fibroin protein coating (80nm thick), and the significant efficiency in treating eczema has been raised from 51% of traditional preparations to 79%.
Market trends reflect the degree of value recognition. According to Statista data, the global market size of high-end mulberry silk hand care products reached 4.7 billion US dollars in 2023, with an annual growth rate of 19%. Among them, the purchase price of 6A grade silk raw materials in China rose from 98/kg in 2020 to 145/kg (an increase of 48%). However, consumers should be vigilant against counterfeit products: In 2022, the European Union seized 230,000 counterfeit gloves that were labeled as “100% mulberry silk” but had less than 7% sericin protein content (the genuine standard was ≥18%), and their moisture retention performance was 64% lower than that of the genuine ones.
Environmental and ethical costs affect long-term value. mulberry silk requires 6,500 cocoons /kg of silk for production, with a water footprint of 9,500L/kg, which is three times higher than that of organic cotton. However, the eco-silk certified by GOTS reduces the pollution load by 89% through closed-loop water treatment technology. The PETA 2024 survey pointed out that the cost of products using humane silk extraction methods (such as Ahimsa silk) increased by 35%, but it drove up the average transaction value by 62% (the premium rate of consumers’ willingness to pay).