Silk Jersey: What It Is, Why It Feels Different, and What It Asks of You

Let’s talk about the fabric touching your skin. If something is going to sit against you all day, it had better deserve to be there.

Most lingerie that calls itself “silky” is polyester with good PR. Silk jersey is the real thing: pure silk, knitted rather than woven, so it stretches on its own. It’s the fabric I build my non-wired bralettes around, and it’s worth knowing why.

What is silk jersey?

Silk jersey is silk yarn knitted into a fine, soft fabric, the same way a T-shirt is knitted, rather than woven like satin. The knit is what gives it stretch. That means it moves and recovers without any elastane or Lycra mixed in. The fabric is 100% silk.

If silk satin is the red carpet, silk jersey is what you’d actually want to live in: fluid, close to the body, and quietly expensive.

Why it works for non-wired lingerie

As someone who has created runway collections and couture one-offs, I know fit and fabric are the key. A non-wired bra has to shape and hold through cut and fabric alone, and silk jersey makes that possible. It stretches where the body moves and sits close where it should, and it never digs in. There’s no wire because the fabric and the pattern are doing the work.

Silk on the inside, where it matters

Plenty of lingerie has a beautiful outer fabric and a synthetic lining against the skin. I didn’t want that. My silk jersey bras are silk on the inside of the cup too, where it actually touches you.

In the interest of honesty: the elastics are polyamide. Truly natural alternatives that hold their shape are still rare, and I’d rather tell you than pretend otherwise.

What it’s like to wear

• It breathes. Silk is a natural protein fibre, so it doesn’t trap heat the way polyester does.
• It’s soft on the skin, with no scratchy seams or stiff lining.
• It moves with you. The knit stretches and recovers, so it stays comfortable all day.

The honest bit: what silk jersey asks of you

It’s a little needy

It doesn’t like rough handling, machine washing or the tumble dryer. It’s a fabric with standards.

How to care for silk jersey

• Hand wash at 30°C or below.
• Use a silk-friendly detergent.
• Lay it flat to dry.
• Store it properly, not crushed into a crowded drawer.

The full routine is in the Care Guide. Yes, it’s high-maintenance. So are most things worth having.

It costs more

Pure silk, cut and made by hand in Britain, is never going to be cheap. It also doesn’t need replacing every few months.

It takes a little time

Every silk piece is made to order, by hand, when you order it, and dispatched within 7 days. Nothing sits in a warehouse.

Is silk lingerie better for the planet?

Here’s what I can say honestly. Silk is a natural fibre that biodegrades, and it doesn’t shed plastic microfibres in the wash the way polyester does. The elastics are synthetic, so a finished bra isn’t plastic-free. Making to order means nothing is overproduced. The full picture is on my Sustainability page.

Questions people ask

Is silk jersey 100% silk?

Mine is. It’s knitted pure silk, with no elastane in the fabric. The elastics and trims are separate.

Does silk jersey stretch?

Yes. The stretch comes from the knit itself, not from added elastane.

Can you machine wash silk jersey?

I wouldn’t. Hand wash at 30°C or below and lay it flat to dry.

Is silk jersey good for everyday wear?

It’s what I wear every day. The Demi Bralette is my own.

Shop the silk

• Pure Silk Triangle Bralette: the cleanest line in the collection.
• Pure Silk Demi Bralette: the one I wear every day.
• Pure Silk Jersey & Mesh Thong: silk where it counts, mesh where it shows.

See the full Pure Silk Jersey collection.