It is often thought that sustainability and luxury are two separate things—that in order to have one, you must sacrifice the other.
But a new product available to hotels as an amenity, as well as in retail shops, combines the luxurious qualities of traditional silk with both sustainable and animal welfare benefits.
“To be clear, vegan silk is not silk,” said Nilüfer Bracco, founder/CEO, niLuu. “It looks and feels like silk, but no silkworms were killed in the process of making it.”
The company’s product, branded Bemberg, is made of cupro, which utilizes the lint surrounding the cotton seed, which is typically discarded at harvest. The raw material is transformed into a very thin and long fiber that is the basis of the cupro yarn.
“Our cupro is exclusively produced in Japan by Asahi Kasei,” said the designer. “Bemberg is produced in closed-loop facilities with minimum use of water and minimum waste. In fact, waste is used for power generation, in keeping with sustainable practices. Our fabrics are then produced in Turkey by İpeker, which is a leader in sustainability and has led the effort in developing the vegan-certified fabric. Interestingly, İpeker actually used to be a silk producer. İpek means ‘silk’ in Turkish.”
As consciousness on sustainability developed, Bracco said Ipeker realized traditional silk was neither sustainable nor humane and set out to develop alternatives that could deliver the same or better characteristics: color richness, feel and comfort. “To be PETA-approved vegan means exactly that—that no animals were used in the process of making our products,” she said. “We are happy to have that recognition.”
The fabric is hypoallergenic, anti-static and easy to care for. “It offers several benefits for the skin, including maintaining body temperature, excellent moisture control and minimal friction against the skin, which is known to have anti-aging benefits,” she said.
Luxury hotels have taken notice of the products with several offering them for guests—including Prince William and Princess Kate—as amenities.
“We have had the privilege of collaborating with prestigious establishments such as the Atlantis Bahamas hotel, where we provided our luxurious vegan silk kimonos and sleep masks as gifts for their VIP guests,” said Bracco. “Our vegan silk kimonos have become a preferred choice, often surpassing traditional offerings like a bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne. Additionally, we have also supplied them with kimonos and sleep masks to be used for marketing purposes.”
The company also recently signed on to provide its products, which also include bedding and loungewear, at the Big Bang Faena store at Faena Hotel Miami Beach.
“We are proud to have our products available at prestigious retail locations such as Sita Store in the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills; His and Her Boutique in the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai; and Mr. Mandoline Boutique in Soho Beach House in Miami,” she said. “Through our partnerships with select retail shops within hotels, we aim to make our sustainable and elegant offerings accessible to their discerning customers. This allows hotel guests and visitors to experience the comfort and luxury of our products firsthand.”
As a company with sustainability at its core, it is no surprise that its designs take inspiration from nature. “The designs for our products are inspired by various sources, including nature, culture and art,” said Bracco, who studied interior and fashion design after emigrating to the U.S. from her native Turkey. “We strive to create designs that are timeless, elegant, and harmonious, reflecting the beauty of the natural world and adding a touch of sophistication to hotel spaces.”
