Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Natural, undyed silks may be biodegradable and free from harsh dye chemicals, but it's far more harmful than most people realise, which genuinely really surprised us. And in some cases more damaging than cotton. So we've pledged to phase out silk by 2029. Read on more to find out why and how...
As a brand known for beautifully cut dresses, couture craftsmanship and exceptional fabrics, we never compromise on quality. Every seam, every drape and every fibre matters. So if we are going to change something as fundamental as silk, the alternative has to be exceptional. It has to feel beautiful, perform beautifully and align with our ethics.
This is why we are making such a bold and important commitment.
We are phasing out all silk by 2029.
This forms part of our wider pledge to reduce animal derived fabrics in our collections by 50 percent by 2029. It is a big shift, but it is the right one, and it will help shape the future of sustainable luxury bridalwear.
Why we are moving away from silk
Silk has long been seen as a natural, luxurious and more sustainable alternative to cotton. But the reality is far more complex. While undyed silk avoids chemical pollution, the overall environmental footprint of silk production is surprisingly high.
Environmental concerns
- High energy use: Silkworms need warm, humid, carefully controlled environments. Keeping these conditions stable uses a huge amount of energy. Drying cocoons is also energy intensive, often powered by fossil fuels.
- Water stress and pollution: Mulberry trees may not need heavy irrigation, but the processing stages of silk do. Degumming, dyeing and finishing all use large amounts of water, and the chemicals involved can pollute local waterways.
- Chemical inputs: Degumming agents, dyes and finishing chemicals can become pollutants if not managed responsibly.
- Intensive mulberry farming: Mulberry cultivation requires land, fertilisers and sometimes pesticides, contributing to soil and water degradation.
- High carbon footprint: When you combine energy, water and chemical use, silk often ranks worse than cotton in environmental impact assessments.
Ethical and social concerns
- Animal welfare: Traditional silk production involves boiling or baking cocoons, killing the pupae inside. Around 6,600 silkworms are killed to produce just one kilogram of silk.
- Labour concerns: Some silk producing regions have documented cases of child labour and unsafe working conditions.
How silk compares to wool
Both silk and wool are natural and biodegradable, but both come with significant environmental and ethical challenges. Silk ranks among the most environmentally damaging textiles due to energy and chemical use. Wool contributes heavily to methane emissions, land degradation and biodiversity loss. The 2017 Pulse of Fashion Industry Report ranked silk as the second most environmentally harmful material after leather. Silk is often considered less ethical because its production involves the deliberate killing of insects, whereas wool’s issues relate to welfare practices such as mulesing.
Why animal derived fabrics are a problem
Our silk phase out is part of a bigger shift away from animal derived materials such as leather, wool, fur and down. These materials have a significant environmental impact that is often overlooked.
The hidden costs
- Greenhouse gas emissions: Sheep and cattle produce large amounts of methane. Fertilisers used for feed crops add nitrous oxide to the mix.
- Deforestation and land use: Around 80 percent of Amazon deforestation is linked to cattle ranching. This destroys biodiversity and removes vital carbon sinks.
- Water consumption and pollution: Leather production is extremely water intensive. Tanneries often release heavy metals and toxins into waterways.
- Chemical treatment: Leather is treated with toxic chemicals to prevent decomposition, which means it does not biodegrade.
- Inefficiency: Raising animals for hides is far less efficient than producing plant based or next generation materials.
Why 2029 is the right timeline
Transforming a luxury bridal brand responsibly takes time, especially when quality is non negotiable. Silk currently makes up 64.3 percent of our collection, and we refuse to replace it with anything that does not meet our high standards of drape, handle, performance and longevity.
By setting a 2029 deadline, we are giving ourselves the space to source and test next generation materials, ensure they meet couture level performance, maintain the minimalist, high end aesthetic we are known for, transition responsibly without creating waste, and support innovation in sustainable textile development.
The world of next generation materials is evolving quickly, from mycelium to citrus fibres to regenerated cellulose. We are confident that by 2029, the perfect silk alternative will exist, and we intend to be among the first to adopt it.
Leading the future of sustainable fashion
A silk free pledge is about sustainability, design, our values and it positions us at the forefront of ethical luxury.
We will continue to design and sell our silk dresses during this transition. For brides who love the beauty and heritage of silk, our current collection remains available and crafted with the same care and intention as always.
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