Behind the Brand

Behind the brand there lies a passionate story. A true celebration of artisanal craftsmanship, ethical production, sustainable natural fabrics and a desire to fuse each one of these into beautiful, modern and timeless collections of cruelty free mulberry silk sleepwear, loungewear and clothing for men and women and, not forgetting, our award-winning pillowcases.

Our journey began in the lush and vibrant country of Ireland, as The Ethical Silk Company sprang to life in the hands of Dubliner and female founder Eva. Eva had been inspired as a girl by her mother’s beauty regime of sleeping with a silk scarf around her pillowcase to protect her skin and hair, and went on and as an adult, to set up The Ethical Silk Company, to bring the benefits of sleeping on silk to the world!

Fast forward a decade and over the years, The Ethical Silk Company, with lots of hard work and creativity, has undergone the transformation into the well-loved brand it is today. Proudly female led by a group of 5 businesswomen, Banke (our CEO), Fritha (Director of Europe), Margaret (Director of UK), Sade (Director of North America) and Shola (Director of Ireland), who acquired the business from Eva, and now run full pelt around the ethical, slow fashion track! 

Our backgrounds are diverse, from Shola and Fritha, young(ish!) mothers in the thick of life with small children, to Margaret, our classic ‘empty nester’ and Banke and Sade who both hold the important and wonderful position of grandmother. We also bring a range of business skills to The Ethical Silk Company table, including financial management, senior leadership, marketing, retail management, fundraising and fashion pr. Our geographical wings have spread further afield too, and we can now be found in the UK and the US, and of course, The Ethical Silk Company remains firmly rooted in Dublin.

Despite our different stages of life, the 5 of us have many engulfing passions that bind us together as a business family. In no particular order, these include:

  • An uncompromising commitment to ethical production and equitable practises. We firmly believe everyone should be rewarded fairly for their work and skills and treated with respect.  Anything else isn't an option for us. 

  • A love of natural, sustainable fabrics where no animals have suffered in the production process that makes as little impact as possible on our planet.  

  • A simple and transparent supply chain. We know our suppliers well, contact and visit them regularly in north and south India. They are as much a part of our business family as the 5 of us. 

  • That leads nicely to our love of India. A country that Banke, Fritha and Margaret have worked in and visited many times over the years. So full of talented artisans, who keep alive heritage crafts that have been handed down through many generations. 

  • The beauty of hand block printing with each piece being unique and telling its own story.  

  • Longevity over landfill - clothing that, with the correct care, will be enjoyed and last for many years to come.  

  • An underpinning philosophy that without our customers, we wouldn’t be here. For that we are truly grateful and strive to offer an old-fashioned customer service and listen to your suggestions. 

Simply put, we are in love with what we do! As we look ahead to the future, we see new and exciting sustainable fabrics entering our collections to bring more choice for our discerning customers, who are as passionate about sustainability as we are. 

We never sit still in the world of slow fashion. The future is eco and we are proud that The Ethical Silk Company customer can have peace of mind, knowing they don’t just enjoy the timeless elegance of our collections for men and women, they support a cycle of sustainability and social responsibility, making a statement that luxury and ethics can coexist beautifully.

With love from 

Banke, Fritha, Margaret Sade and Shola 

SHop all Mulberry Silk Collections