Turkish brands, long accustomed to counterfeiting in China, are now increasingly facing imitation in Europe as well. One of Turkey’s most established apparel brands, Silk & Cashmere, has become the latest target, with a copycat brand emerging in the United Kingdom.
Founded 34 years ago by Ayşen Zamanpur, Silk & Cashmere discovered that a UK-based company is operating under the name “Cashmere & Silk,” closely mirroring the Turkish brand’s identity. Zamanpur publicly called out the imitation via social media, expressing her frustration and sharing photos of the British store.
“Very few brands in the world are copied as much as we are. And now this—from England! A brand-new one. With great ‘creativity,’ they named it Cashmere & Silk (!) They even put goats in the storefront, but couldn’t quite replicate ours. It turned into a ridiculous creature,” Zamanpur wrote.
She added that although the brand holds trademark registration in the UK, pursuing legal action against every infringement is extremely demanding. She also encouraged followers to speak up if they encounter the imitation brand.
Founded in 1992
Ayşen Zamanpur founded Silk & Cashmere in 1992 and handed over leadership to her son Ferhat Zamanpur in 2020. The company reported strong growth in 2024, achieving 68% growth in Turkish lira terms and 33% growth in U.S. dollar terms, while online sales surged by 136%.
Today, Silk & Cashmere operates 25 sales points worldwide, has 235,000 registered customers, and an active customer base of 45,000, selling approximately 135,000 pieces annually.
The brand entered into a partnership with Eastgate Capital in 2012, which lasted four years. At the time, the company was valued at $38 million, with Eastgate acquiring 49.8% of the shares before exiting in 2016. Currently, Silk & Cashmere is receiving renewed investment interest from retail companies and investment funds.
Expansion in Europe and the U.S.
In 2024, the company revamped its UK online store. Silk & Cashmere currently operates stores in Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, and Switzerland. The brand is also planning to enter the U.S. market in the second half of 2026.
Most recently, Silk & Cashmere was awarded The International Investor Trophy by the Greater Paris Investment Agency, established by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök