Cupro
Cupro
Pronunciation: KOO-proh
A regenerated cellulose fiber made from cotton linter waste, with a silky drape and feel similar to silk but at a lower cost.
What Is Cupro?
Cupro (short for cuprammonium rayon) is a regenerated cellulose fibre produced from cotton linters — the very short fibres that cling to cottonseed after the longer fibres have been harvested for textile cotton. These linters are dissolved in a cuprammonium solution (copper and ammonia), extruded through fine spinnerets, and regenerated into smooth, uniform filament fibres. The resulting fabric has a silky lustre, fluid drape, and cool hand feel that closely rivals natural silk.
Cupro matters in lingerie because it occupies a unique niche: it provides the luxury sensory experience of silk — the way it slides over skin, catches light with a subtle sheen, and drapes in fluid folds — at a fraction of silk's cost and with fewer care requirements. Silk stains permanently from water drops, requires dry cleaning, and weakens with sweat exposure. Cupro handles light moisture without spotting, can be hand washed, and resists the yellowing that plagues silk over time.
Quality cupro has an extremely smooth surface with no visible fibre texture — it should look and feel almost liquid. The fabric should drape in long, flowing folds without stiffness, and feel cool to the touch (a natural property of cellulose fibres). Lower-grade regenerated fabrics may be marketed as cupro-like but lack the fine filament structure that gives true cupro its silk-rivalling surface. The brand name Bemberg (by Asahi Kasei) is the best-known quality benchmark for cupro.
Sinderella uses cupro and cupro-blend fabrics in premium chemises and slip designs where the silk-like drape creates an indulgent feel at a price point that makes luxury accessible.
How to Wear & Style
Cupro chemises and slips are natural choices for warm-weather sleepwear — the fabric feels cool against the skin and has enough weight to drape without clinging. They also work as layering pieces under blazers or cardigans for evening events. Handle cupro gently when wet, as it loses about 40% of its dry strength in water. Hand wash in cool water, do not wring, and lay flat to dry. When gifting, a cupro slip signals luxury without the silk price tag — it looks and feels expensive.
Luxury-Feel Lingerie
Discover chemises and slips in silky cupro and other premium fabrics.
Browse CollectionsFrequently Asked Questions
What is cupro?
A regenerated cellulose fiber made from cotton linter waste, with a silky drape and feel similar to silk but at a lower cost.
How does cupro compare to silk for lingerie?
Cupro closely mimics silk's drape, lustre, and cool-to-the-touch feel at roughly one-third the cost. It is also more resistant to water spotting and easier to care for than silk. The main difference is durability — silk fibres are stronger when dry, while cupro is weaker when wet and must be handled gently during washing. For lingerie, cupro delivers 90% of the silk experience with significantly less fuss.
Is cupro a sustainable fabric?
Cupro has a strong sustainability angle because it is made from cotton linters — the short fibres left on cottonseed after ginning, which would otherwise be waste. The production process uses a closed-loop cuprammonium method where chemicals are recovered and reused. However, not all cupro manufacturers operate closed-loop systems, so look for certifications like GRS (Global Recycled Standard) to verify responsible production.