Our Story
It started with a memory: the incomparable softness of a Shimul Tula pillow in a village home in Bangladesh. That memory became a mission to bring the world's softest natural fiber to bedrooms everywhere.
The Shimul Tree
The Bombax ceiba, known in Bangladesh as the Shimul tree, is one of nature's most remarkable creations. Towering up to 60 feet with a distinctive thorny trunk, it produces brilliant crimson flowers each spring that are iconic across the Bangladeshi countryside.
But the true treasure of the Shimul tree lies inside its seed pods. When ripe, these pods burst open to reveal clouds of Shimul Tula: a silky, cotton-like fiber that is one of the softest natural materials on Earth. Each hollow fiber measures just 15-20 microns in diameter, finer than human hair, creating a material of extraordinary softness and breathability.
For centuries, Bangladeshi families have harvested this fiber by hand, using it to fill pillows and mattresses. The result is a sleep experience that no synthetic material has ever been able to replicate.
Our Mission
We exist to bring the natural luxury of Shimul Tula to western bedrooms while ensuring that the families who harvest this incredible fiber are fairly compensated for their work. Every pillow we sell supports sustainable harvesting practices and provides a livelihood for rural communities in Bangladesh.
Zero pesticides, zero irrigation, zero synthetic chemicals. Just nature, perfected over millions of years.
Direct trade with harvesting families. 3-4x above local market rates. No middlemen.
Only Grade A fiber makes it into our pillows. 30+ prototypes led to the perfect design.
The Sourcing Journey
Harvest
Each spring, families in the Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Naogaon districts collect ripe seed pods from Shimul trees using bamboo poles. The pods are split by hand and the silky fiber is separated from the seeds.
Sun Dry
Raw fiber is spread on woven mats under the warm Bangladeshi sun. This natural drying process removes moisture and allows the fibers to reach their full, natural loft.
Grade & Clean
At our processing facility in Dhaka, fiber is cleaned, sorted, and graded. Only the top tier, Grade A, with the longest fibers, highest cleanliness, and best loft retention, is selected for our pillows.
Ship & Fill
Approved fiber is vacuum-sealed and shipped to our manufacturing partner in North America. Each pillow is filled by hand to precise weights, enclosed in a 300TC sateen cotton shell, and quality-checked before packaging.
The Team
Atique Chowdhury
Co-Founder & CEO
Born in Bangladesh, raised between Dhaka and Toronto. Atique's childhood memories of sleeping on Shimul Tula pillows inspired the creation of Shimul.
Sarah Rahman
Co-Founder & Head of Design
A textile designer with a passion for natural materials. Sarah leads product development, ensuring every pillow meets the highest standards of comfort and quality.
Karim Hossain
Head of Sourcing
Based in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, Karim manages our relationships with 40+ harvesting families and oversees quality control from field to factory.
Join Our Journey
Be the first to experience the natural luxury of Shimul Tula.