Interview: Riddhima Whabi, RocketLinen
“Sleep is my secret weapon,” said Jennifer Lopez, emphasizing how a cosy bed plays a role in restful sleep. Let’s face it, there's nothing quite like slipping into a bed of soft, comfortable sheets. There's also nothing quite like scratchy sheets disrupting a deep sleep. Sheets are the quintessential bedding piece that can make all the difference in the quality of your sleep. Riddhima Whabi, Brand Director of RocketLinen speaks to Delna Mistry Anand about the brand, its philosophy and its role In good sleep hygiene.
Headquarted in Dubai, and manufactured in India, what would you say are the key features of RocketLinen that sets it apart from other brands in the market?
In a world of constant stimulus, RocketLinen has been created to be intentionally simple, with a touch of luxury. We’re focused on high quality and comfortable essentials with an airy, fresh vibe, manufactured without the use of harmful chemicals.
Our tasteful basics are elevated by luxurious quality and delightful touches. For instance, all our bed linen is made from pure cotton in 400 thread count in a plush sateen weave. Our earth friendly packaging is understated yet stylish. All built on brand values that support the environment and people.
Beyond highlighting product features, we take extra efforts to ensure we establish an instant connection with our customers at every stage. Whether it is through our brand communication, witty wash care labels, or our easy returns and more.
In a nutshell, RocketLinen is built on simplicity, functionality, and sustainability.
How do you ensure sustainable and ethical sourcing of the cotton used in your products?
Our sourcing and production takes place only through vendors and partners who share our commitment to being a responsible brand. Additionally, we also conduct in-house quality checks from raw material to finishing stage, along with implementing third party testing to ensure that our products are safe, and made via sustainable and ethical processes.
Even the accessories such as buttons are made from natural corozo and not plastic, and we make conscious efforts to use earth friendly packaging only.
What are the special techniques or technologies employed in the making of RocketLinen bedsheets?
Natural cotton fabric has a higher tendency to pill. RocketLinen fabrics go through the machine process of double singeing. This is a chemical free process that uses high precision heat to burn off extra fibers, without compromising the quality of the fabric. It also gives the desired even surface and smooth texture.
The dyeing process utilizes clean recycled water through an ultra-filtration system and reverse osmosis. While this may sound very technical its ultimate benefit is to significantly reduce water consumption and wastage. The dye chemicals used during processing of the RocketLinen fabrics are also eco-friendly.
The finished fabrics are then also pre-washed and pre-shrunk to avoid excess shrinkage with each wash. We do still recommend washing the sheets before first use as a part of the sheet care instructions.
The final product is then stitched and packaged in an earth friendly RocketLinen box, so the customer always receives a factory sealed sheet set.
Quality sleep is such an underrated aspect of wellness. What is the best way to choose bed sheets for your family to ensure a restful sleep?
Glad you asked! Sleep is directly linked to mental, physical, and emotional health. Deep sleep, compounded daily, can significantly improve short-term and long-term health. While there are a lot of factors that will contribute to overall sleep hygiene, bedding does have an important role to play.
Pure cotton bedsheets are cozy, breathable and light on the skin year round, so will keep you comfortable either way. They are easy to frequently wash and dry at home. Chemical free bedding is also a good choice for people with sensitive skin and allergies.
While the thread count and weave are personal preferences, knowing whether you're a hot or cold sleeper helps.
Having said that, the right bedding is only one of the factors in getting a good night's sleep. Nutrition habits, exercise routines, mind health care practices, and sufficient sun exposure also have a role to play in getting a restful night's sleep.
According to colour theory, white sheets are associated with calmness and cleaniless, what has inspired the expansion of your collection from classic whites to pastel colours?
RocketLinen creates elevated essentials - a minimal colour palette with soft yet crisp texture. We started with our classic white range, with the plan to expand into soft neutrals over time. We recently introduced soft beige and light grey colours. These colours are mindfully selected for their soothing effect, creating a welcoming calmness and making a bedroom feel uncluttered.
RocketLinen has also introduced bath towels and hand towels that are plush, fluffy, and oversized for an indulgent, daily spa-like experience.
Kourtney Kardashian created a buzz when she spoke about a quiet luxury bedroom. How do you stay track of the latest trends in the business and also latest innovations in the industry?
Our brand is focused on staying authentic in creating elevated essentials. Our priority is to add value to the customers who use our products. We evaluate what we're doing right, and where we can improve through customer feedback.
In terms of manufacturing we are constantly reviewing and researching industry developments that may enable us to further improve the finished product, or implement processes that contribute to responsible manufacturing practices.
We are also working to innovate beyond the product, in terms of packaging, supply chain, and the overall customer experience before, during, and after purchase.
How does your brand highlight overall sleep hygiene and wellbeing?
Rocketlinen as a bedding brand also considers the impact of sleep hygiene and wellness.
At the moment we are collaborating with certified sleep consultants to share expert insights around sleep hygiene.
Our blog and social media also covers various topics on sleep, mindfulness, home decor and related lifestyle topics.
There are some more developments in the pipeline for this year, but it's a bit early to share. Apart from growing into a household favourite bed linen brand, we intend to extend our brand experience for people to find inspiration and knowledge that contributes to their sleep and overall well-being.
