#10: Elif Burkay
anti-brat ❌🟩🪩🍏, 3 indomies 🍜 + 3 fried eggs 🍳, ChatGPT 🤖🤖, @tova.social 👥🤝, velvet tube tops!
MAKING BETTER BIKINIS FOR A BETTER PLANET.
During the day, she works at a law firm, but when she goes home at night, Elif Burkay runs BURULU, a global bikini brand she co-founded with her sister. Burulu sells upcycled, eco-friendly swimwear made in London that aims to be affordable. The brand is known for its ingenious waterproof velvet bikini with contrasting white lining! So far, BURULU’s been on the nose with current trends: last year, Nylon Magazine declared the skimpy bikini dead, as Gen Z clothing trends veered towards modesty. “Our [bikini bottoms] only moderately cheeky,” Elif says. “In my opinion, they’re not overly skimpy or anything.” But if there’s one trend that sticks, it’s inclusion: “BURULU is for every type of girl - there isn’t a specific BURULU girl in my mind.” Their bikinis match with all skin tones. Here are Elif’s recommendations on THE CHOW:
Demure fall 🎀🪞🩰 > brat summer 🟩🪩🍏
I’m SO not a brat summer girl. I can’t deal with the whole messiness of it. It really stresses me out. I just really hate the whole vibe of smoking and partying every night.
I’m anti- brat summer. I just think it’s so messy for no reason. Just get it together.
I want to be giving clean energy. Also I feel like we’re old enough now. Maybe I was brat when I was 17, but now I’m thinking about my future. I can’t be brat-ing around right now. Also my hangovers are starting to hit different.
I find that microtrends in general really are just for consumerism. It just appeals to younger audiences who are very impressionable and gets them to spend their money on huge trends that don’t last.
ChatGPT 🤖🤖
My sister and I do the coding for BURULU the website using both ChatGPT and inserting it into Shopify. We aim to minimise our costs to try and give our customers bikinis which aren’t marked-up by micellaneous fees. However, my sister is the main brains behind the brand - she really has put the most work in and is super creative.
When my sister and I were making the website, ChatGPT really helped. Lots of trial and error until it fits. If you know how to use AI, it really does bring things to the next level. It also helps come up with good photoshoot ideas, so it was helpful for more than just coding!
BURULU’s velvet tube top!
Among all of BURULU’s products, I’d recommend our velvet tube top. It’s so versatile and can be worn in three different ways: as a regular top, you can flip it, or fold and shorten it and choose how much skin you want to show.
I think it’s so flattering as well. It doesn’t move and you can do what you want with it. You can even swim in the tube top as it’s made of the same breathable but waterproof material used for the bikinis.
We also purposely chose the colors to match every skin tone.
Three indomie packets with three fried eggs 🍜🍳
When I arrive home after a night out — oh my God this is so cheeky — I make three indomie packets in one go with three fried eggs. And I have a FEAST.
It’s really embarrassing and a bit of a guilty pleasure… so maybe I did live the brat summer without actually knowing it. I’m just brat in denial.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 🤫🤕
I really like psychological thrillers, books with a big twist at the end. There’s one called The Silent Patient, It’s about this guy who goes into a mental asylum. He's like a therapist, and his patient doesn't speak.
Slowly, you find out more and more about the patient’s story and why she can't speak, and at the end, there’s the most ridiculous plot twist that just makes you doubt the whole book. Kind of like Shutter Island but in book version. I just love what the story’s about. It’s probably my favorite book at the moment.
Ruffle skirts 👗
What should’ve been more popular this summer is ruffle skirts. I find that they’re so elegant but still playful.
Pop sparkle makeup ✨
I always like to put like a little pop of sparkle in the inner corner of my eye. I think it really makes your eyes look brighter.
Social groups like Tova 👥🤝
I think so many people are so lonely these days. I’m lucky to have the most incredible group of friends, but I think a lot of the time it's really difficult to meet new people. Which is why I really appreciate stuff like Tova. It’s so good for young people to actually get out and do social things instead of just scrolling instagram. I love socializing. I love meeting people. It’s also how you develop yourself and find out more about what you’re into.