Bedding can include pillows, sheets pads and more. With all the choices available, choosing bedding and the accessories may seem like an overwhelming task, but it really isn’t. Each type comes in sizes to fit your particular mattress. Familiarize yourself with the choices available, and you’ll find that you can change the look of your bedroom by changing your bedding.
Some of the items that can change the look and feel of your bed are:
- Sheets
- Comforters
- Blankets
- Pillows & covers
Bedding may be made from organic or synthetic fibers. Common materials include wool, silk, cotton, polyester, rayon, nylon, acrylic, flax, and others.
Organic Cotton Bedding - organic versus conventional
People often ask, what is the difference between conventional cotton, and organic cotton. The answer is both the farming process and the production process. Conventional farming is cheaper than organic farming, and "sweat shop" labor is cheaper than fair trade labor. Until recently, no one understood how damaging these practices are. Finally, social and environmental responsibility is getting some serious global attention.
8% of agriculture in the whole world is conventional cotton farming, yet cotton farming accounts for 25% of all insecticides and 10% of pesticides. It takes 1/3 pound of pesticides to produce just enough cotton to make only one 100% conventional cotton T-Shirt!
Organic cotton, on the other hand, is grown in soil that has been pesticide free for at least 3 years, without application of insecticides and colored with earth-friendly dies that will not harm your skin or the earth. And what happens to conventional dyes? They get washed into the soil, bring toxic residue into our earth.
In Summary:
- Certified organic cotton is free from toxic pesticides and insecticides or other toxic chemicals.
- Certified organic cotton production is highly regulated and sweat-shop and child-labor free.
- Certified organic cotton is free from formaldehyde, toxic dyes and silicone which harm the earth, its soil, and its water supply.
Sheets, and the many different weaves
Percale - Percale was originally imported from India in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, then manufactured in several other countries. It has medium weight, is firm and smooth with no gloss, and warps and washes very well. |
Many people are of the mistaken impression that the term "percale" refers to a blend of cotton and polyester, etc. This is not the case. Percale can be a 50/50 blend, 100% cotton, or a blend of other fabrics in any ratio. The word "percale" refers to the weave of the fabric, not its content.
Cotton sateen – A soft and luxurious fabric weave in which most of the threads are placed on the surface of the sheeting, creating a satin-like sheen. There's nothing quite like the feel of soft cotton sateen sheets. Sateen sheets will keep you comfortable any time of the year.
Damask - Damask is a type of textile closely associated with drapes, tablecloths, cloth wallpapering, and upholstery. It has also historically been used to make jackets and other heavy outer garments. Classical damask is made from silk, although the term is now widely used to refer to the style of weaving, regardless as to the material used. Damask is characterized by a background of lustrous fabric against which raised designs appear. Many pieces of antique upholstered furniture are covered in damask fabric, which is how many consumers become acquainted with this fabric.
For many consumers, damask is closely associated with luxury. The weave of damask is very dense, resulting in a substantial cloth. The designs are often multicolored, causing them to stand out clearly against the satin background of the fabric. Damask continues to be made from silk, although materials like cotton, linen, wool, and synthetic fibers are also used in the manufacturing of damask.
We feature organic cotton sheets in lace, sateen and damask and are available in a variety of sizes and colors. |
