Well I’m not sure if it’s the gradual easing of lockdown – the 16yo has been to school twice in the last three months and is due to go again next week… I know! Or the fact that I have reluctantly taken up running in the form of the Couch to 5K but suddenly now that I have a pressing reason to get out of bed in the morning all I can think about is how soon I can return. And so today, 30 June, halfway through this extraordinary year as the nights are drawing back in again, we’re talking bedding. Now regular readers will know that The Mad Husband takes a somewhat militant view of of this – a sort of Henry Ford approach – you can have any colour as long as it’s white. So, this is very much my fantasy collection but the sources are good – even if you are only looking for white cotton percale.
La Redoute has a huge range of affordable bedding, the only downside being there’s a lot to wade through, but if you can spare the time you will find some treasures. Not to mention that there’s often a sale on. Look out for dozens of pretty florals, crisp cottons and soft linens.
H&M will be known by all of you but I have heard very good things about their linen range. I have tangled with linen from other companies and found it hard and scratchy but, while I haven’t personally got any from here I hear good things.
Rise & Fall is an ethical bedlinen company that gives a percentage of its profits to Centrepoint, the homeless charity. But their sheets, especially the sateen ones are also insanely comfortable and wash like a dream. Add that to their wind powered factory, which recycles 99 per cent of its water, the plastic free packaging (apart from the postage labels which they’re working on) and the low impact dyes and you can sleep deeply and ethically. Oh, and the largely female workforce, and their families have access to free education too. I have two sets of this and I can completely recommend it.
Secret Linen Store was set up by sisters Molly and Harriet, the former a textile designer, the latter a marketing manager who have a combined 30 years in bedroom high street retail. They source from Portugal and the UK and pledge to treat suppliers fairly and be honest and transparent. You can read their ethics statement here. Meanwhile I might float this pretty ticking stripe past you know who…
Society of Wanderers is an Australian company selling gorgeous colour combinations of French flax linen bedding. Style your bed in a soft yet colourful mash-up of pink gingham, green florals and plain accent colours. What all the best-dressed beds are wearing. If you can bear to pay shipping from Australia (and possible import duties) there is even more choice. But just look at it!
Naughty Linen in Zurich is my favorite.
I had never heard of any of these companies before but I am definitely going to look into them! Love a good recommendation for good sheets. Having a comfy bed is so important for a good night’s sleep!
I know these places are in the US, but Brooklinen and Parachute Home are amazing. They deliver here in Canada so maybe they do to UK too, but the selection is smaller and extremely well made.
Clarissa Hulse always has beautiful looking bed linen https://clarissahulse.com/product-category/bed-linen/
I’m going to pinch the embroidery idea in the Society of Wanderers post. I’m doing a tapestry of the Virgin Mary, started during lockdown. I was going to add a spiff or tattoo but I think she’s going to be sweaty now.
Sweary, not sweaty!
I was quite enjoying the idea of her being sweaty. Maybe she can be sweatily swearing!
I can attest to the loveliness of Society of Wanderers. They also have a UK based reseller in Antipodream.co.uk – my kiwi heart is very happy!
Great round-up! I love H&M for every day cottons.
Try furn. for printed bedding, really good prices and wash really well too!
Love these so much 🙂
All except for H&M who are treating the factory workers terribly in this crisis considering the group made ~$1.8Billion in 2019.
– https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jun/20/we-have-no-money-for-food-or-rent-plight-of-bangladeshi-garment-makers
– https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/hm-garment-workers-factory-india-jobs-a9579856.html
Hi Carla
Thank you for highlighting this. I, for one, certainly wasn’t aware of these reports.
Completely agree with the Mad Husband! Following your recommendation in a past blog post, I bought bedding from Rise & Fall and totally love it. So smooth and soft. Will be eternally grateful for the tip!
Hi Kate – it would be great if you could include some organic bed linen suppliers in this list – it would tie in beautifully with your Do less Harm initiative. Most people are unaware that whilst being natural conventional cotton is one of the most polluting crops on the planet – organic cotton is however much better as, like linen, it uses less chemicals and less water. La Redoute do a few ranges as do H&M but there are other companies that specialise in organic such as Dip & Doze, Ecosophy and White and Green Home. Some of the larger groups like John Lewis and West Elm and Wallace Cotton also have some ranges. I can recommend changing to organic cotton, especially if you don’t get on with linen – it great to sleep on and is better for the environment!
Can do a whole separate post on organic for sure. It’s not always the most affordable so I wanted to do some more affordable ranges which often aren’t organic but for good working practices Rise & Fall are always good and they do have organic as well. Here.
That would be great Kate! In my humble opinion bed linen is one of those items where you get what you pay for and a less affordable option might cost less in the long run – it’s all about cost per use! Our grandmothers had sheets that lasted for years and were often passed down to family – these days manufacturers expect us to buy a new set every year or two. I also personally don’t like the thought of sleeping on all those chemicals, quite apart from what they are doing to the planet! Catherine
I picked up some bedding bargains from the Zara home sale. Glorious prints and fab quality
Another yes for Zara bedding.
yes love Zara too