Which bedding fabric is best, and what are the differences?

We've covered thread count and the types of weaves for bed sheets in other blog posts, so today we're going to dive into the differences between the types of materials we offer at Soak&Sleep for bed linen to help you make the right decision for your budget and preferred feel.

Egyptian cotton is a very popular material made from long-staple fibres grown exclusively in Egypt and its provenance is strictly controlled to ensure its purity. Egyptian cotton is grown along the Nile Delta which is well known for its fertile soil and clever irrigation systems that have been bringing water and silt from the Nile into the crop fields since ancient times. Combine this with the ideal climate for growing conditions and you have a cotton plant that grows slower for longer, resulting in extra fine, long fibres of cotton, and when these fibres are spun and woven into fabric they create a cloth that is smooth, soft and long-lasting. Soak&Sleep offer a range of thread counts suitable for every budget.

Trying to decide between cotton and silk, head over to our blog to find out the benefits of each. 

Like Egyptian cotton, Supima cotton is also strictly controlled and is exclusively grown in the USA. The annual yield accounts for just 1% of cotton production globally, making it very special, and it’s fully traceable so that the fibre can be traced back to the farm is was grown on at a molecular level. Supima is known for its extra-long, extra-fine fibres that create luxurious fabrics that not only last longer, but are super smooth, super soft, and only get softer with time. Perfect for bringing that 5-star hotel feeling into your home.

Linen, also known as flax, is somewhat of a super material – much more textured than cotton when woven, linen fibres are hollow so they draw moisture away from your skin to leave you cooler on hot and balmy nights. But, those hollow fibres also trap heat during chillier months, keeping you cosy and warm – all year round linen bed linen helps you to sleep better by regulating your body temperature. Our flax is sourced from Normandy, France and is an absolute favourite at Soak&Sleep HQ.

Hemp is very similar to linen as it naturally regulates your body temperature to keep you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, helping you sleep more soundly. And for those of you that want to reduce your impact on the environment, hemp is an excellent choice. Hemp is a fast-growing crop that is superabundant, yielding twice the amount of fibre as cotton when using the same amount of land. It’s also naturally resistant to pests, meaning far fewer chemicals are used during the growing process. What’s more, it uses less water to grow than conventional materials, making it a super fibre in our eyes! Beautifully soft bed linen that surprised our buyers because hemp is often perceived to be scratchy and unforgiving, we’re pretty much obsessed with the textured yet beautifully smooth hand-feel and gorgeous drape of our Hemp bed linen collection.

If you want the ultimate in luxury our bed linen blended with a touch of cashmere will be right up your street. We have affectionately named this bed linen “posh brushed cotton” due to the gorgeously soft hand-feel, and by sleeping in it you’ll know why. By spinning cashmere into high-quality cotton yarns before weaving, we have created a cloth that is moisture-wicking, breathable and truly cosy during the winter as wool is an excellent insulator. What’s more, the unparalleled softness of cashmere makes this bed linen feel like sleeping on a fluffy cloud.

Want to feel the sensation of the materials? Our swatch service lets our customers have a sample of the fabrics which is a handy way to help you make your bedding decisions. Contact our customer service department for more information.