Good shoppers always know what they're looking for. They understand
the best construction, materials and processes that build the better product. Here,
we're sharing with you, some of the things those in the know understand
about high quality products.
Know your Towels
Linen & Gifts carry high quality towels made from Bamboo, Turkish Cotton, and Micro Cotton.
Turkish Towels are legendary throughout the world for their extraordinary thickness and absorbency. To create the world's finest towels, we begin with the best Turkish combed cotton, and then make them oversized for a luxurious wrap. Their thick pile makes them exceptionally soft while an abundance of tightly wound loops offer superior warmth and absorbency. Each towel is meticulously hand sewn and crafted to the highest standards for wash-after-wash longevity.
Washing terry towels before use makes them softer and more absorbent. Towels are best washed in warm water with a mild detergent. Do not use fabric softener, since it decreases the absorbency of the towel.
Micro Cotton Towels are made from very fine cotton which has been specially spun and woven to lend a very luxurious and soft feel, and provide for very high absorbency. These towels are from Portugal and are known for their wash properties and durability.
Bamboo Towels are a fairly recent introduction into the marketplace. Bamboo fibres offer:
- Silky, cashmere-like softness
- Breathability
- Fast performing absorbency
- Natural anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic properties
- Resists mold, mildew and fungi
- Eco-friendly and renewal resource
These towels are carefully made by combining the strength of the cotton fibre used for the base fabric and loops in highly absorbent Bamboo fibre, thus giving the best of both worlds.
To maintain the superb performance and quality of your towels, please take special care in washing and handling.
To maintain color consistency, do not use bleach or use laundry detergents that contain harsh optical brighteners. Ensure the towels do not come in contact with bathroom cleaners, harsh chemicals or skin cleaners that contain benzoyl peroxide. Use of chemicals reduces the absorbency and durability of the towels.
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Know your Sheets
Natural fibres: Cotton and Bamboo
Cotton
- Cotton is hypoallergenic meaning it doesn't irritate sensitive skin or cause allergies. It is also good for asthmatics.
- Cotton is long lasting if well looked after.
- Cotton is very soft, which is why it is particularly favored for underwear and garments that get close to the skin
- Cotton is smooth and soft, but durable and strong.
- Cotton bed sheets are cool and crisp, warm in winter, and cool in the summertime.
Bamboo
- Fabric made from bamboo is incredibly soft, luxuriously and comfortable.
- Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic.
- Bamboo fabric is highly breathable.
- Bamboo is antibacterial, antifungal and antistatic.
- It holds its colour wash after wash.
- Fabric made of bamboo is eco-friendly
Thread count
Thread count is simply a measure of how many threads are present in a square inch of fabric. It is a combination of the number of horizontal and vertical threads found in that square inch. Thread count is one relatively minor measure of quality in a fabric. The quality of the fiber used to make the thread is far more important than the thread count of the fabric. To make high thread count fabrics, thread must be spun very fine in order to fit a lot into a square inch.
Care of cotton
Like any luxury item, with a little extra care, your sheets will reward you with many years of the most luxurious comfort and lasting beauty. But like any luxury item, they do not respond well to common treatment, so we recommend the following simple instructions.
Washing instructions
- Use only moderate temperatures for both washing and drying.
- Always wash white, colored, and dark fabrics separately.
- Never use liquid fabric softener, bleach or any detergent containing bleach. Don't use color safe bleach.
- It is best to machine wash these bed linens on a gentle cycle without any other types of articles, in a small to moderate size load.
- Never wash with towels, blue jeans, or any other articles that can scour the surface of the fabric.
- Do not use "water saver" settings. These fabrics will last much better if they have lots of water to swim around in. When water is limited, the fabrics will scrub against themselves. This is also why you should never overload the machine.
- Machine dry on delicate at moderate temperatures, and do not over dry. You will be surprised at how quickly these fine fabrics dry.
- Remove immediately at end of cycle. If you wish to iron it is recommended the ironing to be done when the fabric is still slightly damp.
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Know your Scarves
“The glory, and the colors of nature captured skillfully on cloth characterize the famous Jamawars of Kashmir. ‘Jama’ means robe and ‘war’ is yard.”
The base of the Jamawar was always wool-with perhaps addition of a little cotton. The brocaded parts were woven in silk or pashmina. Most of the designs were floral, with the kairy or paisley as the predominant motif.
Up to 50 colors could be worked into one shaw – the most popular colors being yellow, white, black, turquoise, green, purple, crimson and scarlet. Months of hard work went into the preparation for each Jamawar, with not more than an inch being added per day in a 48-inch width of material. Said to have been brought to Kashmir from Persia many centuries ago, the art of Jamawar weaving grew and flourished, reaching its zenith during the Mughal period.
With industrialization, urbanization and the quickening tempo of modern life, all this changed, reducing this beautiful art to a relic. Jamawars survived only as valuable and cherished antiques in a few homes and museums.
Printing Techniques: Bagh and Kalamkari
Bagh
The name of this beautiful printing technique comes from its area of production, a small village in central India, in which a few families produce these bold and vibrant compositions. Hand block printing with great precision and imagination, the printers work with a natural bright red and a black dye on cotton fabrics. Working only with this particular colour combination, they take extra care in cloth preparation and finishing, which involves 15 process stages. The result is strong print definition, strong solid colour application and a pleasing suppleness in the cloth. Some special bagh compositions may contain as many as 1300 separate block impressions in a bedspread.
Kalamkari
The word Kalamkari comes from the Persian ‘Kalam’- ‘kari’ meaning ‘drawing with a pen.’ While the technique probably existed for centuries, the style as we know it today emerged from the craft schools that sprang up under the patronage of the Mughal emperors about three centuries ago.
The intricate designs, elaborate borders and understanding of balanced composition has given Kalamkari its well deserved place as a popular idiom and one of the most widely imitated styles of Indian printing. Real Kalamkari, however, with its delicate floral, geometric motifs and vegetable dyes, is far more subtle.
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Know your Pillows
Choosing your Pillow
If your pillow looks worn out, and has lost its shape - if it seems flat - then it is no longer supporting your neck, and it is probably interfering with quality sleep. All our pillows are guaranteed hypoallergenic. These pillows are all covered in a special dust mite proof cotton cover.
Types of Pillows
Down Pillows
- Down adjust well to the shape of the head and neck, and provides superb support.
- With care, these pillows will last for years.
- While most of these are machine washable, we highly recommend always using a good pillow protector.
Down and Feather Pillows
- Have less compression, and are more appropriate for those who prefer a firmer pillow with less 'puffiness’.
- They are also very good for those that like two pillows, so use as the second pillow.
- With care, these pillows will last for years.
- Must be professionally cleaned, therefore the use of a pillow protector is required.
Feather Pillows
- Very little compression, and really only appropriate for decorative pillows and cushions
- With care, these pillows will last for years.
- Since feathers are difficult to dry, these pillows should be professionally dry cleaned, and therefore a pillow protector is also required.
Synthetic Pillows
- Will last for about one year before going flat and lifeless.
- These pillows are machine washable.
Always use a good quality pillow protector. A good pillow protector will literally
add years to the life of a natural fill pillow. Unlike the pillows themselves, pillow protectors
are designed to be washed frequently.
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Know your Duvets
There is virtually nothing that will serve you for so many hours in a day; every day every week, every month, for decades. There is nothing that you will use so closely and personally that will comfort you so completely. Given proper care, a high quality duvet will last for 20, 25, 30 years or more.
What is Down?
Down is nature’s great insulator. The first undercoating of feathers on a goose or duck, down clusters are constructed of thousands of soft fibers radiating out from a central core. This structure traps air, which is why down products keep you warm, but still let moisture escape – keeping you snug and dry.
When shopping for down, you want to look for two things: high fill power (fluffiness) and purity (hypo-allergenic down). Next, you will want to consider exactly how much warmth you will need – if this is going to be a summer comforter, choose a light weight. Otherwise, a medium or heavy weight will keep you cozy – depending on the climate and whether you easily overheat (remember, down is warm).
High quality down is carefully washed, rinsed, dried and sanitized to ensure the product is hypo-allergenic.
Baffle Box Stitching
Baffle Box is a stitching technique used in down comforters that allows the down to loft, but keeps it evenly distributed for maximum warmth and support. The baffle box stitched duvets are the best available on the market.
Care Instructions for Duvet
- Shake and fluff a duvet every morning after use. This will help to keep the feathers or other fill evenly distributed.
- If you keep a duvet cover on the duvet, you'll rarely need clean it.
- It's usually recommended that when necessary, you wash your duvet in a large, commercial washing machine. Chemicals in dry cleaning can break down the fibers of the fill.
- Dry a duvet on gentle heat in the dryer. When it's partially dry, take it out, give it a good shake to break up damp clusters of filling, and finish the drying.
- Hang a duvet out to air dry for at least 24 hours to make certain all sections are dry before replacing on the bed.
- If you keep the duvet inside a duvet cover, it will stay clean and fresh for months.
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