Soft And Sustainable Bedding Isn't Easy. This Brand Has Nailed It Though.

We spend a third of our lives in bed so don’t we deserve to sleep in super soft bedding?

However, not all bed linen is created equal.

A lot of soft bedding sets are made from fabrics with less than favourable supply chains and contain harsh softening chemicals and dyes that are toxic for the environment, let alone sleeping in.

Miriam Tyrangiel from ethical bedding brand Undercover Living explains why her soft bedding is the answer to a good night’s sleep, what to look for in good quality bed linen and the secret to maintaining its softness for years to come.

You don’t need to compromise on luxurious soft bedding if you want to make more sustainable choices in the home.

The answer lies in bedding that’s sustainable, soft and ethically made.

Miriam founded her ethical brand, Undercover Living because she started to feel uneasy supporting companies with an opaque supply chain and was uninspired by the quality of options on offer.

She wanted to create a brand with a story that spoke to her.

Products that are ethically made, using high quality, sustainable materials and a contemporary look and feel, at a fair price.

Since then, Undercover Living has become one of the go-to brands for soft, ethical and organic bedding in the UK.

What's the secret of soft bedding?

"At Undercover Living, we go out of our way to source our fabrics to ensure they look and feel superb from the first time you put them on your bed to every time you wash them.

We use long-staple yarns that are softer but also more durable and resistant to pilling.

Our TENCEL™ range has a silky feel that stands the test of time. It’s a luxuriously soft and breathable fabric that boasts a range of ecological benefits," explains Miriam.

What is TENCEL™ fabric?

TENCEL™ is made from sustainably grown trees such as eucalyptus that are harvested from controlled sources following stringent guidelines. All pulp is either FSC® or PEFC™ certified.

It won the European Award for the Environment for itsclosed loop production process which recycles water and reuses solvents at a recovery rate of more than 99%.

"At Undercover Living we use both TENCEL™ and organic cotton.

Our 100% Organic Cotton collection is GOTS certified and is pre-washed for a beautifully relaxed and soft feel. GOTS certified cotton is a guarantee of organic fibres.

Organic cotton bedding also has a limited use of toxic bleaches, dyes and other chemical inputs during the entire production process, protecting both the environment and all the workers in the supply chain," says Miriam.

"I like to say it's pure comfort that’s kind to the planet."

Why make the switch to sustainable bedding

Over a billion pounds are spent on bed linen in the UK each year. That amounts to tons and tons of raw materials, manufacturing chemicals and dyes.

Textiles are very resource and labour intensive and one bed set alone uses metres and metres of fabric so investing in ethically made, sustainable bedding is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. You should be looking to buy well and make it last to reduce the impact your bedding has.

It takes 2700 litres of water to make just one t-shirt.

So you can imagine the ecological impact producing all this bedding has.

Not to mention the deplorable labour conditions that exist in many textile industries.

Ensuring consistently high standards at all stages of the supply chain requires continual and deliberate effort from brands like Undercover Living.

As a consumer, you can have a real, positive impact by choosing soft bedding that comes from brands that uphold transparent supply chains and use sustainable materials.

Make sure you look for brands who can demonstrate who they work with and where their materials come from.

How to choose the right bedding for you

"We’ve been led to believe that the higher the thread count of a fabric, the better the quality but a 600 thread count sheet can actually be poor quality" says Miriam.

Textile engineering is quite complex and thread count is only one factor among a few that make up the quality of a fabric.

The quality of the yarn and the weaving and processing techniques are just as important.

Undercover Living's bed linen is made by a family-owned business that’s been crafting soft, high quality sheets for over 70 years in Portugal. Their expertise and guidance have been invaluable to Undercover Living as it's grown.

Tips for keeping your bedding soft

If treated well, bedding can last for years and years which is both economical and eco-friendly!

"Our fabric is also woven to be resistant to wear and pilling," says Miriam.

"Make sure you don’t wash sheets at a high temperature as this will quickly wear down the quality of the yarns.

We recommend that you avoid harsh detergents with brighteners and never use bleach as these could damage the fabric.

We recommend using gentle detergents such as Tangent GC which are available on our website."

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The recipe for a good night’s sleep

Miriam shares her advice for a good night's sleep.

"Take some time to unwind in the evening, ideally a few hours free of screens.

Snuggle up in the cosiest, softest sheets and drift off into a deep slumber. Wake up the next morning having slept like a rock, feeling fresh and awake!"

Want to try Undercover Living’s super soft organic bedding for yourself?

Get 10% off with code PEBBLE10. Ends 15th July 2021, one use per customer.