Many people tend not to realize how much their bedding affects the quality of their sleep, and how easy it would be to make a few inexpensive changes that could greatly benefit their sleep.

We lose about 2 ounces of moisture an hour, and can lose up to a litre of moisture at night. Wool is the most hydrophilic of all natural fibres, absorbing as much as 30% of its weight without feeling wet to the touch. Wool is porous and permeable and will absorb the moisture released from the body and wick away at its own pace, keeping you cosy in winters and the evaporation will keep you cool in summer.

Wool also has the capacity to create a good transition between our body temperature and the ambient, thus equating the comfort level for people who feel cold or hot while sleeping.

Construction

All our Wool Bedding is enclosed in Wool duvets have an outer shell (typically of cotton) and are filled with carded wool that is evenly distributed and held in place by some quilting. No wool actually comes in contact with your body, so wool duvets are perfectly comfortable even to those with sensitivities. Our wool duvets are filled with large sheets of double-carded wool, so they only require minimal stitching to hold the wool in place, allowing the wool to maintain maximum loft.

 The Shell

The outer shell of the duvet is very important to wool, and well-engineered duvets keep this in mind.

The shells of down duvets need to be tightly woven to be down-proof, and this makes the fabric stiffer and less breathable. The baffle box construction combined with the stiffer fabric shell can create air pockets between you and your duvet, making it harder for the duvet to optimally perform. Since the wool in wool duvets cannot escape like down can, its shell can and should be much softer and more breathable. This helps maximize the performance of the wool and its moisture-absorbing properties, and the duvet will drape perfectly around your body like it is tucking you in.

Fabrics for the shells of wool duvets we carry are all light and drapable, and include a soft natural cotton, 100% organic cotton, and a silky bamboo.

 The Fill

Wool duvets do not have the fluffiness of down, but the wool can be handled to maximize its loft. Our wool duvets use premium 100% hi-bulk British Virgin Wool that undergoes special carding and manufacturing processes for maximum loft and insulation.

There are many different kinds and qualities of wool out there, but most duvets will use sheep wool from Australia, New Zealand or United Kingdom. Aside from this, the treatment and manufacturing process of the wool will directly affect the quality of the duvet.

 While wool is an equalizer for your body temperature, there are different quantities of wool you can get to fill your duvet that will affect your base level of warmth. We carry three weights in wool duvets: summer, regular, and winter. Since our homes tend to have very controlled environments, for many people the summer weight is sufficient all year-round. For those who tend to run cooler, like to maintain a low temperature at night, or leave the window open in the winter, they may prefer the regular or winter weights. In this way, you can get a wool duvet that is customized for your needs!

 Washability

In nature, wool is not a washable fiber. To be made machine-washable, wool must be descaled, and it should be noted that wool performs better when it has not undergone this process. In general, duvets benefit from being washed as little as possible, and the use of a duvet cover adds tremendously to preserving the life of a duvet by keeping it from needing to be washed. However, for those who feel they must have a machine-washable duvet, washable wool duvets are available.

Please note, however, that there are different processes by which wool can be made washable. Some such processes use inexpensive and non-harmful chemicals, but others can use formaldehyde, which is a Category 1 Carcinogen. Be sure to know about what you are buying! All of our wool duvets are hypo-allergenic and petro-chemical free.

Non-washable wool duvets can be taken to a professional cleaning service to be safely cleaned.

 Wool duvets can be aired and are benefitted by sunlight.

 Longevity

Wool is a resilient natural fiber that lasts a long time! Take good care of it and it will last you many, many years.

 WHY WOOL?

Moisture Control
- The core of each wool fibre is very absorbent - up to 30% of its weight in moisture. By comparison cotton absorbs 8% and most synthetics as low as 2% - in fact wool is the most hydrophilic (able to absorb moisture) of all natural fibers.
- The wool fiber is unique in that it releases this moisture slowly through evaporation, helping the sleeper stay warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and eliminating dampness in the bedding.

Natural Flame Resistance
- Wool is made of keratin (an animal protein found in hair and nails) and this, combined with the moisture content the wool has absorbed, requires a higher temperature to ignite than other natural and manmade fibers.
- When wool does burn it burns slowly, smoldering and charring. It does not support a flame, gives off very little heat, and course does not release harmful toxic chemical gases.

Natural Temperature Control
- As wool fibres release absorbed moisture heat is given off - in fact a single gram of wool gives off 27 calories of heat when it goes from wet to dry. This helps moderate the body's temperature, allowing it to keep each sleeper comfortable.