We’re excited to bring you brand-new organic sateen, percale, and jersey bedding options. But how do you figure out which one is right for you? Go past their looks and (non-toxic and chemical-free) color choices by asking these five questions—then find the answers to how we distinguish one collection from the other.
HOW DOES THE FABRIC FEEL?
When shopping for sheets, this might be the first and only stop for some people—and we hear you. It’s important to choose bedding that feels the way you prefer it to when it touches your skin. This is called “hand feel” and it’s the term you might hear when someone describes the texture and coolness or warmth of a fabric. Here’s how it breaks down when it comes to our bedding:
SATEEN
FEELS: Buttery smooth and soft, but not overly slick or too satin-like.
GREAT FOR: Cool sleepers or for use in colder months, as it is warmer to the touch.
PERCALE
FEELS: Crisp and smooth (think of a classic cotton button-down shirt).
GREAT FOR: Warm sleepers or during the summertime, as it feels cooler against the skin.
JERSEY
FEELS: Cozy with the relaxed, lived-in softness of a favorite T-shirt.
GREAT FOR: Cooler sleepers, as jersey can help warm up your body as you snooze.
HOW IS THE FABRIC CONSTRUCTED?
In our bedding collections, the fabric of the sheets is either woven or knitted. A quick primer: A weave is an interlaced pattern of vertical (“warp”) and horizontal (“weft”) threads that create a fabric. On a weaving loom, the warp yarns remain stationary while a weft yarn is drawn through, crossing over and under the warp. That single thread of weft yarn is called a “pick.” In comparison, when a fabric is knitted, it’s similar to how someone might knit a scarf…interlacing loops of a single yarn through other loops to craft a net-like fabric. Both techniques produce bedding that comes with different advantages:
SATEEN
Woven Construction: Uses a single-pick in a one-yarn-under and three-yarn-over pattern to give it its sateen weave. It also uses a high-quality single-ply thread spun from long-staple cotton.
Good to know: This durable, more compact weave has the ability to nicely hold its shape, which makes it naturally wrinkle-resistant without the use of chemicals.
PERCALE
Woven Construction: Like our sateen, it features a single-pick weaving process with strong single-ply thread. However, it uses a classic percale weave pattern that is crisscross in structure.
Good to know: This strong, finely woven material can wrinkle more than other fabrics (though some may prefer its comfy, no-nonsense look).
JERSEY
Woven Construction: Our jersey collection is machine-crafted using a basic knitting stitch.
Good to know: Low-maintenance jersey bedding is less likely to wrinkle due to the nature of its soft and slightly stretchable knit construction.
HOW IS THE BEDDING MEASURED–AND WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS?
Simply put, sateen and percale fabrics are measured by thread count, which is the number of single threads woven to create that fabric. Jersey, on the other hand, is measured by weight using GSM, or “grams per square meter.”
We’ve talked a lot about thread count before and how it’s a myth that higher thread counts create more luxurious bedding. Truth is, high-quality sheets actually come from better quality fibers, like those found in the kind of organic cotton we source for all of our bedding. In an optimal 300 thread count (found in both our sateen and percale), these durable and more structurally sound fibers produce sheets that feel better and last longer.
And as for grams per square meter (GSM)? Because jersey is a knit fabric, it uses a weight count to tell you how heavy and thick that fabric will be. (You also may be familiar with GSM as a measure for bath towels.) As an example, fabrics with a GSM of 800 are heavier and denser, like a bath mat. Heavier winter wools might fall in the 650 GSM range. Denim can be between 300 and 400 GSM. Our jersey sheets sit at a thoughtful 150 GSM to ensure they’re lightweight, breathable, and long-lasting.
SATEEN
Measured in Thread Count
By the number 300 TC
PERCALE
Measured in Thread Count
By the number 300 TC
JERSEY
Measured in GSM, or Grams per Square Meter
By the number 150 GSM
WHAT FINISHING TOUCHES DOES IT OFFER?
In the spirit of both practicality and style, bedding can offer details that make it more than just a soft place to sleep. Keep an eye out for features like these that improve the effectiveness, durability, and good looks of the sheets, duvets, pillowcases, and shams you can add to your collection.
HEM
Defined as the edge of fabric that’s been folded and sewn to prevent fraying, a hem can also enhance the style you desire.
• The flat sheet and pillowcases of our sateen and percale collections feature a classic four-inch Z hem on the cuff for an elegant tailored look.
• Our jersey flat sheet and pillowcases come with easygoing four-inch single-stitch hems for a more minimal style.
FLANGE
A decorative border of fabric around the edge of a duvet can offer refinement as well as additional coverage for a thicker mattress. On a sham, a flange can offer extra height and style as a topper on your bed.
• Our sateen and percale duvets offer a one-inch flange on all four sides.
• The shams from our sateen and percale collections come with a one-inch flange.
ENCLOSURES AND FASTENER DETAILS
Touches like these ensure your bedding is efficient while also making your bed feel polished.
• For a more secure fit, both the sateen and percale duvet have ties on the inside at the four corners, as well as a nine-button closure at the bottom and a two-inch flap.
• The sateen and percale sham is finished with a tasteful four-inch overlap envelope closure at the center back.
• In all three bedding collections, you’ll find fitted sheets with a 360-degree elastic band to ensure they fasten securely to your mattress.
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