The phobia is very common, although seldom talked about and not as popular as the other phobias that have become ubiquitous in our culture. Steve Jobs, one the greatest modern-day inventors ever suffered from Koumpoounophobia; This may have precipitated his obsession with touch screens; for which we will forever be indebted.

Sufferers have reported their intolerability to buttons – even the thought of them elicits a stream of uncomfortable sensations and a compulsion to wash one’s hands. Sufferers are even repulsed by someone in a button-up shirt and avoid close contact with anyone wearing one.

Many show a great dislike to plastic buttons and are unbothered by the metal fasteners on jeans. A sight of a button can render someone who suffers from button-phobia immobile. 

Because of this reason and that buttons on duvet covers are useless, we designed our duvet covers to be fastened by 100% cotton strings – the same material the covers are made with; creating a seamless transition from the cover to the strings. 

As kids, the first shoes that were put on our feet either had velcro or laces. When we became older, our parents would securely tie-up our laces and embrace us as they wave us into the walls of our schools. we felt confident to run around during playtime knowing that our laces were fastened.

As adults our gym shoes, sneakers/trainers, formal office/dinner shoes all have laces. 

Laces/strings are a cultural symbol of security, strength, and ambition and it only made sense for us to have our duvet fasteners made from strings.

Strings, unlike buttons and popper (press stud, snap or tich) fasteners, aren’t susceptible to shrinking or chipping. And strings, unlike zips, are not cold to touch, breaking or rusting. 

String fasteners are universal, whether you hate the sight of buttons or are looking for familiarity and reliability, tying up your duvet covers will ensure that your duvet will not fall out until it’s ready to be washed.

Bedding has come a long way since 3400BC when the first bed was raised. This was done in an attempt to prevent rodents from crawling into peoples beds as well as to keep Egyptians off the cold floor. 

After raising their beds, Egyptians took took a liking to bedding and as linen evolved, it became seen as many symbols such as prosperity, light and purity. 

But beds and bedding weren’t the only things that evolved! Over the next few years mattresses, specifically mattress fillings, also evolved.

During the Roman Empire, mattresses were stuffed with wool, reeds or hay. Whereas during the Renaissance most mattresses were stuffed with straw and feathers. 

Following the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, during the 18th century mattresses evolved even more and started to get stuffed with cotton. The Bedding industry continued to evolve until we got to where we are today, with inner spring mattress’s, waterbeds and foam mattresses. 

The bedding industry has come along way since BC, adapting to the necessary evolvements and preferences. If this how far we have come, can you imagine where we are headed? 

Firstly, cotton sheets have antibacterial properties. The sheets have the ability to suppress bacteria which are known to cause allergies. Considering that allergies were the 6th prime reason leading to chronic illness in the US in 2018, this is a major win for some! 

Secondly, cotton sheets are long lasting. Cotton weaves are more durable than cotton alternatives and have proven reliable over time. While cotton blends can sometimes be less durable, 100% pure cotton will be sure not to disappoint! 

Thirdly, cotton sheets are a happy medium, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in summer! The best of both worlds if you ask us. 

And last, but not least, 100% cotton sheets are anti static. 

What is better than hopping into buttery sheets every evening? 

So. What are you waiting for? For more information on our pure cotton luxury bedding, check out our website and buy yours today! 

Thread count of a fabric refers to the number of horizontal and vertical threads per square inch of material. 

Why is thread count important? 

When choosing new linen it is important to analyze the thread count for a few reasons. 

For one, it is believed that the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet. 

Another reason is that the higher the thread count, the greater the chance that the sheets will last long, wear well, and soften with use. 

What is a good thread count? 

Now that you know what thread count is, you might be wondering what a good quality thread count would be? 

Good quality linen has a thread count of anywhere between 200 and 400. Of course the fabric used has an affect on the quality of the linen but as a ball park figure, anything around 200 is considered good. 

Why choose alondonbrand’s linen? 

Wondering why should you choose alondonbrands linen? Well, here are three reasons! 

(1) Alondonbrand is driven to provide high quality linen and their 100% cotton 200 and 400 thread linen is beautifully soft and brilliant quality! 

(2) Alondonbrand is versatile, catering for all standard sizes. Meaning that you can get all your linen in one place! 

(3) alondonbrand’s intricate stitching, quality weave and buttery feel,  leave the products looking and feeling luxurious. 

So why wait?  Purchase yours today!  

Let’s start off by explaining what flat sheets and fitted sheets are.

As their name would suggest, flat sheets are flat and simple rectangular pieces of cloth that fold easily and lie completely flat on any surface.

On the other side of the sheet spectrum lie the fitted sheets, these have elasticated corners that are designed to be pulled over a mattress to ensure a snug and secure fit. Cons include difficulty to fold and inability to lie flat on any surface.

How to use a fitted sheet and flat sheet.

what exactly are they used for?

Traditionally, fitted sheets are used to cover and protect the mattress.
These are the ones you lie directly on top of and the only thing sometimes used beneath them is a traditional mattress protector.

As for the flat sheets, they’re traditionally placed on top of the fitted sheet, but beneath the duvets and blankets.
Their function is to make the bed appear more inviting and to protect your duvet covers and blankets from getting dirty.

You can wash the flat sheet regularly without having to wash the duvet as often.

So what’s this whole online debate about?

Some people would argue that the addition of a flat bed sheet is considered superfluous, creating more folding and manual work when making the bed while others consider the flat sheet to be an essential part of the bedding set.

So it’s all down to personal taste, if you find it too much of a hassle to fold and tuck the corners of a flat sheet while making your bed then you should leave it out, but on the other hand if you find it easier to wash and change a flat sheet rather than your duvet covers and blankets, then you should keep it. Want to Buy 100% Cotton Flat Sheets?

Finally, this is how you should choose flat sheets and fitted sheets.

Now you know the difference, the next step is to decide which ones suit your needs.

When it comes to fitted sheets, it’s very important to choose the correct size to match your bed as the fitted corners will not work properly on the wrong size mattress.
Height is also an important factor, thicker mattresses require deep fitted sheets to ensure that the sheet fits around the mattress and stays in place. Want to buy deep fitting bedsheets, then Buy 34cm Deep Fitted Bedsheets for a standard fit Buy 30cm  Deep Fitted Bedsheets.

As for flat sheets, you can choose to use a king or super king-sized flat sheet for a double bed if you like to create a bit of a border or if you have a very thick mattress. We have a variety sizes of flat sheets available, including Single, Double, King & Super King.

Color is also very important when choosing flat and fitted sheets as they need to compliment the rest of your bed linen & the design of your room. Classic colors like white and cream are the easiest to match up with almost any color scheme, making these the most popular. They do however come in all kinds of colors assuming you want to mix it up a bit.

Choosing the right cotton is very important as your skin will have direct contact with both the top and bottom sheet.  100% cotton bed sheets are soft for your skin and much more breathable than 100% synthetic materials and are still easy to wash and care for.

So what’s the difference between a duvet, a duvet cover and a comforter?

A duvet is typically solid white and stuffed with feathers, down, or other alternatives. You’ll sometimes find duvets referred to as “down comforters”. They’re generally warm and snuggly although, some are lightweight for use in the summertime.

Why does a duvet require a cover?

A duvet cover is used to protect the duvet from dust and stains.

It’s a fabric that is used to cover and protect a duvet in the same way a pillowcase covers and protects a pillow. Types of Duvet covers are mainly discerned by how they open and close; These are bags, envelopes, poppers and tacks. Depending on your tastes, preference or aversion, you may choose an opening that is suitable for you. Example: People who have a fear of buttons would choose a duvet cover without buttons. Duvet covers closures can be either tied, buttoned, zipped or simply, flapped over – this, is known as the envelope style.

As for the comforter, comforters are usually coloured or patterned, not solid white, so they don’t require a cover to add style.
A comforter is a thick, quilted, fluffy blanket that is used to keep you warm.
Because comforters are normally used over a top sheet they don’t require an additional layer of fabric to protect from skin oil or sweat. Most comforters are stuffed with a synthetic fill but you can also find ones that are down-filled.

How do you choose a duvet?

Natural fillings, such as ones made of duck or goose feathers provide great insulation and warmth.
They also allow moisture to escape, creating a soft and breathable duvet. It is also important to pay attention to the duvet fill power when buying a feather filling.

Finding out what the duvet fill power is, will tell you a lot about its insulation; Basically, the higher the fill-power, the fluffier and warmer the feathers. These range from 450 to 900 with 700 being very plump.
The alternative is a synthetic filling, this is a more affordable and lightweight option. If you have allergies towards feathers, this is a great choice as they’re usually made from hollow fibre or microfiber. Select a down-filled duvet for the warmest experience. Down-filled duvets are made of the tiniest and fluffiest feathers and provide great insulation.

However, there’s also an alternative feather-filled duvet option which is far more cost-effective.
Feather-filled duvets contain larger feathers than down and are heavier and less expensive.
If you’re allergic to feathers there’s also the silk filled option which is great for filling because it’s hypoallergenic, lightweight and durable. The silk prevents you from becoming too hot or cold when asleep and it even protects your duvets from dust mites.

Another option is the wool-filled duvet which helps with temperature regulation. As a natural filling, the wool is very breathable; It’s an ideal choice if you want a duvet that insulates you while also evaporating moisture.

The last decision you need to make is the choice between a hollow fibre or microfibre filling for a non-allergenic duvet. Hollow fibre has hollow strands that are more wire-like than microfiber but they’re also more durable and trap warmth well. Microfiber is the synthetic version of down and it’s much lighter than feather-filled duvets.

Here are some things you need to know about buying a duvet cover:
Pick the right size, one that is identical to your regular bedding, otherwise, the duvet will not cover it properly.

Here are the duvet cover sizes:
The crib size which is 91 x 114 cm (36 x 45 inches)
The Twin size 168 x 218 cm (66 x 86 inches)
The Double Size 204 x 218 cm (80 x 86 inches)
The Queen Size 229 x 229 cm (90 x 90 inches)
The Kingsize 264 x 229 cm (104 x 90 inches)
And finally the Super Kingsize 284 x 254 cm (112 x 100 inches)

The next thing you need to look out for are the materials; duvet covers are made from the same fabrics like bed sheets, many are cotton. And finally, the care, the easier the care, the more often you’ll be willing to wash your bedding, so look for duvet covers that are safe to wash in a machine and dries easily.

When it comes to fastening; should you choose: poppers, buttons, zips or strings?
Why our first range has string-tie fasteners? From a young age, we’ve been taught to always tie our shoelaces; tying laces are something we have taken with us into adulthood – the smartest of shoes have laces and when we tie them, they stay put for hours to come. when we were young, we were very active but they[laces] rarely came undone, even during high-intensity activities such as running.
Professional athletes rely on this old shoe-fastening technique at the most career-defining moments.
Others argue that buttons break too easily and even poppers warp after a bit with hot washes.

Now that you know all about duvets and fastening it’s up to you to decide.

When it comes to making tough decisions, pillowcases fall into that category; we’re all fond of our pillows because finding the right pillow takes time and getting used to it is another process in itself. When you have successfully bonded with your pillow, you do not want to ever replace it. Much like finding the perfect lover; you wouldn’t want to start dating other people in the fear of meeting incompatible mates or people with unfavourable tendencies; So you protect and nurture the lover you have (easier said than done, we know).

The way we protect our precious pillows from dust, dirt, stains and facial oils while maintaining a comfortable and attractive touch, is through the use of pillowcases.

Nothing beats the experience of hugging a pillow and feeling relaxed and reassured while you wait to drift off to the land of dreams.
However, not everyone has the same taste and style, which is why the market is filled with pillowcases in all shapes and sizes. So if you have ever wondered what is the difference between a Housewife pillowcase and an Oxford pillowcase, we have the answers.

I will start with the housewife pillowcases as they’re found in almost every home.

Housewife Pillowcases

These are possibly the most common type of pillowcases and you probably have them or have seen them around your home or somebody else’s.

Throughout history, specifically during the 19th Century, pillowcases had a simple opening at the end which would make the pillow fall out of the case.
In the 1880s the “Housewives Co-operative” originating in Bolton adapted a standard pillowcase to include an inside flap at the end, this flap would keep the pillowcase in its place. They became known as “Housewife” pillowcases to honour them.
They have a standard case that goes over the entire pillow, making it aesthetically pleasing to look at while also protecting it from sagging.
Housewife pillowcases being the most common covers, they are also extremely cost-effective.

Another kind of pillowcases are the bag style pillowcases: they are the easiest and lowest maintenance pillowcases on the market, this means they are the easiest to clean and maintain, making them universally loved.

Oxford Pillowcases

And finally, there is the Oxford pillowcase type, which is the most elegant and luxurious pillowcase type on the market.
These Oxford pillowcases have borders (also known as a flange or valance) around the edge that adds a stylish or luxurious touch to the dressing of your bed.

Why is it called Oxford Pillowcase?

The name ‘Oxford’ is derivative of the material it was once made of, The Oxford Cloth. It was trusted as a durable and long-lasting material and was widely used to make shirts.

Simply, the Oxford, bearing its lush design accent of borders, made it the posh alternative to the Housewife Pillowcase.

The Oxford Pillowcase borders lent itself to its users’ customisation;  it allowed the user to add their own decorative touch by ruffling or crimping.

The Opening 

The opening of the pillowcase is beautifully covered by a flap in an envelope-style.

Which is better? The Oxford Pillowcase or The Housewife?

It is purely on the taste of the asker. They both serve their function of protecting a pillowcase adequately. It just a matter of stylistic preferences. Oxford Pillowcases are popular amongst high-end hotels; they also look great on large beds as the extra fabric (borders) makes it the perfect match to a super king bed or a king bed.

Shop our Oxford Pillowcases here.

So what’s stopping you from achieving the same effect yourself? – It’s astonishing how restful it feels to go to bed within a well-prepared and organized environment.

The first step is adjusting the lighting in the room, set the brightness or use dim lighting to set the mood.

The next step is to make sure your environment is clean; room aesthetic plays a very important part, so make sure you don’t have any clothes, dressing gowns or towels lying around on the floor.
Staying hydrated is extremely important, so you should always have a bottle and a glass by the side of your bed.

Finally, plump up the pillows; this way, when you rest your head, it will feel soothing.

After you’re done with these simple steps, you should feel an inner sense of peace when you finally enter the room to rest.

Congratulations, you’ve mastered The Art of the Turndown.