Bedding University

You're a guy. Your mom explained bedding to you once when she dropped you off to college. You weren't listening.

Now you're on our website and thinking about bedding for the first time. So we're going to explain a few things.

THREAD COUNTS

Let’s start with thread count. The bedding industry's favorite marketing tool.

As you might imagine, we read up a lot on thread count when starting Thread Experiment. We learned some interesting sh*t and we’re going to fill you in on a big secret:

Higher thread count does NOT necessarily mean better quality or more comfort.

We’re going to repeat that in case you have A.D.D.:

Higher thread count does NOT necessarily mean better quality or more comfort.

Why?

Let’s start with understanding thread count. Thread count refers to the number of threads woven into 1 square inch of fabric. That’s all it is. And you probably already knew that.

But what you don’t know about is the ply.

 ‘Ply’ refers to the number of threads entwined into a single thread. Single-ply fabrics (like ours) use just one thread. Two-ply fabrics entwine two threads.

And this is precisely where all the marketing bullsh*t magic starts to unfold.

With two-ply fabrics, the FTC unfortunately allows bedding manufacturers to count the threads twice. But this is misleading. Counting the threads twice allows manufacturers to count threads that are simply twisted (not woven) together. Twisting the threads (rather than weaving them) has no effect on how fine the thread count is or how soft the feel is. Twisting the thread only makes the sheet artificially bulkier.

If it were true that, for example, 600 threads were woven into a single inch of fabric, then yes, that would be impressive and it would make the sheets much finer (and better). But this is not the case.

600 thread count sheets are simply two-ply 300 thread count sheets that are twisted together. That’s all it is.

When combining the thread counts from each ply, the sheets only start to feel heavier. And is that really a good thing? We suppose if you live in Northern Greenland, then yes. But if you live anywhere south of there, then you may not have enough airflow to your body when you sleep at night. This means you may not get that cool night sleep your mind and body need.

And when you see that 1200 THREAD COUNT SHEETS!!! stuff at the stores? You guessed it – it is four-ply 300 count sheets all twisted together. Prepare yourself to sweat.

Having said all that, there still needs to be the right amount of thread count per square inch. So what is the right amount?

Well we blind-tested ourselves. And blind-tested some more. We washed our bedding. Then washed them again. And in the end, we concluded that the sweet spot of thread counts is 300 to 400. So all of our bedding is either 300 or 400 thread counts. And we’re damn happy with that. We think spending any more money on thread counts is unnecessary.

FABRICS

Ok, if it’s not all about thread counts, then what does make a sheet more comfortable and better quality?

The answer is in the fabric. But not all thread is created equal.

Let’s start with the cheap stuff – man made fabric. Like microfiber. And polyester. And polyester blends. We do none of it. Blech.

Then there's silk. Unless you're Hugh Hefner, then forget it.

And then there's cotton. We believe cotton is the best fabric to sleep with. So we went with that.

In Fall 2015, we expanded our fabrics beyond cotton. We introduced a new comfortable cotton-linen blend for some of our comforters and duvet covers. We promise you'll enjoy them as much as our cotton.

The quality of the sheet rests largely on the quality of the fabric's fibers. With cotton, there are definitely ranges of quality.

We use higher quality, thicker threads of cotton to create a soft, smooth and delicate sheet fabric that has a longer life span. Why? Because we hate angry emails. And this was our evil plan to avoid them – create great products.

And since we know it's on your mind, let's address Egyptian cotton for just a quick moment. Guess what? More BS. Egyptian cotton does not mean finer cotton. It literally means only that the cotton was grown in Egypt. Fine cotton can be grown anywhere in the world. Yep, it's just another bogus marketing tool. So when you see a big "EGYPTIAN COTTON" starburst on that packaging at the discount store, don't assume it's anything special because odds are, it isn't.

WEAVE

For the weave, there are a few options out there and they’re all fine: sateen, percale, flannel and jersey are the most common. They all have a different feel to them.

We tried them all ourselves and settled with percale as the most comfortable, year-round fabric for your bed. Percale is known for its longevity and its crisp feel. Plus we just like the word ‘percale.'

Then for Fall 2016, we finally introduced sateen sheets and comforters/duvet covers. But we made them with a matte finish so they don't have that obnoxious shine to them. They're softer and quite frankly, we love them. We think you will too.

There's an old saying in the industry...1 for the bedroom, 1 for the laundry, 1 for the closet.

Unfortunately, only people in the industry say it to each other. No one on the sales floor ever mentions it. So we will.

We know what you're saying - "THREE bedding sets for ONE bed? You greedy f&*ks, I only own 1 set now!"

True

But you need to be changing your sheets and comforter/duvet more often than you are now. Because whether or not you can tell, you have BO. And that BO accumulates over time on your bedding. And it's gross.

So rather than forcing yourself to clear, wash and remake your bed all in 1 day,  buy yourself a 3-set rotation of bedding. It will cause less stress in your life. And make your bedroom look fresh.

It's ok. We didn't know either.

A comforter has all the work done for you. Ours are pre-filled with some polyester fiberfill and you have no work to do. Just take it out of the package and throw it on your bed.

The duvet is just the cover. You need to already own the duvet insert (or go buy one.) It's like the bones of your body. We sell the skin.

Hope that all makes sense.

First of all, watch your tone.

Secondly, we launched Thread Experiment because we grew tired of finding bedding that appealed mostly to women.

You know what we mean - the flowers. The bright colors.

So we decided to merge our passion (menswear) and develop a new brand of men's bedding. Something that aesthetically appeals to men. Sometimes it's plaids. Sometimes stripes. Sometimes paisleys. The coloring is masculine.

You care about the way you look. The way you dress. The way you groom. So it's time to also care about your bedding.

Because after all, the most important things happen in your bed.

 

HOW TO PUT ON A DUVET COVER?		HOW TO FOLD A FITTED SHEET?
Video by Inhabitat		Video by Justin Klosky of O.C.D. Experience