Egyptian cotton

Luxury hotel-quality bed linen for your home

Most people cite overnight stays in luxury hotel beds as the ultimate sleeping experience. A bed so comfortable and bed linen so heavenly that you don't want to get out. Egyptian cotton is considered one of the highest-quality and most luxurious raw materials for textiles in the world. For this reason, it is a popular choice for bed linen in five-star hotels.

With DOUXE's bed linen, you can also enjoy this luxurious hotel quality at home. Egyptian cotton is perceived as soft and durable. DOUXE bed linen is made with 100% certified Egyptian cotton.

What is Egyptian cotton?

Egyptian cotton differs from other types of cotton in that it feels wonderfully soft and lasts a long time. Egyptian cotton comes from the Gossypium Barbadense variety of cotton and is characterised by having one of the longest natural threads in the world. These long threads make for flexible, unbroken yarn. Egyptian cotton is therefore extra strong, very durable and feels very soft.

What is the secret of Egyptian cotton?

The unique climate

The climate, the fibre and the production process create the unique softness and superior quality of Egyptian cotton. As the name suggests, Egyptian cotton comes from… Egypt! The fibres used for Egyptian cotton can only grow in a specific climate. The Nile Delta, with its moist, rich soil, many hours of sunshine and cool nights, provides the perfect habitat for this. This enormously fertile area gives the cotton plants ideal growing conditions and provides them with a constant supply of nutrients. As a result, the fibres in the plants grow more vigorously and, above all, longer.

The long fibres 

That extra-long fibre is what distinguishes Egyptian cotton from ordinary cotton. This (extra) long fibre is a super-strong and unbelievably soft fibre. The longer the fibre grows, the thinner and smoother it becomes. Various steps in the production process then provide the ideal conditions for a soft, pure, top-quality end product. Egyptian cotton is hand-picked, so the cotton fibres are chosen with great care and are less likely to break. This ultimately has a positive effect on the quality of the cotton. The cotton fibres are then combed, removing loose fibres and particles. The cotton is then spun into yarn without any impurities. A very important process. Cotton that is not spun properly contains impurities that remain visible in the fabric of the end product. Over time, these impurities detract from the quality of the material and the fabric starts to pill. The quality of the fabric also depends to a large extent on the number of threads used.

The refined production process

Unlike champagne, Egyptian cotton has no ‘quality mark’ that can be earned. There is therefore widespread abuse by producers who label their cotton as Egyptian cotton but do not offer the quality and benefits of pure Egyptian cotton. The Egyptian Cotton Association safeguards the authenticity of Egyptian cotton by verifying all products that claim the Egyptian cotton label with a ‘DNA certification process’. Naturally, all DOUXE Egyptian cotton products are 100% DNA certified and may therefore bear the Egyptian Cotton™ trademark.

What makes our Egyptian cotton bed linen hotel quality?

DOUXE is originally a hotel brand supplying the most beautiful hotels. Our team of young professionals knows what is going on in the world of sleep. We take inspiration from leading international hotels and use the finest natural materials, such as 100% Egyptian cotton. It is our mission to bring the true hotel feeling to your home and to offer you a heavenly sleep experience.

Many manufacturers add softeners that make products look nice and soft at first glance, but feel coarse and rough after just a few washes. With Egyptian cotton, it is exactly the opposite. With each wash, Egyptian cotton actually becomes softer and more supple. DOUXE Egyptian cotton bed linen is made in Portugal and produced from 100% certified Egyptian cotton. With this premium quality, DOUXE bed linen offers a lasting, ultimate five-star feeling. A good night's sleep is in store with these beautiful duvet cover sets. Tested many times in the best hotels.

Why Egyptian cotton?

For many centuries, Egyptian cotton has been known as the best cotton in the world. The soft and strong quality of bed linen made from Egyptian cotton can be felt instantly and distinguished like no other. The length of the Egyptian cotton fibre makes it possible to make the finest yarns without sacrificing the strength of the yarn. This makes the fabric firmer and makes your bed linen last longer. Bed linen made of Egyptian cotton contributes to a comfortable night's sleep and creates a luxurious look in the bedroom.

Certified Egyptian cotton

DOUXE bed linen is produced in Portugal from certified Egyptian cotton. All DOUXE Egyptian cotton products bear the seal of the Egyptian Cotton Association. This seal guarantees superior-quality cotton grown in Egypt. It is the only cotton that is guaranteed to be hand-picked, which keeps the cotton stronger for longer, however often you wash it.

 


Weaving techniques: Percale and Sateen

Egyptian cotton can be processed in different ways; two popular weaving techniques are sateen and percale. Choose the lovely fresh, crisp feel of percale or, alternatively, the cosy, warm and silky-soft feel of sateen. DOUXE Egyptian cotton duvet cover sets are available in both varieties.

Percale Egyptian cotton

Percale has a ‘simple’ weave. This gives it a matt appearance and a cool, crisp feel. It is airy, it breathes and it absorbs moisture. Ideal for summer or for people who get hot easily when they sleep.

Percale feels fresh and cooling and, thanks to its matt finish, has a more casual look. DOUXE's percale quality gets better with every wash. The advantages of percale are:

  • The authentic ‘crispy sheets’ hotel feel;
  • The breathability (cooling effect);
  • The casual/matt look.

Click here to watch the video about percale Egyptian cotton.

Sateen Egyptian cotton

Sateen has a silky-soft finish, which makes it feel super soft. The weave of sateen is one thread over and three threads under. This means the fabric is more tightly stretched, so it feels slightly heavier and a little warmer than percale. Sateen linen is exceptionally soft and has a beautiful sheen. The advantages of sateen are:

  • The fabric feels silky smooth;
  • It is softer, heavier and warmer;
  • The luxurious, glossy silk look;
  • Thanks to its supple nature, the fabric creases less after washing.

The quality of Egyptian cotton

For duvet covers, the ‘Thread Count’ (TC) is a good measure of quality. As a rule: the more threads, the better the quality; the fabric feels softer and lasts much longer.


Thread Count (TC)

The quality of Egyptian cotton fabrics depends to some extent on the number of horizontal and vertical threads used per square inch (1 inch = 2.54 cm), the so-called ‘Thread Count’, abbreviated to TC. The higher the TC, the finer the yarn and the denser the fabric. This benefits the quality of the fabric and also gives a softer, more luxurious material. Woven Egyptian cotton, regardless of the TC, will always be softer and smoother than the average duvet cover.

The quality of Egyptian cotton fabrics depends to some extent on the number of horizontal and vertical threads used per square inch (1 inch = 2.54 cm), the so-called ‘Thread Count’, abbreviated to TC. The higher the TC, the finer the yarn and the denser the fabric. This benefits the quality of the fabric and also gives a softer, more luxurious material. Woven Egyptian cotton, regardless of the TC, will always be softer and smoother than the average duvet cover.

Advantages of Egyptian cotton

The advantages of Egyptian cotton are:

  • A fabric made of Egyptian cotton feels unparalleled in luxury and softness.
  • The fibres of Egyptian cotton are among the longest threads in the world, which gives you a beautifully even and durable fabric.
  • Egyptian cotton absorbs moisture well, which contributes to a comfortable night's sleep.
  • Egyptian cotton brings the luxury hotel feel into your home.

Caring for your Egyptian cotton duvet cover set

To care for your Egyptian cotton duvet cover, we recommend:

  • wash at a maximum of 40 degrees;
  • do not use fabric softener or bleach;
  • choose a gentle wash programme;
  • air dry the fabric rather than tumble dry it;
  • iron at a low temperature.