THESE DAYS, WE’RE ALL THINKING A LITTLE HARDER ABOUT WHAT WE BUY FOR OUR HOMES, WHAT WE EAT AND HOW WE DISPOSE OF OUR RUBBISH.

So the His & Hers team is always happy to hear about ethical businesses that allow us to indulge in a spot of interiors shopping without damaging the environment. This week, we heard about Dip & Doze and it’s already become a bit of an interiors obsession for us. Here’s what sets the brand apart from the crowd…

Simplifying the bedding buying process

At the forefront of their mission is to simplify the whole bedding buying process. When shopping for bedding we’re faced with identical products all claiming different things. Finding this experience complicated and confusing, the founder of Dip & Doze was driven by a desire to cut through the noise. He knew that ultimate comfort didn’t have to cost the earth (both figuratively and literally), so he set about creating products sold directly online to offer the highest quality at the best price. After working tirelessly to get the fundamentals right, Dip & Doze was born. A new, simpler approach to bed linen, reimagined for contemporary living.

One of the misconceptions we are lead to believe is ‘high thread count means high quality’. Agreed, a high number sounds impressive, but contrary to popular belief, high thread count isn’t always synonymous with luxury bedding. In fact, more threads can make your sheets heavier, rougher and less durable. There are so many products on the market claiming to be crazily high thread counts (500-1000), however, these products are generally made using inferior yarns. By twisting the yarns together, misleadingly high thread counts can be created. These sound impressive for marketing purposes, but the quality is often very poor and the products can deteriorate very quickly. Generally, a 200-400 thread count will indicate the optimal level of comfort and softness, but this is only one very small factor that contributes to quality. Other aspects that are just as important are the quality of cotton and workmanship. Single ply, long staple yarns are actually the most important factor when it comes to durable, luxurious feeling bedding. The team at Dip & Doze say they completely understand that all the nitty gritty details behind the technicalities of fabric can be confusing, which is why they have made things simple. Drawing upon their 180 years of textile expertise, they have found the perfect alchemy for comfort, durability, breathability and washability, so you don’t have to worry about thread count or fabric make up.

Why they use organic cotton

Not only are they passionate about quality and comfort, but also about looking after the earth and those who make the things we love. Many people are still in the dark about the effects that the endless list of chemicals used in traditional cotton farming can have. Conventional cotton growing uses more chemical pesticides and fertilizers than any other crop in the world. The standard textiles production process also uses so many harmful chemicals, bleaches, dyes and softeners. These chemicals and toxins farmers are forced to come into contact with can give them life threatening illnesses and breathing difficulties. This is also damaging to the health of local communities and our planet too, as these chemicals and pesticides seep into waterways, leading to drinking water becoming contaminated, wildlife poisoned, ecosystems destroyed and the fertility of soil effected.

The latest research also suggests that the chemical residue trapped in cotton could actually be damaging to our health. Our skin is the largest and most absorbent organ we have, so choosing organic means that our skin does not absorb anything that can be harmful to us. We wouldn’t eat these chemicals, so we think it’s pretty important that we’re not cocooned in them while we sleep (which is up to a third of our life).

Their cotton is grown relying 100% on rainwater, without the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers or genetically modified organisms. Combining tradition, innovation and science to grow and manufacture organic cotton offers a healthy and sustainable future for farmers, workers and their families; all whilst looking after the environment and reducing consumers overall exposure to chemicals.

Did you know there is actually no need to use fabric softener on organic cotton? Since it’s a natural fibre it’s extremely soft and will become more so over­­ time. Companies using conventional cotton often use chemicals to soften their sheets. These only get washed away, hence the need for additional products to keep them soft. In particular, treat any bedding labelled as ‘wrinkle-free’ with a healthy dose of caution, as this usually involves using toxic chemicals like formaldehyde.

They are Fairtrade certified

We live in a world that offers more choice and freedom than ever before. However, we know people are sometimes overwhelmed by this choice and the unease surrounding the poignant fact that the privilege of freedom is not enjoyed by everyone around the globe. This feeling is perhaps why more people are searching for alternatives and discovering the simple solution: fewer, better products that support those in developing countries. Dip & Doze use Fairtrade certified factories and farms, helping to empower and support those who are often left invisible, neglected and poor at the end of a complex supply chain. We’re all aware of the fact that a good night’s sleep is vital to our wellbeing. It’s what we strive for each night, so why shouldn’t those who helped make the things we love get one, too?

Sleep well knowing that you have the best possible products, have made a positive difference to the lives of those who helped make them and to our planet, too.

Website: www.dipanddoze.com

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