Slow craft | Artisan made fine linens from Savoir
AD | In partnership with Savoir
For me, creating a home isn’t about quick paint jobs and Instagram makeovers – it’s about slowly furnishing your home by surrounding yourself with things that are beautiful, timeless and well made.
When I bought my first home I initially made do with things I already had and things I’d been given, and when I needed to buy everyday essentials like sheets, cutlery or tableware I chose simple, basic items that would do the job but that I could replace at a later date. Over the years I’ve gradually upgraded those everyday essentials, and the one thing I’ve learned is that it really is worth investing in the best you can afford, because I think we sometimes underestimate how much pleasure they can give us.
Nowhere is this more true than in the case of bed linen, and if you’ve arrived at the point in life where you feel ready to invest in probably the best sheets you will ever sleep in then you might like to consider the new collection from Savoir.
In ten years of writing about interiors I’ve reviewed a lot of bed linen. I can appreciate the relaxed style and easy-care appeal of crumpled linens, but for me nothing beats the kind of pristine white sheets you find in the very best hotels. I don’t love the ironing, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay for the joy of sleeping in a well-dressed bed.
Hoteliers know a thing or two about beds and bed linens – their livelihood depends on it. When Richard D’Oyly Carte opened the Savoy Hotel in London he was unable to find a bed that met his exacting standards, so he commissioned the upholsterer James Edward to create a bed that would offer his guests an unrivalled level of luxury. To ensure exclusivity, a few years later he bought the company and founded the Savoy Bedworks.
More than a hundred years after the first bed was produced back in 1905, Savoir are still crafting some of the world’s finest beds, producing less than a 1000 a year using completely natural materials, traditional methods and exceptional craftsmanship. Now they’ve launched an exclusive linen collection too. Like their luxury beds and bespoke mattresses, Savoir’s sheets are made with a focus on the high quality materials, skill and attention to detail. They claim to be the world’s finest bed linens. A bold claim, so does it stack up?
Fine cotton
It all starts with the choice of cotton. Savoir use a very rare Egyptian cotton, Giza 87, which is grown in in a small region on the Nile Delta and considered to be the best cotton in the world. The fibres of this type of cotton are extremely fine and long, making the sheets incredibly soft and silky as well as ultrafine and lightweight.
High thread count
Thread count is calculated by adding together the number of threads per inch in a fabric horizontally with the number of threads per inch lengthwise. The resulting sum is the total number of threads contained within a square inch. Generally speaking, the higher the thread count the more luxurious the sheets are considered to be. The cotton used in the Savoir bed linen collection has thread counts ranging from 300 all the way up to 1000.
Craftsmanship and Detailing
After being woven in Italy the linen is hand cut and sewn in the UK by artisans who supply linens to the royal family.
The collections
Savoir’s bed linen range is comprised of three different collections: Dream – a luxurious cotton sateen; Drift – a soft cotton percale that has a matte appearance and a cool, crisp feel that’s ideal for warmer sleepers and Vision, a jacquard featuring the signature Trellis ticking which has been used on Savoir mattresses and toppers for over a hundred years.
Savoir invited me to try out the Dream collection on my bed at home, and from the moment I unwrapped the pieces they sent me it was obvious that the quality was really exceptional.
I opted for a simple, unembellished set, but there’s also the option of additional detailing – single or double cording in white and silver/charcoal or monogramming for a more personal touch. The linens are exquisitely stitched by expert seamstresses and the cotton sateen has a soft, pearlescent lustre that feels like silk against the skin.
The flat sheet is very generously sized, allowing you plenty of room to practise creating the perfect hospital corners! There’s also a fitted sheet. Again, it’s generously sized, so unlike many standard sized fitted sheets it can easily be fitted to a deep mattress or one with a luxurious topper like the beds in the Savoir range.
The Verdict
They look and feel incredible and the fine finish and level of detailing is exceptional. Despite the high thread count there’s no compromise on breathability or lightness and with a little care – Savoir recommend washing them at 40 degrees on a gentle cycle – they will last for years.
Slipping into them at night is a truly indulgent experience. I can honestly say that they really are the most luxurious sheets I’ve ever slept in.
(All images above by Design Hunter. Additional images below courtesy of Savoir.)
