 Why You Should Buy High Quality Luxury Bedding; FACT#1 High quality bedding can have a big impact on how well you sleep at night. Luxury Bedding will enhance your comfort and will make you feel better (as you still spend 1/3 of your life in bed). Soft-as-silk snuggly sheets will greatly intensify your sleeping experience and cuddle you lovingly all night long. You will wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated with the right mood to start a new day. FACT#2 Linens are a great accent to your bedroom decor and because much of the focus in your bedroom is on the bed itself and it makes sense to start your room Makeover by choosing bedding first! With those beautiful luxury bedding you can Make your bedroom a special place to get away from it all!  FACT#3 Household Linens are heavy-duty stuff subject to a hard physical stress in their daily usage as well as in their maintenance/care. Beside being used on a daily basis your linens should be machine washed, tumble dried and ironed over and over again. Quality is really a top priority if you don’t want them to be piling and look worn and rugged right after the first wash. FACT#4 Quality Linens are a wise investment when you take into account the fact that high quality luxury Bedding is so well made that they last for a decade or more , you can see that luxury bedding is always a worthwhile investment, especially when you also consider that poor quality goods can easily wear out after 3 washings or less.  Conclusion: Reading all these Facts it makes it quite clear that even if it costs more to buy luxury linens you will have more bang for your bucks later on. It’s a high R.O.I. investment that will pay you back again and again with spectacular comfort for years to come. Add Comment Be amazed by the luminous sheen and rich drape of the finest 700TC Egyptian Giza Cotton Sateen.  700TC sateen Giza is a premium quality extra long staple Egyptian cotton. Finest grade Giza spins into much smoother, finer and stronger yarn than any other cotton in the world. Only weaving these fine yarns is possible to achieve a true 700 thread count sateen that makes perfect Luxury Linens. It is grown and harvested in very limited quantities in the northern part of Egypt.  Among all the Extra Long Staple Cotton qualities Giza 87 really stands out of the crowd. It was planted for the very first time in 1820 by the founder of modern Egypt, Mohammed Alì Pascià, symbol of the rebuilding of the country after the invasion of Napoleon's French troop. As a matter of fact, Mohammed imported Sea Island and Brazilian cotton seeds because he was enthusiastic about the fabulous cloths produced abroad with this raw material. The best seeds in the world, coupled with just the right environment, created the ideal conditions for growing the most sought after cotton in the world.. The plants of Giza 87 cotton are cultivated in a tiny area east of the Nile delta, searching for the best place each year, and represent 0.5% of the total annual Egyptian cotton production. Cotton is picked by hand in five stages so only the flocks that are at the right degree of maturity are picked each time. The care taken with cultivating and manually picking the cotton avoids the use of defoliants and other chemical products commonly used with mechanized picking.  Extra Long Staple Cottons Giza 87 cotton fibres are extremely long (36 mm) and have a uniformity index of 88.5%. But what really makes this cotton exceptional is the fineness of its fibres, measured in micronaire, which is between 3.0 and 3.2, and the degree of brightness equal to 74.8 the best among the Extra Long Staple cottons. Despite this fineness, the stretching resistance of the Giza 87 fibres is still high, an average of 44.30 g/tex. This cotton, due to its particular use and commercial value, is not necessarily grown each year. In this case, the seeds are preserved carefully for the following harvests. In terms of resistance, cleanliness and regularity, the uniquely excellent features of Giza 87 are obvious, used to make extremely fine and strong yarns and fabrics that have an extraordinarily soft and silky texture for the best Luxury Bedding in the world  Belvivere Lungarno Collection of 700TC Egyptian Giza Cotton Sateen Why Egypt is the ideal environment for growing such top quality cotton? The very best cotton grows here because of the particular climatic conditions and the fertility of the soil along the Nile in its delta area. The Greek writer Erodoto wrote that "Egypt is the Nile's gift", a never ending source of loamy water for irrigating the fields. Its delta is a huge green triangle that opens like a fan in the desert between the two main branches. The Delta, in fact, which is the most fertile and heavily populated region in all of Egypt, produces a large part of the country's crops. On an average 190 mm of rain falls from October to April, concentrated in just a few days with torrential rain. Relative air humidity is rather high, 60-70%, likewise the frequency of the sea winds north from the Mediterranean. There is not much change in the daily and annual temperatures due to the nearness of the sea. Not even in winter do we find sudden changes in temperature from one day to the next because even the north winds, due to their long passage over the hot Mediterranean, are only slightly colder than those coming in from the south.  The climatic Paradise for the highest quality cotton Cotton is planted at the end of March when the climate is slightly cooler. This helps the plant produce branches lower down. The cotton flocks that mature in the shade are not affected a great deal by the direct heat of the sun. In July and August, when the cotton fibres are forming, the climate is very stable and good for the production of uniform and regular fibres. It is harvested in September. This climatic paradise is the secret behind the quality of Egyptian cotton which is exceptional with many, many qualities. But such precious raw materials are bothered by a problem of pollution by foreign fibrils because they picked by hand and handled time and time again with the “farfara” method (mixing by hand, eliminating the large external particles). It is the ability of the spinner, with the know-how and the most suitable modern equipment, that makes the difference at this stage, skillfully eliminating the impurities.  Belvivere Sorrento Collection of 700TC Egyptian Giza Cotton Sateen Glossary of terms Sateen Cotton sateen is lustrous and smooth, with a luminous sheen. Sateen weave add luster and drape for a soft silky hand Hemstitch A decorative stitch usually bordering a hem made by drawing out several parallel threads punching even rows of small holes and then stitching around the perforations.  The Luxury Linens Expert - Shopping for Luxury Bedding You just can’t decide ? - Afraid that High Quality Sheets will cost you a fortune ? - Confused by all this Thread Count mess ? - Need advice? - Have any Questions on luxury linens? Why not Ask The Expert? Contact Jay C Conti on www.luxury-linens.com his Blog is at your Service !  Belgian Linen is Made of European grown flax fibres and has a premium high quality. Belgian Linen is Woven accordingly to a time-honored tradition, it's crisp, clean and comfortable, soft yet strong and durable and is very suitable for Luxury Linens. Linen conveys understated qualities, unrivaled by any other natural fabric: - it is colorfast and launder beautifully wash after wash. The more it is used the softer it gets and the stronger it becomes. - Linen is thermo-regulating, insulate in wintertime while being cool and breathable in summertime. - It can absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture before it feels damp, and easily releases moisture to the air to remain cool and dry to the touch - There is a natural body perspiration while sleeping, so having sheets that easily absorb and release moisture is essential to a comfortable night rest. - Flax requires considerably fewer pesticides and fertilizers than other crops thus being non-allergenic and anti-bacterial, especially recommended for sensitive skin. - The fibers are recyclable and eventually biodegrade. - Linen naturally induces a feeling of pleasure, comfort and an healthy well being. It definitely makes you feel good sleeping in those luxury linens! - Though Linen does wrinkle easily, it presses easily as well... ....and in the end that worn creased look is part of its stylish appeal!  What makes Belgian Linen special? The flax grown in Belgium is one of the few crops still produced in Western Europe, with nearly 130,000 acres under cultivation annually. For centuries, flax has been grown in Flanders, the westernmost region of Belgium, known since the Renaissance for its prosperity and culture. The climate and topography of the region, interlaced with many small rivers, have made it ideal for linen production. Belgian linen is recognized as being the best in the World. This excellence may be attributed to three beneficial factors: 1. A well-suited soil. Flax is best adapted to fertile, fine textured, clay soils 2. A favourable climate with adequate moisture and relatively cool temperatures, particularly during the period from flowering to maturity (June and July). 3. Belgian flax growers whose prime concern is quality have the in-depth knowledge and experience required to ensure perfection throughout the various steps of the process. Preparing the soil, selecting varieties, sowing and growing flax, monitoring the cultivation, pulling and retting, the aim of which is to encourage fibre extraction, all these different tasks are carried out with the same rigour and care using traditional methods that have been passed on throughout the ages.  Glossary of terms Flax Natural fiber that comes from the stem or stalk of the flax plant; when flax is woven, it produces linen. Scientifically named Linum Usitatissimum translates from the Latin as "most useful linen." In naming this species, botanists recognized the inherent value of the humble flax plant. For ten thousand years or more, man has known this gentle gift of nature was the source of textiles with special properties. Linen It is the fabric woven from the fibers of the flax plant crops. Linen is more expensive than cotton since it is technically more difficult to spin and weaves slowly while cultivation of the flax crops is more labor intensive and require specific climatic conditions. Belvivere Casa, a premier luxury bedding manufacturer based in Florence, Italy is opening a new online outlet center. Unrivaled Italian linens quality, with real savings up to 80% off retail price. Miami, FL (PRWEB) July 1, 2010 -- Belvivere is clearing out some of its excess inventory offering high quality luxury Italian linens on sale at a fraction of actual retail price. The newly launched Clearance Outlet is available online as a special sale event section on the main website at Belvivere.com. “This is the best deal You can find in the luxury bedding market today!” says Jay C. Conti, Belvivere’s CEO & CO-founder. “It is also a great opportunity for newbies who aren’t familiar with luxury linens to try them and experience the difference with any ordinary bedding.” “The new website Clearance section is a good chance to enlarge our customer’s base, reaching all those people who aren’t actually thinking of buying luxury sheets today. It even creates new demand as those trying them on their bed for the first time are more likely to be impressed by an enhanced sleeping experience and be loyal customers tomorrow”, says Conti. The new outlet center is conveniently located in Dallas, TX so delivery to all main US destinations won’t take longer than 3/4 days by UPS Ground. Belvivere offers a flat rate shipping at $11.99, no matter the size of the order. Quantities available in the different colors and sizes are limited and this incredible offer won’t last for a long time. It’s no second choice, defective or returned merchandise but a first-class selection of the finest quality Italian luxury bedding. Silky and smooth Egyptian cotton sheets made out of amazingly soft 450 Thread Count sateen. Belvivere stands behind its commitment to total customer satisfaction with an easy, no question asked, hassle free return policy and a full 30 days money back guarantee. Belvivere offers, online only, an exclusive selection of luxurious Italian home linens for Bed, Bath and Table. All the collections are entirely styled and manufactured in Florence (Italy) where talented artisans expertly craft the finest fabrics into extraordinary linens. Belvivere.com, the newly expanded ecommerce website allows shoppers to buy directly from the manufacturer in Italy and save up to 60% with the ease and convenience of a US based distribution and customer service center.   Pima accounts for only three percent of annual cotton production in the United States. Its fineness and longer staple length makes Pima a premium cotton fiber. It is used to spin finer count yarns, which can be woven into softer, finer and more luxurious linens. It is grown in select areas of the far West and Southwest U.S. where the cotton can benefit from a long growing season in a hot, dry climate. Pima cotton is grown almost exclusively on furrowed rows where growers can closely regulate irrigation and other inputs. Pulling the fiber from crops is more expensive than other cottons since Pima cotton is roller-ginned to remove seeds and impurities. Pima is grown in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas and is used as a raw material to make beautiful luxury bedding. Anatomy of the Perfect Bed 05/27/2010
A quick visual guide to what a “Perfect bed” should look like:  1. SHEETS > A bed sheets set is made of a flat top sheet, a fitted bottom sheets and a pair of pillow cases. It’s the basic bedding item to actually sleep in. 2. DUVET COVER > A duvet or comforter cover is a giant pillow case that hold inside a down comforter. It is usually sold as a standalone product or packaged as a set with a pair of accent pillow shams. It can be used either with or without a flat sheet. 3. ACCENT PILLOWS > Additional decorative pillow shams to match. They have a flange around the four sides or some kind of embellished border. Available in several different sizes from small Boudoir pillows to Standard/Queen size to Euro squares (a.k.a. Continental shams) up to the large King shams used on King sized beds. 4. QUILTED > A Quilt is a bed cover made of two layers of fabric stitched together, with an interior padding held in place by decorative intersecting seams. A Coverlet is a decorative, top of the bed cover that does not cover the pillows. Matching quilted pillows shams, usually in the Euro square size, are placed on top of the coverlet against the headboard to beautifully frame the bed. 5. BEDSKIRT > A bedskirt is used when the boxspring of the bed is showing or when the top of the bed cover, like a bedspread or comforter, does not extend all the way down to the floor. Bedskirts fit under the mattress and on top of the boxspring and decorate with fabric to the floor. Luxury Bed Linens, Thread count and more 04/30/2010
 Thread count? It can be quite confusing. Numbers can be misleading sometimes. So the higher the thread-count the better the quality, correct? Not always true. Still, Threadcount is one of the most usual question people ask when shopping for luxury linens sheets. So what threadcount really means? Thread count refers to fabric's weave. The weave is made of horizontal and vertical threads that make the texture of a fabric. Threadcount is the total number of threads in a square inch of fabric combined, vertical and horizontal. For example a threadcount of 400 would imply 200 horizontal threads and 200 vertical threads. All things being equal, a higher threadcount would indicate a softer feeling fabric. However, not all sheets are created equal and sky high threadcount doesn't always indicate a higher quality or more luxurious sheets. .... And you don't have to be a techie to choose some great luxury linens sheets. A few basic principles and your own sense of touch will make you a confident consumer. You too can have sheets that match your comforter and feel like butter wash after wash! First and foremost, only choose fabrics woven with single ply yarns. The only thing double or triple ply is good for is toilet paper! Just think about it. The double ply on paper makes it heavier and thicker, which also creates an irritating stiff feeling to fabric. Single ply sheets usually feel smooth and silky. Going back to the whole thread count confusion. Higher thread count does not always make for nicer sheets as manufacturers can inflate thread count by using doubled or tripled strands of yarn. That's misleading and confusing and is the most common reason why a 500TC sheet doesn't necessarily feel better than a 300TC sheet. There is a substantial difference in the quality of the yarn used to make the sheets as well. Right! Long staple cotton yarn produces higher quality sheets. The type of weave is also something that will affect the final product. Sateen is one of the most common weave for bed sheets. It creates a particularly smooth fabric with a luminous shine and a silky lofty hand. Among all the others Egyptian and Pima cottons raw fibers have earned a reputation for luxury in the world of luxury bed linens. Apart from traditional cotton others natural fibers are becoming increasingly popular as they bring unique qualities. Organic/Green cotton is becoming very popular as consumers prefer sheets that are chemical-free and enviroment friendly. Bamboo bedding is also getting more popular. Bamboo fibers are soft and breathable, and also have been tested for antimicrobial properties. The one main advice to anyone shopping for luxury linens is to rely on your own tactile sense. Try at least a pillow case to see how it feels and how it looks on your bed. If it's not as nice as you would expect you have 15 days or more to return the whole sheets set for a full refund. With bed sheets, comfort is everything. If they feel stiff and coarse, washing won't transform them into nice and soft. Get the most out the time you spend in bed, only go for high quality luxury linen sheets. Top 3 reasons to shop for Luxury Linens 04/19/2010
What Luxury Linens really mean? It’s not just any overpriced, designer branded sheets you may find at high-end malls. Real Luxury linens stand out for their exceptional quality with unique technical features that translate into actual benefits, making Your housekeeping easier and Your home more comfortable and good-looking. That said, here are 3 very good reasons to only shop for luxury linens: 1. More comfort makes You feel better High quality bedding can make a big impact on how well you sleep at night. Soft-as-butter snuggly sheets will greatly enhance you sleeping habits and cuddle you lovingly all night long. You will wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated with the right mood to start a new day. Just like having at hand plush towels and bathrobes can set you up for a true spa experience every time you step into your bathroom. 2. Make your Home beautiful Luxury Linens are a great accent to enhance your interior decor. Much of the focus in your bedroom is on the bed itself and you can spruce up the whole room with a fabulous bedding ensemble and a vibrant quilted coverlet to match. Make your bedroom a special place to get away from it all! You can easily revamp your bathroom as well, with just some attractive towels hanging on your rack or neatly folded and piled on the vanity top. As a perfectly well dressed table with a great looking tablecloth and matching napkins will make a stunning dining room to really enchant your guests. 3. Get more value for your money Household Linens are heavy-duty stuff subject to a hard physical stress in their daily usage as well as in their maintenance/care. Beside being used on a daily basis your linens should be machine washed, tumble dried and ironed over and over again. Quality is really a top priority if you don’t want them to be piling and look worn right after the first wash. When you take into account the fact that high quality linens are so well made that they last for a decade or more , you can see that luxury linens is always a worthwhile investment, especially when you also consider that poor quality goods can easily wear out after 3 washings or less. That makes quite clear that even if it costs more to buy luxury linens you will have more bang for your bucks later on. It’s a high R.O.I. investment that will pay you back again and again with spectacular comfort for years to come. Luxury Linens is an Investment to improve the Quality of Your life. Trading down here is definitely not a good option! Shopping for new Home Linens is exciting! 03/31/2010
Shopping for new Home Luxury Linens is exciting. Choose a lounging bathrobe and matching fluffy towels for your Bathroom or get ready to welcome your guest in a superb dinner setting with fabulous Table linens ………and as you are looking to make that perfect Bed you've always dreamed about, with a luxurious duvet cover, cushiony shams and exceptionally soft sheets, rest assured that at Belvivere you only get the finest Italian linens or Your Money Back! When choosing for some new luxury linens one of the very first thing to consider should be the type of weave of the fabric. This is the actual way each and every single thread is woven into a fabric fine texture. It is an often overlooked feature that can make a big difference on the way made up luxury bedding products look and feel. Percale and Sateen weaves are the most common type of weaves and are the two main options available in the luxury linens market. Sateen weave add luster and drape to luxury bedding for a soft silky hand. The fabric has a lustrous and smooth surface, with a luminous sheen, while the back side shows a slightly rugged texture. Percale is a plain weave with a matte finish and a supple lofty hand. Percale cotton luxury linens are light and crisp yet incredibly soft. Both the top and back sides of the fabric look and feel exactly the same showing a textured surface. The choice depends basically on the individual preference for luxury bedding with a soft-as-silk touch and a luminous shine or rather a crisp hand with a matte surface. Percale fabric is also lighter in weight and more breathable making it suitable for the summertime or the hot climate. Sateen is usually a little thicker and more tightly woven showing the highest thread counts. While 100% cotton luxury bedding is mostly recommended for the understated quality of a natural fiber, still not all cottons are created equal. Among the finest quality available worldwide are Egyptian cotton, mostly woven into Sateen, and Pima cotton for Percale weave. Egypt produces the best quality, longest fiber and most valued raw cotton worldwide. It is grown and hand harvested along the fertile banks of the Nile river delta where unique climatic conditions give rise to the finest long staple and extra long staple cotton fibers that are woven into world’s softest luxury linens. Sea Island or American Pima cotton is a very strong, high-grade, long staple cotton quality developed from selected Egyptian cotton crops in the southwest of the United States. Because of the fineness of Pima cotton, more fibers can be spun into a yarn of a given count, which will enhance the feel, softness, drape and brilliance of a luxury bedding fabric. It is named after Pima County in southern Arizona, location of the experimental farm on which it was developed in the early 1900s. It now accounts for only 3% of US annual cotton production and is mainly cultivated in the San Joaquin Valley, California. There’s not really one best choice in luxury bedding between Sateen or Percale as it is left to the personal preference of the individual shopper. It’s important here to be aware of the substantial difference among the two types of weave to get the maximum return on the investment in high qualityluxury linens. |  Author: Jay C Conti
CEO&CO-founder of Belvivere Luxury Linens , blogger at “The Luxury Linens Expert” with devoted passion for fine Italian artisan craftmanship and design. ArchivesOctober 2010 |
