It is always best to consult an expert, so I turned to Tarynn Hatton-Jones, the founder of Burnt Oringe, an organic linen company based in Hong Kong.

Tarynn believes that is the grade of fabric that you buy that primarily determines quality.  A cheaper material will use agents such as formaldehyde that act to soften the fibres, creating a more luxurious feel.  Of course, we sleep on these materials, breathing in these agents, so is important to try to buy sheets that are organic, to reduce these detrimental effects.

Thread count is also important: a high thread count means that there are more fibres woven per square inch.   This results in the fibres being woven together tightly to form a smoother weave, giving it a more luxurious feel.  However, you should be wary of materials that promise an extremely high thread count, as these materials may be made out of double-ply fibres,which are two strands woven together, that do not add to the ‘hand’ (feel) of the sheets.

The final thing that determines quality is the weave of the material.  The weave will affect the crispness of the sheets as well as its looks and durability.

Ultimately, it is personal taste that determines the choice of sheets.  Burnt Oringe produces two different types of sheets, a pure cotton range and a tencel range.   Both ranges come in white, as Taryn believes that it is important to keep the materials as pure as possible. The range is simply finished with minimal but elegant detailing, suiting all decor.

The pure cotton range uses fabric that has been sourced from organic producers.  It has a thread count of 400, which is very high and gives the sheets a luxuriously smooth feel with a crisp finish.   Apparently, female customers gravitate towards these types of sheets, enjoying the sturdy feel of these sheets.

According to Tarynn, men much prefer the tencel range.  Tencel is a fibre made from the the eucalyptus tree.   It is characterised by a silkier feel with less crispness than cotton.   It has a number of unique properties: the main one being the natural wicking away properties, which means that the fabric removes moisture from the surface of your skin, making it ideal for allergy sufferers and for people that live in humid, warm climates.

The process of making tencel sheets is also interesting, as 99.7% of the tree is used in the process, it has no natural pests and uses 10% less water than cotton.   This results in a material that is pure and environmentally friendly.

Sheets can seem like a huge expense, as a set of fine sheets can set you back around HKD5000, but it is important to remember that good quality sheets can last around 10 years if treated well, so is a small price to pay for a great night’s sleep.

As for me, although cotton is not as good for the environment, I love its crisp feel, so will stick with it, though the next time I go sheet shopping, I will make sure that the sheets are organic, giving me a  pure and chemical free sleep.

Burnt Oringe

Unit 8C, 8/F
BT Centre
23 Wong Chuk Hang Road
Aberdeen
Hong Kong

T: +852 2529 6555
M: +852 6015 4544
E: tarynn@burntoringe.com