The Perfect Match! French and Italian

Having Arte Pura at Beadboard is like having every candy color in Italian linen.  Being a relatively new company they do not make fitted sheets for American beds.  I searched for the perfect match for our fabulous Arte Pura colors.  I found it!!!!!!!!!

I found it in Anne De Solene from France.... See the similarities??????? These are their beautiful solid color percale sheets called Vexin.  They also offer delightful prints that also enhance The Arte.  And a little lesson in this post on Thread Counts.... 

 Which is all BUNK.... Yes I said it, BUNK!!!! Read on if you dare....

For example this is the Sakouna/Aiko a floral with a sophisticated beigey,mauve on one side and a coordinating peach mauve on a white field on the reverse.

This is the Polevere Old in the Arte Pura.  See the similar color..?????

Anyone that reads my blog knows I love gray.  This is Percale sheeting Evanasence in Grey from Anne De Solene.  Cherubs and urns in gray on a white field that pair perfectly with...

Arte Pura's, Narciso Bed in the Lava, and Gesso Old. 

 A surprise on the back of the sham a grey and white 1/8" inch stripe.......So, I have these in the shop and I hand it over to a customer and ask her to tell me the thread count.....600??? 800???? These feel so smooth!!!!  Nope.    Ready? 200!!!!!!!!!! 

 They feel better than my 600TC *!$!$#$$$ I have at home!

They are weightier and will feel amazingly better as you wash them... Why????? Because the threads are smooth before they are woven into the fabric........We have all been taught to believe the higher the thread count means better quality..... Sferra started that, now they have started a campaign called "LOSE COUNT" and are no longer putting thread counts on their packaging according to Home Textiles Today issue dated May 23rd.

Oh, Love the Quatre Saisons Towels.......Gorgeous!!! But back to my rampage......

Some other delectable offerings from Anne De Solene. Promise in blue....

The idea of labeling sheets with thread count was to indicate better quality in the higher TC's and therefore justify charging more....A LOT MORE....It BACKFIRED.

 The problem with the thread count was that discount stores jumped in the mix and offered ourageous TC numbers but the quality was poor..... What difference does the TC make if the thread is sub par to begin with????? Threads weren't wicked properly so hair and lint stuck like glue in the wash or they pilled. It was as if some companies were using fine raffia to weave sheets! 

 Not so with these beauties.....

Promise in Coral. They are geraniums that look like they have been watercolored....  

 The article

in Home Textiles Today said "dubious marketing claims rendered the thread count distinctions meaningless".  Now Paul Hooker, head of Sferra linens, who started touting the whole thread count thing in the first place said " we birthed it, now we're killing it" relating to thread count.....

Duetto..... Anne De Solene reversible shams with accent flange in a third color.

 So, now we have all been Duped!!!!!  Not from the companies but from the VERBAGE they created to make their products more desirable to the consumer.

Anne De Solene Numero Uno towel with matelasse border....

Husbands even bought into the thread count lingo and would ask the thread count of sheets if a couple came into the shop.

Coordinating Numero Uno pillowcase...

So where does all this leave us??? Hopefully, more informed than before, knowing that there is great bedding out there, just buy it from someone knowledgeable enough and interested enough to get the best sheets that are right for you! Preferably in a small boutique where you can get some personal attention.  We still carry 400, 500 and 600 TC sheets. But we are now explaining them differently to our customers. AND the same customers that own those are also buying Anne De Solene......in the 200 TC and loving them!

Arte Pura Linen/Organza Sorgente bed.  Wouldn't it go great with..

 Anne De Solene Promise in Coral??????? Pretty!

 Soooooo.  The experts are saying forget about the thread count, just make sure your sheets are from a manufacturer that makes quality bedding.....Make sure they feel good to the touch......Flimsy and fuzzy is not a good thing.... Open those packages up and feel them.... Oh, and sheets are much the same as good jeans.... Select them the same way....

You live in jeans, you live in sheets.......Think about it.