10 reasons to buy Goose Down & Feather Duvets/Pillows

At Richard Haworth, we know that guests can be difficult to please. The list of potential problems is long, and the number of chances to get it right are few. Let us take one item off that list with our luxurious range of goose down bedding. Our soft goose down duvets, goose pillows (feather and goose down) and goose down mattress toppers will ensure a good night's sleep for every client, every night.

So why goose down bedding products? Synthetic products are available, and they can be cheaper. But goose down isn't just a comfortable padding. It has a set of unique properties that make it the perfect filling for duvets, pillows and mattress toppers.

 
1. They trap heat well

Goose down has none of the 'stalks' ('quills') of feather filling, which means that it can form a very effective heat-trapping lattice. It does this by restricting the loss of air inside the duvet: air which is then heated by the sleeper. This is the same mechanism used in wetsuits, in thicker clothing and, believe it or not, in geese themselves.

 
2. They breathe

A goose down duvet – or a goose pillow – doesn't just trap heat. Thanks to a breathable and 100% fine-thread cotton casing, the goose down permits a steady air flow throughout the bedding. It's imperceptible, but it keeps the temperature of the duvet within a carefully-chosen range: perfect for ensuring a good night's sleep.

 
3. They absorb perspiration

Possessing what is technically referred to as a 'hygroscopic effect', goose down actively 'wicks' moisture away from sleepers. This keeps them dry and warm during winter, and avoids excessive bed sweating in the summer: a better night's sleep all year round.

 
4. They're extremely lightweight

Despite exhibiting exceptional heat-retention and air circulation properties, a goose down duvet weighs very little. Why? Because geese fly: every part of their body has evolved to be light and efficient. This means that a lightweight summer duvet will show exceptional ability in colder situations, and that goose down duvets can move flexibly with the sleeper's movements during the night.

5. They're completely washable

A goose down duvet can be washed at 60°C, and machine-dried. You've just got to make sure there's enough room for the down in the duvet to move freely during washing, else it'll clump (reducing its natural heat retention abilities).

 
6. They'll last for ages

A good goose down duvet will endure for many years, especially if treated well (e.g. regularly washed in accordance with 5). At Richard Haworth, we encase all of our goose down duvets, goose pillows and goose down mattress toppers in high-quality 100% cotton linen, which is designed and engineered to last you and your guests a long, long time.

 
7. They're perfect when matched with other goose down bedding products

All of the features we've talked about here – wicking, heat retention, airflow, light weight, durability – are equally applicable across a wide range of goose down bedding products. Take, for example, our goose pillows. The head loses a phenomenal amount of heat while sleeping, as well as perspiring heavily through the scalp. Our goose pillows can wick away excess moisture, as well as maintaining a pleasantly regular temperature over a sleeper's entire night. If you want to treat your guests to something special, consider one of our goose down mattress toppers. Aside from bringing goose down's extraordinary wicking and temperature regulation effects to the entire mattress, the soft inner goose down filling adds luxury and comfort to lower-cost mattresses without excessive cost outlays.

 
8. They're steeped in history

Goose down bedding isn't a novel fad. The word comes from Old Norse, and there is evidence of down-filled clothing and bedwear dating back to that era. Goose down was also used extensively by indigenous tribes across North America.

 
9. They're good at avoiding allergens

We often hear clients expressing fears over goose down's long-term application in hoteliery due to the lack of hypoallergenic coating on goose down filling. It's not as big a problem as all that. The main reasons for increased allergenic acquisition are a build-up of mould and mites in the goose down: two problems that can be solved by washing the bedding with reasonable frequency. In the hotel industry, regular and thorough bedding cleaning is taken for granted: the level of allergens in your goose down products won't rise noticeably above other hypoallergenic alternatives.

 
10. You can pick them straight up from us

With over 130 years of providing linens of the highest quality to the hospitality industry, meeting the needs of establishments with very particular tastes and requirements, we have learned that attention to detail, whether its timely delivery or ease of ordering matter a great deal. Click to view our range of Goose Pillows and Duvets.