It’s hard to imagine a bed without a duvet, but until relatively recently, most people here had never slept under one!
The story of the duvet may well begin as early as 3,000 BCE China, where archaeological evidence suggests that an early form of the duvet was used- proof, perhaps, that the desire for a cosy night's sleep is as old as civilisation itself.
The first truly documented use of a duvet dates back to the Viking era. Archaeologists uncovered Eider duck and Eagle Owl feather down duvets and pillows in lavish, and brilliantly well preserved, Norse burials.
The idea first landed in England in 1689, when English diplomat Paul Rycaut was travelling through Hamburg. There, he discovered something that would change his nights forever: a soft, feather-filled covering unlike anything back home. We was so impressed that he sent bags of eiderdown to England, along with instructions. His advice was simple, the covering must be “quilted high and in large panes, or otherwise it will not be warme.”
[left] The Young Housekeeper’s Essential Aid, London, 1852.
[right] our Virginia Creeper Bed Linen Set in Midnight
The idea slowly drifted into Britain, but for years it remained a luxury. By the 18th century, even Samuel Johnson had referenced the “duvet”- French for “down,” the soft feathers of young birds- yet it was still more curiosity than commonplace. By 1841, adverts in The Times promoted “eiderdown quilts or duvets” as elegant comforts for the wealthy.
It wasn’t until the 20th century that things truly changed. Although Harrods stocked them in the 1950s, duvets didn’t enter everyday British homes until Habitat brought them to the high street in 1964.
It's founder, Sir Terence Conran, later shared the story behind his inspiration: "I had been in Sweden in the 1950s and was given a duvet to sleep under. I probably had a girl with me, and I thought this was all part of the mood of the time - liberated sex and easy living. It was wonderful that when you came to make your bed, it was just a couple of shakes.”
credit both: Habitat
And just like that, the duvet went from foreign curiosity to an everyday essential, one we now struggle to sleep without.
Today in the UK, roughly 7.6 million duvets are sold annually, with 14 million duvets, pillows and mattress toppers ending up in landfill every year!
The years go by, and replacing your duvet rarely makes it up the priority list. Experts advise changing your duvet every 5 - 10 years, depending on its quality and tog. Mine are all certainly much older than that! The warmth duvets offer is measured in "togs", ranging from 1 - 15, the higher the tog, the warmer and thicker they are. Unfortunately, togs are lost over time as the filling gradually wears down, but there are some things you can do to extend the life of your duvet…
Wash your duvet every 6 months, (do not dry clean as this destroys the feathers) air it out every few weeks, and choose a quality fibre and tog which best suits your needs.
