Trees do a lot for us.
They clean the air and provide oxygen, offer shade to keep us cool, produce fruits for us to eat, medicines to heal us, and add beauty to our landscapes. But trees can also offer incredible psychological and physiological benefits. In fact, hugging trees can provide a sense of bonding, well-being, calm, and peace. Enjoying all the many benefits nature has to offer can help reduce stress and boost your mood.
Trees & Hugs Sustainable sourcing standards
Inspired by their own experiences connecting with nature, the founders of Trees and Hugs set out to form a company that produces luxury products sustainably and ethically. The result is our Trees & Hugs 100% organic cotton sheets. A considerable part of our process in creating natural, sustainable, luxury sheets was sourcing the best cotton. Our sourcing standards include Fairtrade International and Fair Trade USA certification, GOTS certification, and eco-friendly production techniques that abide by fair labor practices.
From the beginning, we have put an emphasis on creating high-quality, luxury bedding without cutting corners on fair labor. From the farmers that grow and pick our cotton to the factory workers that assemble our sheets, we only work with professionals that promote fair work practices. Our cotton is hand-picked, not machine picked. This is not only better for the quality of the cotton, it provides ample job opportunities for local farmers. Fair labor standards also promote basic wage standards, workplace safety, stringent record keeping, and a ban on child labor.
Why is Trees & Hugs cotton the better choice for your skin?
Our deep commitment to producing cotton sheets ethically and organically extends to the quality of the cotton we use. At Trees & Hugs, we only use 100% organic cotton. Conventional cotton typically comes from genetically modified seeds meant to produce the most yield, even if it means sacrificing quality. Conventional cotton is also treated with harmful chemicals and pesticides throughout the growing process and goes through a bleaching process after being harvested. With organic cotton, no chemicals or pesticides are used during the growing process. Organic cotton is also not bleached. With our bedding, those harmful chemicals are not entering the environment or your bedroom.
What makes Trees & Hugs cotton the eco-friendly choice?
Our Sheets are made of GOTS certified Organic cotton.
What is GOTS certification?
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is a trusted third-party organization established to promote ecological and social responsibility within the textile industry. Using organic fibers instead of synthetic fibers is better for the environment and prioritizes human health over short-term profitability. In order to be considered organic by GOTS, a minimum of 95% of the fibers used in production must be certified organic. These fibers must also be grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and other GMOs. Organic agriculture practices help sustain the well-being of ecosystems, soils, waterways, and people. All of our cotton is GOTS-certified and 100% organic.
How does long-staple cotton affect the lifespan of your bedding?
In addition to these sourcing requirements, we also only use long staple cotton. When you imagine cotton growing in a field, you no doubt imagine fluffy white puffballs. These puffballs are called the "boll" of the cotton plant. Each boll contains almost 250,000 individual cotton fibers. These fibers are referred to as staples. There are two lengths of staples: short staples, which measure up to 1 1/8", and long staples, which measure above 1 ¼". As staple length increases, the softness of the cotton increases.
Long staple cotton is the best option for sheets. Not only does it provide a silky, luxurious feel, but it also offers increased durability. Through the weaving process, longer fibers create a smoother surface with fewer fiber ends exposed. This reduces the chance of pilling or tearing, allowing the cotton to become softer over time without losing fiber strength.
Thread count and yarn count: balance is the key to the softest, most durable sheets.
Our long staple cotton is harvested and turned into the yarn that makes up our bedsheet sets. The quality of any bedsheet depends on the yarn count, which is the numerical value assigned to yarn to convey how fine or coarse the yarn is. For cotton bedsheets, the yarn count is determined by the number of 840-yard strands that make up one pound. So for example, Trees and Hugs uses 60s yarn meaning that it takes 60 yarns totaling 840 yards to weigh one pound. As the count increases, the yard becomes finer.
However, while higher yarn counts do indicate lighter, softer, smoother textiles, they are not always top-quality. After a certain point, a higher yarn count and thinner thread size can compromise the integrity of the fabric structure. Finding a balance between durability, quality, and softness is the key to creating truly luxury sheets. We have high standards for our cotton and we are proud to say that we found that balance as we think our customers deserve the best.
Trees & Hugs is a small Texas-based startup, but we know we can have a significant impact on the world around us. When we founded our company, we knew we wanted to create quality products without sacrificing our commitment to being environmentally friendly. With our focus on sustainability, we are offering luxury sheets that help our customers feel connected to nature. Our 100% organic cotton sheets are made with high-quality, chemical-free, ethically sourced cotton.