My Shopping Cart
Your cart is currently empty.
Continue ShoppingOur Materials
Natural fibres chosen for comfort, quality and living more naturally.
What we bring into our homes matters.
The sheets we sleep in, the towels we wrap around our skin and the layers we place on our beds are part of everyday life. That is why Ecodownunder has always preferred natural materials wherever practical.
Cotton, organic cotton, linen and wool each have their own qualities, but they have something important in common: they begin in nature rather than as plastic made from fossil fuels.
Since 1997, we have worked to make beautiful, comfortable products from quality natural fibres more accessible at fair everyday prices.
It starts with the material.
Why materials matter
A product can look beautiful on a shelf or in a photograph, but much of how it performs comes down to what it is actually made from.
The material can influence:
-
how a fabric feels against your skin
-
how well it breathes
-
how it manages warmth and moisture
-
how it wears over time
-
how it washes and ages
-
whether it sheds persistent synthetic microfibres
-
what ultimately happens to the material at the end of its useful life
For bedding in particular, materials matter because we spend thousands of hours every year in direct contact with sheets, quilt covers, mattress protectors and other textiles.
We believe understanding those materials should make choosing bedding easier.
Natural fibres
Natural fibres originate from plants or animals rather than being manufactured principally from fossil-fuel-derived polymers.
Some of the natural materials we use include cotton, organic cotton, linen, wool and feather and down.
Each performs differently.
There isn't one perfect fibre for every purpose. The important thing is choosing the right natural material for the job.
Cotton
Naturally comfortable and wonderfully versatile
Cotton is one of the world's most widely used natural fibres, and for good reason.
It can be spun and woven in many different ways, allowing cotton fabrics to range from crisp and lightweight to smooth, soft and luxurious.
We use cotton extensively across our sheets, quilt covers, towels, blankets and other home textiles.
Good cotton bedding can be:
-
breathable
-
comfortable against the skin
-
absorbent
-
easy to care for
-
durable
-
suitable for year-round use
But simply saying something is made from cotton doesn't tell you everything about its quality.
The length and quality of the original cotton fibre, the yarn, weave, finishing and construction all influence the finished fabric.
Explore
Organic cotton
Cotton grown to an organic agricultural standard
Organic cotton is cotton grown according to recognised organic farming standards.
For us, organic cotton is an important material because it provides another way to reduce reliance on conventional chemical-intensive systems while retaining the comfort and versatility that makes cotton so useful around the home.
We use organic cotton across products including sheets, quilt covers, towels, blankets, coverlets and selected bedding.
Where certification applies to a particular product, we believe the certification and scope should be clearly identified rather than making broad or confusing claims.
Explore
Australian wool
Nature's remarkable insulating fibre
Wool has been helping people stay comfortable for thousands of years.
Its natural structure makes it particularly useful for bedding where insulation, moisture management and comfort are important.
We use Australian wool extensively in our Australian-made quilts, mattress toppers, underlays and selected blankets.
Different weights and constructions allow wool bedding to be used through different seasons.
A lightweight wool quilt can provide comfortable warmth through much of the year, while heavier wool fills provide greater insulation for colder conditions.
For mattress toppers and underlays, wool can also create a comfortable natural layer between your body and the mattress.
Explore
Linen
Relaxed, breathable and made to age beautifully
Linen is made from fibres obtained from the flax plant.
It has a distinctive texture and relaxed appearance that becomes part of its appeal.
Linen can feel crisp when new and generally becomes softer with washing and use.
Its breathability makes it particularly well suited to sheets, quilt covers and relaxed bedding, especially in warmer climates.
Pure linen is comparatively expensive to produce, so linen can also be blended with cotton to combine characteristics of both fibres.
The best Linen comes from flax grown in France & Belgium.
Explore
Feather & down
Natural warmth without excessive weight
Feather and down have long been used as natural fillings for quilts and pillows.
Down consists of the soft insulating clusters found beneath the outer feathers of ducks and geese. Its structure traps air efficiently, allowing good-quality down to provide considerable warmth without requiring a very heavy quilt.
We use feather and down in selected Australian-made quilts and pillows.
The ratio of down to feather, fill quality, construction and overall weight all affect the feel, warmth and price of the finished product.
Explore
Natural fibres vs synthetic fibres
Natural and synthetic fibres are fundamentally different.
Cotton and linen come from plants. Wool and down come from animals.
Polyester, nylon and acrylic are manufactured synthetic polymers, most commonly derived from fossil-fuel feedstocks.
That difference matters.
Synthetic fibres have useful applications, but they have become enormously widespread partly because they are inexpensive, consistent and easy to mass manufacture.
For Ecodownunder bedding and home textiles, our preference is natural fibres wherever practical.
We believe bedding should begin with the qualities of the fibre rather than simply the lowest possible manufacturing cost.
A simple way to think about it
NATURAL FIBRES
Plants & animals
↓
Cotton • Linen • Wool • Down
↓
Yarn or natural filling
↓
Bedding & home textiles
SYNTHETIC FIBRES
Oil & gas feedstocks
↓
Plastic polymers
↓
Polyester • Nylon • Acrylic
↓
Synthetic textiles
Learn more: Why Natural Fibres →
Learn more: Polyester →
It isn't just the fibre
Choosing cotton instead of polyester is an important distinction, but fibre content alone does not determine whether a textile is good quality.
How a material is transformed into the finished product also matters.
Fibre quality
Longer, stronger fibres can generally be spun into finer, smoother yarns.
This is one of the reasons two fabrics labelled “100% cotton” can feel completely different.
For our Signature Cotton Sheets, for example, fibre selection, yarn quality and construction are central to achieving the smooth feel and durability we are looking for.
How it is spun and woven
The yarn and weave can dramatically change the character of the same basic fibre.
Cotton can produce crisp hotel-style percale, smooth sateen, textured waffle fabric, absorbent terry towels or heavier woven blankets.
Thread count alone therefore doesn't tell you whether a sheet is good quality.
Fibre quality, yarn, weave and finishing all matter.
Dyes, finishes and treatments
Textiles can undergo numerous processes between the original fibre and the finished product.
These may include:
-
bleaching
-
colouring
-
washing
-
softening
-
crease-resistant treatments
-
surface coatings
-
antimicrobial treatments
-
finishing processes
This is why we believe transparency about textiles should extend beyond marketing terms on the front of the packaging.
Customers should be able to understand what they are buying.
Where and how it is made
Material is only part of the story.
We also consider where products are made, manufacturing quality, the experience of the supplier and the ability to build long-term relationships with manufacturers.
We make products in Australia wherever it is practical and work directly with long-standing manufacturing partners overseas where specialist textile production is required.
Many of our Australian-made products include quilts, pillows, mattress toppers and underlays.
Our sheets, towels, quilt covers and many other textile products are predominantly made by our manufacturing partners in India.
Our approach to choosing materials
Since Ecodownunder began in 1997, our approach has been deliberately practical.
We don't believe sustainability is achieved by chasing a perfect marketing claim.
We believe it comes from continually making better choices.
Our priorities include:
Natural fibres
Choose natural rather than synthetic fibres wherever practical.
Organic where it makes sense
Use certified organic cotton in products where we can deliver the right combination of comfort, quality and affordability.
Australian made where practical
Make products in Australia where local manufacturing capability makes sense, particularly quilts, pillows and other filled bedding.
Quality that lasts
A product that performs well and stays useful for years is preferable to one designed primarily around a low purchase price.
Fewer unnecessary treatments
We prefer materials and processes that allow the natural qualities of the fibre to do the work.
Less plastic
We continue working to reduce unnecessary plastic from our products and packaging.
Fair prices
Natural products shouldn't only be available to a small number of people.
Working directly with manufacturers helps us make better natural choices available at fair everyday prices.
Living with Nature starts with knowing what things are made from
For much of modern life, the materials around us have become almost invisible.
We buy sheets, clothes, rugs, cushions and towels without necessarily asking where the fibre began.
We think that question deserves to become normal again:
What is it made from?
Once you start asking, the difference between natural fibres and synthetic materials becomes much easier to see.
That doesn't mean everything has to be perfect.
It simply means making informed choices where you can.
That is what Living with Nature means to us.
Choosing natural materials.
Buying things that last.
Understanding what comes into your home.
And making better choices, one product at a time.
Explore our materials
Natural Fibres →
Why we prefer materials that begin in nature.
Cotton →
Understand cotton quality, fibre length, yarn and weave.
Organic Cotton
What organic cotton means and where we use it.
Australian Wool
Discover why wool is so well suited to quilts, toppers and bedding.
Linen →
A naturally breathable fibre with distinctive texture and character.
Polyester →
Understand what polyester is, why it is so widely used and how it differs from natural fibres.
Our Products
Shop Ecodownunder bedding, bath and home essentials made with thoughtfully selected materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
What natural materials does Ecodownunder use?
Ecodownunder uses natural materials including cotton, organic cotton, linen, Australian wool and feather and down across different bedding, bath and home products. The exact material varies by product and should be shown in the individual product description.
What are natural fibres?
Natural fibres originate from plants or animals. Examples include cotton and linen from plants, and wool from sheep. They differ from synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon and acrylic, which are manufactured polymers.
Why are natural fibres good for bedding?
Natural fibres such as cotton, linen and wool can provide excellent breathability, comfort and moisture management. Different natural fibres have different characteristics, which makes some more suitable for particular bedding applications than others.
Is cotton a natural fibre?
Yes. Cotton is a plant-based natural fibre obtained from the cotton plant. It can be spun into yarn and woven or knitted into many different textiles, including sheets, quilt covers, towels and blankets.
What is organic cotton?
Organic cotton is cotton grown according to recognised organic agricultural standards. Certification requirements can vary, so Ecodownunder identifies relevant certification at product level rather than assuming every cotton product has the same certification.
Is wool a natural fibre?
Yes. Wool is a natural animal fibre, most commonly obtained from sheep. Its structure makes it particularly useful for products requiring warmth, insulation and moisture management, including quilts, mattress toppers, underlays and blankets.
Is linen a natural fibre?
Yes. Linen is a natural plant fibre made from flax. Linen is valued for its breathability, distinctive texture and ability to soften with use and washing.
Is polyester a natural material?
No. Polyester is a synthetic polymer. Most textile polyester is made from petrochemical feedstocks and is a form of plastic that is spun into fine fibres and made into fabric.
Are all natural fibres sustainable?
Not automatically. Being natural describes where a fibre comes from, not the complete environmental impact of producing it. Farming practices, water and energy use, processing, dyes, treatments, durability, transport and end-of-life all matter. We believe it is more useful to explain these differences clearly than to label every natural product simply “sustainable”.
What is the best material for bed sheets?
There isn't one best material for everyone. Cotton is versatile, comfortable and easy to care for; organic cotton provides an organically grown cotton option; and linen offers a distinctive relaxed texture and excellent breathability. Fibre quality, yarn, weave and construction are also important when comparing sheets.
What should I look for when choosing bedding materials?
Start by checking the fibre composition rather than relying only on marketing terms. Then consider fibre quality, construction, weave, treatments, where the product is made and whether any certification claim applies to that particular product.
Does thread count determine sheet quality?
No. Thread count is only one characteristic of a fabric. The quality and length of the original fibre, yarn quality, weave and finishing can have just as much influence on how sheets feel and perform.