Linen

Pure French flax, with nothing blended into it. Linen is a hollow fibre, so it moves heat and moisture away faster than cotton does — which is why one set covers August and January — and unlike most cloth it improves with washing instead of wearing out. It starts with more texture than cotton and gives a little of that up every wash.

Five colourways: Snow, Natural, Mist, Moss Green and Terracotta. Linen pillowcase pairs from £25, fitted sheets from £70, linen duvet covers from £95, and full sets from £75 for a single to £340 for a super king with the insert. Single, double, king and super king throughout, with pillowcases sold as pairs or singly in both standard and king size. Washing and drying it is covered on the care guide, and if you want linen on some parts of the bed and cotton on others, the bedding bundle builder mixes fabrics inside one bundle.

Not a UK bed, or not a listed table? Linen bedding and linen table cloths are cut to order, so a continental size or an odd table can be made to your measurements.