Yakking about winter warmers

First it was rugs, then coats and now it’s environmentally-friendly duvets on my shopping list. Anyone would think winter’s around the corner.

Yes readers, last night the pyjamas under the summer-weight duvet just weren’t enough to keep the chills away, and so it’s time (sigh) to pull out the winter duvet. Only, what’s this I see? Surely not the yellow-ish, faintly embarrassing tell-tale signs of bedding had for too many years to be healthy? Hmm. Caught out.

So, it’s off to find a new option, but what cuts it if I want to be greener? I know my way around the variety of ethical duvet covers on offer, but the thing itself? That’s a new one.

First find is this Natural Winter Duvet from Naturalhome-products.com. The idea is that you select your size, filling and cover from a range of natural, organic and chemical additive-free options.

I select a kingsize version, and am offered three alternatives of filling; organic camel hair, organic Merino lambswool and yak hair.

Organic Merino lambswool, says the guide, is cuddly soft, maintains an even temperature, absorbs moisture well and is self-cleaning. Anything that cleans itself gets my vote! It has a higher warmth rating.

Organic Camel hair down, is ‘surprisingly’ fine, soft and light and counter-balances the temperature of its surroundings to keep a good even temperature. This has the highest warmth rating.

Yak hair down, which just sounds great,  is ultra soft, supple and ‘beautifully fine’ and, being from the Himalayas, is very warm. It has a high warmth rating, but is also very light. I just love the idea that I’m sleeping under Yak. I’m normally sleeping under small cat.

The single-sized duvets also come with the option of animal hair-free raw wild silk filling (doesn’t that sound romantic?) or a cotton filling.

All covers are organic percale cotton, which is good for allergy suffers, is machine washable and releases excess heat and moisture back into the air.

I have to admit, the Yak hair kingsize duvet comes in at an eyewatering £629, which is a shock. Camel hair is £492 and Merino lambswool is £343. This is beginning to feel better.

Hmm, I wonder if I can live with those yellowy patches after all.

Natural Duvets for Winter at naturalhome-products.com