When you’re a company dedicated to creating better sleep experiences for the plus-size community, stopping at the mattress would be insane, so we spent years (yes, years) discussing, designing, and bringing to life sheets that not only meet our high quality standards, but also specifically cater to bigger bodied sleepers and couples.
We started with researching fabrics. Our sheets needed to be cool, breathable and luxuriously soft, something worthy of our plus-size kings and queens. We looked at everything from Bamboo to certified organic Cotton, but we landed on TENCEL™ Lyocell.
Maybe that’s not a name you’ve heard before? Well, it turns out that lyocell is a pretty amazing natural fiber! TENCEL™ Lyocell is like the superhero of textiles, fighting for comfort and sustainability in the bedding and clothing industry.
You see, lyocell is made from natural materials, like trees. But don't worry, no rainforests were harmed in the making of this fabric! The forests are sustainably grown and harvested. Lyocell is made primarily from eucalyptus (as well as other wood pulp) which is transformed into fibers using a process that recycles almost all the solvents and water used.
That means it's eco-friendly and saves resources!
But the best part is that lyocell feels like a dream. It's super soft and gentle on your skin. It's like snuggling with a fluffy bunny or sleeping on a cloud. Plus, it's breathable and great at wicking away moisture , so you won't feel sweaty or uncomfortable.
It's the perfect fabric for everything from pajamas to fancy dresses to... you guessed it… cool to the touch bedding sets!!!
Here are some of the key benefits of TENCEL™ Lyocell and why we think it has helped us craft bedding worthy of our BFFs:
Soft and Cooling: We like our mattresses supportive and our sheets comforting, it’s that simple. Lyocell cooling sheet sets feel incredibly soft against the skin, with a silky-smooth texture without the durability and environmental issues of actual silk. It is also light weight and highly breathable (unlike most higher thread count fabrics like cotton), making it a more comfortable choice for sheets and pillowcases. This breathability helps prevent uncomfortable overheating or sweating.
Moisture Absorption: Night sweats remain the actual worst… so again, we love Lyocell for its amazing moisture wicking properties, which means that it can absorb sweat and moisture quickly, keeping your body temperature down and you dry while you sleep.
Durability: Tossing and turning in your sheets? If you’re on the Big Fig mattress it’s not because you can’t sleep…but we definitely don’t judge if you’re a little rough on your sheets. Lyocell can withstand wear and tear without losing its quality. These fibers have a high tensile strength, which means Lyocell can withstand stretching and pulling without breaking.
This property is important for fabrics that are frequently washed or used, as it prevents them from tearing or becoming misshapen over time. Lyocell sheets are also colorfast. The efficient dye uptake and smooth fiber surface of TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers make the colors appear brighter and perceptibly more intense than those of cotton fabrics even after multiple washes.
Hypoallergenic: Are you the sensitive type? Ok is your SKIN on the sensitive side? Lyocell is naturally hypoallergenic, which means that it is less likely to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. This makes it a great option for people with sensitive skin.
Lyocell also has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties, which make it resistant to the growth of bacteria and mold (gross). This means that fabrics made from Lyocell are less likely to develop unpleasant odors, even after multiple uses.
They’re Not Just Better For Plus-Size Sleepers, They Are Better For Our Planet!
Lyocell is made from renewable raw materials, and the manufacturing process uses less water and energy compared to other fabrics. This makes it a more sustainable choice for environmentally conscious consumers and we’re here for it!
TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers have gained an impressive reputation for their environmentally responsible closed loop production process, which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers with high resource efficiency and low ecological impact. This solvent-spinning process recycles process water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%! We’re honestly in awe.
This economically viable manufacturing process received the European Award for the Environment from the European Commission in the category “The Technology Award for Sustainable Development”. And if you will get super technical with us for just a moment, TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers have been certified as Bio-based by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Moreover, all TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber production sites operate according to a certified Environmental Management and Occupational Health and Safety system (ISO14001, ISO45001).
And they didn’t stop there… carbon-zero TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers actually contribute to reducing carbon emissions. To make it official, they are third party certified by means of carbon emission reduction and respective compensation measures. These fibers contribute to protecting the environment and reducing climate change, as they are developed according to three environmental pillars:
- lower carbon emission levels from production to reduce carbon footprint,
- increased use of renewable energy sources at TENCEL™ production sites, and
- support of verified global carbon reduction projects to compensate for fiber-related emissions that are not yet avoidable.
Finally, (cue the big finish) derived from the raw material wood – a product of nature – all TENCEL™ standard lyocell fibers have been certified as biodegradable and compostable under industrial, home, soil, fresh water and marine conditions, thus they can fully revert back to nature. This means we've crafted both comfortable and sustainable bed sheets.
A few more notes about the Big Fig Cooling Lyocell Bed Sheets
Looking for oversized bed sheets? Big Fig is the first and only mattress designed specifically for bigger figures, so OBVIOUSLY when it came time to launch some coordinating bed sheets we were not going to give you sheets you could just buy off any old marketplace… so aside from an amazing fabric choice, we’ve made a few other key design choices that make Big Fig Cooling Lyocell Bed Sheets perfect for heavier sleepers and larger bodied couples.
It starts with the fitted sheet. Sorry we haven’t solved how to fold one easily… the struggle is real. BUT we did solve how to keep them from popping off your mattress with each toss or turn. The Big Fig fitted sheet has deeper pockets to go further around the base of the mattress.
Then we added elastic bands at each corner to further lock the fitted sheet in place, especially when it’s used with an adjustable base.
We’ve also given you more to love when it comes to a top sheet (or flat sheet), literally. Our extra wide top sheets are several inches bigger than the traditional flat sheets. Why is this perfect for plus-size couples? Because nobody likes battling with their partner for sheet coverage each night.
We can’t stop them from hogging the sheets entirely, but we can give you a better shot at keeping everyone covered and cozy! And they come in a range of sizes from twin to split king.
While we hope you’re pairing your Big Fig sheets with the mattress designed specifically to support you, we understand if you’re still doing some research. To learn more about what makes our mattress different, read more here. But you can also check out pillows, body pillows and more bedding products from the brand dedicated to making sure that everybody and every body gets a better night’s sleep.
