Glossary: Technical Terms Related to Bedding

A

Breathability

The ability of a material to absorb moisture (sweat) and release it to the outside. Natural down belongs to the particularly breathable materials – it actively regulates body temperature and prevents overheating. Breathability is measured, among other things, with the so-called RET value (Resistance to Evaporative Transfer).

B

Loft (Filling power / Cuin)

Loft describes how much volume a down feather takes up – measured in Cuin (Cubic Inch). The higher the Cuin value, the more air is trapped and the better the warmth performance with low weight. Values from about 600 Cuin are considered high quality, from 700 Cuin premium. Traumwelt down products are around 750 Cuin. Loft is a central quality feature for down.

Cover material

The outer fabric of a duvet or a pillow. At Traumwelt, we exclusively use covers made of 100% cotton – breathable, skin-friendly and durable. The weave density of the cover is crucial for mite resistance (→ NOMITE).

C

Cuin (Cubic Inch)

Unit of measurement for the loft of down: the volume in cubic inches that 1 ounce of down takes up under a defined pressure. Orientation: from approx. 600 Cuin high quality, from 700 Cuin premium quality. The higher the Cuin value, the warmer and lighter the duvet.

D

Down

The soft underfeather of waterfowl (mainly geese and ducks). Down feathers have no solid quill, but a three-dimensional, spherical structure made of fine fibers – this makes them an excellent natural insulation material. They store air, regulate moisture and are feather-light.

Down classes

According to the European standard EN 12934, the class describes the quality of the filling: Class I stands for new, cleaned down and feathers. How much down is in the filling is stated separately in percent, for example "90% down / 10% feathers". All Traumwelt down products are filled with new down and feathers of Class I.

DOWNPASS

International certification system for ethically sourced down and feathers. DOWNPASS confirms: no live plucking, no force-feeding, full traceability of the supply chain from the farm to the finished product. All Traumwelt down products are DOWNPASS certified. → More: Sustainability & Animal Welfare

E

EN 12130 / EN 12934

European standards for down and feathers in bedding. EN 12130 regulates the test methods for filling materials, EN 12934 the quality classes and the labeling of the filling – so, for example, whether new down is used and how high the down content is in percent. This makes the information of different manufacturers comparable.

F

Feather

Unlike down, a feather has a solid quill in the middle. Feathers offer more support, but are heavier and less insulating than down. In mixed products (e.g. 90% down, 10% feathers), they give the duvet more structure and volume.

Filling power

→ see Loft or Cuin

Filling quantity

The weight of the filling of a duvet, stated in grams per square meter (g/m²). Typical values: summer duvet 150–300 g/m², all-season duvet 300–450 g/m², winter duvet 450–600+ g/m². The higher the filling quantity, the warmer the duvet – but also heavier.

G

All-season duvet

A duvet with a medium filling quantity, suitable for the whole year – warmer than a summer duvet, lighter than a winter duvet. Ideal for tempered bedrooms between 18 and 22 °C. → Our all-season duvets

K

Cassette quilting

A processing technique for duvets, where the filling is sewn into individual chambers (cassettes). This prevents the filling from bunching up and distributing unevenly. Cassette quilting is a central quality feature of high-quality down duvets – it ensures an even heat distribution over the entire duvet surface.

Pillow firmness

Pillows are classified according to their support: soft (for stomach sleepers), medium (for back sleepers), firm (for side sleepers). Our 3-chamber down pillow combines a soft outer chamber with a firmer inner core – ideal for all sleeping positions.

L

Live plucking

The plucking of down and feathers from live animals – an animal welfare-violating process that is prohibited in Germany and the EU, but is still practiced in some countries. For DOWNPASS certified products, it is checked that no live plucking has taken place.

M

Made in Germany

Label for products manufactured in Germany. At Traumwelt this means: Our bedding is manufactured by German manufacturing partners. Short supply routes, transparent production, European quality standards.

N

NOMITE®

Quality certificate for bedding suitable for house dust allergy sufferers. NOMITE confirms that the cover is woven so tightly that house dust mites can hardly get into the filling. All Traumwelt down products carry the NOMITE certificate.

O

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100

One of the best-known testing labels worldwide for textiles. It confirms that all components of a product – from the filling material to the zipper – have been tested for over 100 harmful substances. The requirements are based on product classes: Class I is the strictest and applies to baby items, Class II for products with direct skin contact. (Not to be confused with down class I according to EN 12934.) All Traumwelt products are certified according to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

P

Primaloft Bio

High-quality synthetic filling fiber as a vegan alternative to natural down. Primaloft Bio is made from recycled materials, according to laboratory tests by PrimaLoft, it breaks down significantly faster than conventional synthetic fibers under landfill and marine conditions (93.8% in 646 days or 76.6% in 973 days under accelerated test conditions) and offers down-like comfort. Machine washable at 60 °C, allergy-friendly and completely animal-free. → More about our materials

S

Sleep climate

The microclimate under the duvet – characterized by temperature and moisture. A good sleep climate is around 33–35 °C and below 50% relative humidity. High-quality down duvets and Primaloft Bio duvets actively regulate the sleep climate and ensure a dry, comfortable sleep.

Summer duvet

Duvet with a low filling quantity for warm seasons and bedrooms from approx. 22 °C. Feather-light and highly breathable. → Our summer duvets

Force-feeding (Gavage)

The forced feeding of geese and ducks to produce fatty liver (Foie gras). Facilities that practice force-feeding are not allowed to produce DOWNPASS certified down. All Traumwelt down comes from facilities without force-feeding.

W

Warmth level

Classification of duvets according to their warmth performance – usually divided into summer, all-season and winter. The warmth level depends on the filling quantity (g/m²) and the loft of the material.

Winter duvet

Duvet with a high filling quantity for cold bedrooms below 18 °C. High warmth performance while maintaining breathability. → Our winter duvets