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The following article was sourced from a Wikipedia page at the following address: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duvet DUVETS
A duvet, also known as a doona in Australian English, or a continental quilt (or simply quilt) in British English, or a comforter in American English, is a type of bedding. It consists of a soft flat bag filled with down, feathers, wool, silk or a synthetic alternative and protected with a removable cover, analogous to a pillow and pillow case. Duvets originated in rural Europe and were made from the down feathers of the eider duck, known for its usefulness as a thermal insulator. HISTORY In the mid-18th century, Thomas Nugent, an Englishman on a grand tour then passing through Westphalia, observed with surprise: "There is one thing very particular to them, that they do not cover themselves with bed-clothes, but lay one feather-bed over, and another under. This is comfortable enough in winter, but how they can bear their feather-beds over them in summer, as is generally practised, I cannot conceive." DESCRIPTION Duvets reduce the complexity of making a bed, as it is a single covering instead of the combination of bed sheets, blankets, and quilts or other bed covers. The duvet itself fits into a specially made cover, usually of cotton or a cotton-polyester blend. The duvet cover is removed and laundered as often as the bottom sheet and pillow cases. The duvet itself may be cleaned much more rarely, and depending on its contents, may require specialist dry cleaning. A modern duvet, like a sleeping bag, may be filled with down or feathers of various quality and cost, or silk, wool, cotton, or artificial fibres such as polyester batting. A duvet is not to be confused with a comforter, a US term for what was traditionally known in English as an eiderdown but is now only rarely used in the UK. While comforters go on top of the traditional sheets and blankets, duvets are used by themselves. REGIONAL VARIATIONS Duvets are the most common form of bed covering, especially in northern Europe. They became popular throughout the world in the late 20th century. Originally this was the standard name used across Australia. Now, however, particularly in eastern regions, a duvet is often called a "doona", which is the brand name created by Kimptons (Northern Feather). The Tontine Group acquired the trademark in 1991 when Pacific Dunlop took over the company. "Doona" is derived from the equivalent common Scandinavian term "dyne" (or dyner) and was popularized by the retailer IKEA in the 1970s. In Asian countries like India and Pakistan, duvets are known as "ralli quilts" or razai. In some European countries, particularly in Scandinavian countries, any thick, warm blanket may be called a duvet. STANDARDS AND SIZES Modern manufacturing conventions have resulted in a large number of sizes and standards. THERMAL PERFORMANCE (TOG RATING) Manufacturers rate the performance of their duvets in togs, a measurement of thermal insulation. This enables the purchaser to select a duvet appropriate to the season: the higher the tog rating, the warmer the duvet. A few manufacturers have marketed combined duvet sets, one of approximately 4.5 tog and one of approximately 9.5 tog. The light-weight one is for summer and the medium one for autumn; snapped together, 14 togs is designed for winter. IN POPULAR CULTURE The term "duvet day" is used in some countries to describe an allowance of one or more days a year when employees can simply phone in and say that they are not coming in to work, even though they have no leave booked and are not ill. The provision of this benefit became fashionable in the late 1990s with many larger companies in the UK. For more information about duvets, please click on the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duvet |
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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duvet
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