Many don't know that the culture of how people slept for most of history was quite different from the peaceful slumber we know today. Early hunter-gatherers for instance likely went to sleep only 3.5 hours after sunset, which various tribes follow to this day. Conversely, research shows that our early ancestors only slept for around 6.5 hours each night.
As civilisations started developing, so did the culture of how and for how long people slept. In fact, the earliest bed frame is dated to the time of Ancient Egypt. Perhaps strangely to the modern person, it is recorded that in Ancient and Medieval times people spent their nightly rest in two phases, waking up in the middle of the night for a short period to do household chores, to meditate, and to live married life. This custom started fading out in the 17th century. Before then, most people slept on rudimental stacks of hay covered with cloth, animal skin or fur. Only the wealthiest aristocrats were indulging in the luxuries of more refined bedding, such as velvet, silk, and exotic pelts.
In the 1800s, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the spread of electricity, our ancestors started adopting sleep patterns more familiar to us. It became common to spend the whole night asleep after long days of hard factory work. This was often amidst harsh conditions however. Some workers in Victorian England spent the night hanging over a rope in mid-air in crowded labourer housing, which is where the term "hungover" originates from.
Over the ages stacks of hay were replaced by rudimentary mattresses and quilts, often stuffed with makeshift materials, like cloth. Eventually the feathers and down of various bird species provided the soft feeling we know and love today. In the 20th century bed frames became commonplace and since the 1960s people have been conscious of the type of bedding they chose. Bedding became a marker of social status by then, with coconut and other natural fibres, rubber, sponge, and metal springs all becoming staple components of distinct mattress designs. In recent years, more and more special synthetic and natural materials and fillings have also been making their way into our beds. Many new types of duvets and pillows are on the market. Everyone can find the one that suits them best.
At FLEIR’S, we learn the lessons of history. Using our many decades of professional experience and knowledge we push modern high-end materials to their very limit. We are committed to exceeding all expectations, and to ensuring a restful night of sleep. Our pillows and duvets are filled with the highest quality Hungarian goose down.
Our bedding allows you to sleep better than either an Egyptian Pharaoh or a modern day billionaire.