Kalusha : Linen Cot Sheets and Baby Clothing

Motherhood

Aug 19

Written By Innes

I don’t think there are many things more wonderful than sleeping in linen sheets. They’re soft, beautiful and durable, making bedding that feels wonderful to sleep in and looks perfect for years on end. Linen can be washed over and over without looking worn, and even gets softer the more you use it. And my personal favourite… it actually looks better unironed.

I’ve spoken recently on Instagram about the benefits of natural fibres for children, and linen is top of my list for them. It’s breathable, cool in summer, warm in winter, and gentle on their skin. Perhaps most importantly, its durability means it will last through several children without wearing. We have a few vintage linen pieces that still look practically new, despite being decades old.

There are plenty of places to buy wonderful linen sheets out there - you can find some of my favourites here - but it can be difficult to find good quality linen cot sheets for children, especially ethically made ones. I’ve hunted for some for ages, and there just aren’t many European makers.

That’s when I discovered Kalusha, a small family-run company that makes children’s clothing, bedding and toys with sustainable and ethical values. The linen (or flax, to be precise) that goes into making their bedding and small clothing collection is produced organically in France and Belgium and then woven and sewn by a small manufacturer in Lithuania. I love that they keep manufacturing processes as close together as possible, to reduce CO2 emissions. They also make beautiful wooden toys. To learn more about how European linen is grown and manufactured, you can watch this video.

Kalusha’s designs are timeless, and it’s wonderful that they have decided not to produce seasonal collections, focusing instead on classic pieces that will last many years. This slow, sustainable ethos is exactly what I want for our family.

Our review of kalusha linen cot bedding and clothing

The lovely owner, Tanya, sent Clem a set of their cot bedding and a linen blanket to try out, and Margot has been wearing one of her capsule linen romper collection, the Carolie.

While it’s difficult to get a detailed review out of a boisterous two year old, when I recently tucked Clem into his new bedding he did comment that it felt “like a cloud”, so there’s that! Arguably more importantly, I have found the sheets a dream to launder. If you have kids, you know that durability is so important, especially with sheets. Clem isn’t consistently dry at nap and night time, and he also recently managed to cover the fitted sheet in an entire tub of baby balm. Much to my surprise the sheet withstood a hot wash (despite going against the care instructions) and came out looking just as perfect as it did before it went in.

The blanket has been a particular surprise. We’ve just come out of a scorching heatwave in the UK, and Clem’s room was getting very hot. He’s become very particular about being tucked in tightly all around his legs, and it was great to have something on hand that we could tuck him into without him getting incredibly hot. It would make a great blanket to take with you when travelling, as it’s lightweight and breathable whilst still being able to do a great job of keeping little one comfy and warm.

The little Carolie romper has also been a wonderful addition to our burgeoning romper collection. It’s beautifully made, just like the sheets, and has been easy for Margot to wear and move in. The pink is the most beautiful soft, neutral pink. It did ever so slightly fade in the first wash, though Tanya let me know that this is normal since the dyes are natural.

As you might expect, when you’re looking at beautiful quality, there is a price tag. Kalusha’s pieces have a high price point, and that will put them out of reach of some. Having said that, they will last you many years. I have no doubt they’d go through several children, perhaps longer if they were carefully looked after. I can even see them lasting more than one generation, which is a wonderful thought. If you are able to bring these into your home, they really are well worth the investment.

You can find Kalusha here and on Instagram.

The linen sheets, blanket and romper featured in this article were gifted to me for review. All opinions are my own.