DESIGN & QUALITY
DESIGN
TIMELESS
The majority of our home textiles are made in a simple and classic design, ensuring that both bedding and clothing retain an attractive appearance as long as their durability. Some designs are over 100 years old, while others are new, seamlessly blending timeless classics with modern needs in the finest way.
QUALITY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Bedding is the soul of Geismars. Our starting point is that everything we sleep on should be light and allow for freedom of movement. What we sleep on can be both light and substantial, as long as it is made from the finest fibers – a hallmark of all our products. Our duvet covers are designed with cotton ties, allowing them to be washed, rolled, and ironed without issue, even at high temperatures. The ties shrink just like the cover, ensuring that the closure and seams do not become skewed over time.
QUALITY IS FOR EVERYONE
Our duvet covers generally feature a bottom closure. Additionally, we stock duvet covers with side closures, which allow the cover to be flipped and wear evenly at both ends, extending its lifespan. If a different size or closure is desired, such as buttons, an additional charge of 20% applies. We can accommodate almost any request for custom measurements, and we make covers in German, Swedish, English, and American sizes – simply contact us via email at: info@geismars.dk.
BINDING THEORY – FUN FACT
A.F. Geismar, son of our founder C.F. Geismar, was the principal of the Danish Weaving School and an expert in weaving techniques. His book "Binding Theory" from 1929 is still available at major antiquarian bookshops, and it continues to be referenced at both the Design School of Denmark in Copenhagen and the Design School in Kolding.
QUALITY
THE THREAD COUNT MYTH
"Thread count" is a term often seen in connection with bedding. Thread count (TC) refers to the number of threads per inch (2.5 cm) of fabric. A high TC is said to indicate the best fabric, but since the calculation varies widely and is opaque, it is not a quality parameter at Geismars. You can have a high thread count but still have a poor-quality raw material.
Instead, we focus on other more measurable quality indicators, which are:
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Fiber quality (the raw material)
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Yarn spinning
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Yarn quality
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Thread construction
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Finishing
1. FIBER QUALITY:
The quality of a plant fiber, like cotton, depends on the length and fineness of the fiber. The longer the fiber, the stronger and finer the thread will be. Egyptian cotton provides the longest cotton fiber, while American cotton offers medium quality, and Indian/Chinese cotton is of much lower quality. The fiber length of Egyptian cotton ranges from 30 to 50 mm, while the Asian variety is 10 to 20 mm, and the American is in between. Geismars exclusively uses Egyptian cotton for our bedding, duvet covers, and terry towels. Our tablecloths are made from American cotton, as tablecloths do not require the same softness as bedding and towels.
2. YARN SPINNING:
Yarn is a general term for a strand of textile fibers. Natural fibers with limited length must be spun together to create yarn. There are two ways to spin yarn: Ring spinning and Rotor spinning. Ring spinning involves a parallelization process, while rotor spinning simply blows the fibers onto one another. Ring spinning requires many more processes, but it results in a much more consistent yarn, which is smoother and more even. Geismars exclusively uses combed yarns that are ring-spun for the best results.
3. YARN QUALITY:
Yarn numbering systems are based on either the length or the weight of the yarn. In length numbering (Nm), the yarn number is determined by the length of one gram of yarn – the higher the number, the finer the yarn. In weight numbering (Tex), the yarn number is determined by the weight of 1,000 meters of yarn, with a lower number indicating finer yarn. Geismars does not specify yarn numbers but instead uses grams per square meter (gr/m²) for all our products. This allows our customers to verify the weight and experience for themselves how lightweight our linens truly are.
4. THREAD CONSTRUCTION:
Thread construction expresses how the yarn is built and whether the product is made from single or twisted threads. Geismars exclusively uses single yarns, which is only possible because we use Egyptian cotton. The highest number of threads per inch (TC) for single yarns is 360. A higher TC comes from twisted yarns, which generally result in coarser products. A higher number of threads in a product does not necessarily indicate a better product.
5. FINISHING:
Once the yarns are woven into fabric, the finishing process begins. First, the fabric undergoes washing, which improves its ability to absorb dye and reduces shrinkage. Then, "burning off" and "calendering" take place. Burning off removes any irregularities to ensure an even surface without knots. Calendering is done under pressure to strengthen the fabric and give it a sheen. Linen of lower quality rarely undergoes these finishing processes, but at Geismars, we always apply them to ensure the highest quality.
There are countless ways to create a great product, but it’s important to remember that price and quality usually go hand in hand. Therefore, we can guarantee that Geismars linens are a good investment. We’ve been crafting the finest products since 1866, and that will continue to be our goal.