Parachute Heritage Tencel Bedding: I’ve tried it

Although it may not seem like it yet, spring is here and it’s time to change your bedding accordingly. The hot temperatures will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to be stuck in a steam room in a set of flannel sheets on a summer night. Instead, you’ll want to opt for cooling materials and lightweight liners to help regulate your body temperature and look airy on your bed. For that we usually turn to Parachute. Our editors are longtime fans of their cloud-like quilts and other luxurious offerings, so you can imagine our excitement when we learned the brand had launched a brand new material just in time for spring and summer. As a lover of all things linen, I jumped at the chance to try the Heirloom Tencel Linen and knew right away that it would be on my bed until fall. And, of course, because it’s a Parachute, it looks oh-so stylish.

Parachute’s new Heirloom Tencel Linen material is a bit of an anomaly — it’s cool and smooth to the touch, yet has the relaxed, slightly wrinkled finish that linen is known for. It is made from a blend of European flax linen and Tencel lyocel fibers, the former of which is sustainable, biodegradable and made in a closed manufacturing process to reduce waste. The fresh collection includes everything you need to make your bed, including sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases, all made with temperature regulation and breathability in mind, so you can rest easy knowing you won’t overheat during the night. As for the sheet set, you can buy the whole set which includes the top sheet or opt to forgo the top sheet, which is what I did. You also have the choice between open side pillowcases or back envelope pillowcases.

I actually also received the Heirloom Tencel Linen sheet set and matching comforter in the color “Bone”. Although I have colleagues who don’t like the lived-in look and feel of the bedding, I like it and think it makes my bedding look more elegant. Parachute’s new material did not disappoint in this regard; it’s actually softer and not as wrinkled as some other linens I’ve tested, although the pillowcases were quite wrinkled when they came out of the dryer. However, after a few quick passes with my clothes pair, they were back to normal. I quickly fitted my mattress and pillows into a sheet set and then proceeded to put my comforter into the duvet cover, which was pretty easy thanks to the button opening on the comforter. When I spread the duvet over the bed, I found that the Tencel linen fabric had a fantastic drape – it lay across my bed looking perfectly airy and fluffy. I also like the sand beige color of the set, although I might try breaking it up with pink or green over a top sheet or accent pillow later. That’s another plus — a neutral shade is so easy to mix and match.

Now, on to the most important question: did the bedding make me cold? For reference, I often fall asleep with the thermostat set to 73 degrees and wake up in the middle of the night to turn it off because I start to sweat. Since I’ve had this sheet and comforter combo on my bed, that hasn’t happened. I sleep through the night without waking up, which may not be great for my electric bill right now, but it will come into its own in the summer. I also slept soundly because I’m not turning and adjusting constantly to find cool spots underneath me — every spot is cool! Even under the comforter, I don’t feel suffocated or suffocated. In other words, the new material delivers exactly what it promises.

Despite its impressive cooling properties, Parachute’s Heirloom Tencel Linen can still be used all year round, especially if you like to sleep. Get your sheet or comforter set ahead of summer and experience a cool (and stylish) night’s sleep firsthand.

Buy: Heirloom Tencel Linen Duvet Cover Set, Queen, $359