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Linen

SPOTLIGHT ON: Fabric interior design trends

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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SPOTLIGHT ON: Fabric interior design trends

As part of Hotel Designs’ month of putting interior design in the spotlight, Mitre Linen breaks down some of the emerging trends in fabric design… 

Sustainability, classic neutral tones and tactile fabrics are key themes in interior design this year. The hospitality industry continues to adopt an environmentally friendly approach to all aspects of business operations. Warm and understated palettes complete this trend, projecting a calming and relaxing atmosphere for guests, which can be augmented with a luxurious touch of velvet.

Sustainability

Recent research from Mitre Linen reveals that 75 per cent* of hoteliers believe that environmental initiatives are now expected by guests and the desire to be more ethical in source has reached furnishings, with sustainable fabrics increasing in demand.  The new Mitre Eco range was developed in response to exactly this business need. The soft 100% per cent organic cotton bed linen has a 200 thread count, while the duvets and pillows are filled with hollowfibre created from 100 per cent recycled plastic, redirecting plastics from landfills and oceans. Mitre Linen’s Eco duvets and pillows also complies with OEKO-TEX 100, certifying the range’s skin-friendly properties.

Warm Neutrals

The return to a classic neutral palette is a subtle shift from the dominance of cooler grey tones that have pervaded colour schemes in recent years.  Creating a warmer ambiance within a hotel, these colours offer a timeless and stylish touch.  Mitre Linen recently launched two new soft furnishing ranges: Deco and Tundra, to allow a larger choice of colourways for hoteliers wanting to update their rooms.

Velvet Touch

Texture has a striking impact in a room and there is no other fabric quite like velvet to impart an opulent feel. A velvet cushion or bed runner will immediately convey luxury and indulgence.  The rich colours of the Mitre D’Arcy range of velvet cushions complement this material perfectly and work well to add a touch of luxe to natural colourways.

*Mitre connects research with 142 hoteliers conducted in March 2019

Mitre Linen is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

Main image credit: Mitre Linen

On Her Majesty’s service: Mitre Linen awarded renewal of Royal Warrant

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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On Her Majesty’s service: Mitre Linen awarded renewal of Royal Warrant

Mitre Linen has announced that it has once again been awarded Her Majesty The Queen’s Royal Warrant…

Mitre Linen, one of the country’s leading suppliers of bed linen, bedding, towelling products and soft furnishings to the hospitality industry in the UK and beyond, is delighted to announce it has once again been awarded Her Majesty The Queen’s Royal Warrant.

“I am absolutely thrilled to share the news that Mitre Linen has again been granted a Royal Warrant, which is a testament to the outstanding customer service and quality products the company is renowned for,”Nisbets Group CEO Klaus Goeldenbot said. “I congratulate the team at Mitre for all their hard work in earning this great honour from the Royal Household of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

Based in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, Mitre Linen has proudly held HM The Queen’s Royal Warrant since 1955.  As Royal Warrants are reviewed every five years, this now confirms that Mitre Linen will hold the honour until 2025.

Mitre Linen’s General Manager, Kate Gough said: “Our team work so hard to ensure we meet the high levels of quality and service required to earn this honour, so we are really proud to be recognised in this way.”

The company has a reputation for quality and reliability, and supplies its extensive range of products to the hospitality, leisure, education, healthcare and laundry industries worldwide.

By embracing innovation, Mitre Linen has remained at the forefront of design and product developments in the field of textiles for over 70 years.  Recent developments have included the launch of its Eco range of bedding and towelling, made from ethically-produced, recycled and organic products.

The company was established in 1946 in Wardrobe Place by St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London. The name ‘Mitre’ comes from the elaborate headwear the bishop of the church wore. Mitre was first awarded a Royal Warrant in 1955. In 2000, the company relocated to Wales. In 2016, Mitre Linen was acquired by Nisbets Group.

Mitre Linen is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

The need for tip top linen in hotel design

 900 600 Hamish Kilburn
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Recommended Supplier Tip Top Linen explains the need for quality linen in all hotels. Hotel Designs dives a little deeper to find out more about what the company offers… 

The real indication of any hotel is rated on how well its guests’ sleep. As well as considering a decent bed, and comfortable soft furnishings, the overall sleep quality will be factored on the quality of the bed linen. We caught up with recommended supplier Tip Top Linen recently to understand more.

Hotel Designs: What material testing / testing process do you employ to ensure that your linen is of the highest quality for the hotel market?

Tip Top Linen: We have many different style of linen. Selecting which one is suitable for each hotel very much depends on which tier the hotel is. We have 70/30 cotton rich or we have 100 per cent cotton, we have suppliers who serve the likes of The Savoy and have history who have industry knowledge about the quality of the linen products

HD: How long do your linens tend to last in a hotel environment and how often should a hotel replace their linens?

TTL: This question has so many factors from the hotel cleaners and managers to the hotel owner having an input on their own quality, look and feel. linen can be changed on a daily basis which will have an impact on the life span of the product to clients changing weekly basis so one/two washes a week so the product will last longer.

The serviceable lifespan of textiles is not easy to specify as it can depend on a number of factors. The most important being the number and severity of the wash processes along with the degree of abuse by the end user. Stock control also has a significant bearing on the life of the individual product. For example, if the hotel is issued with 50,000 clean sheets in six months and the provider has to purchase 500 sheets to make up for losses, then the average textile life is 50,000/500 = 100 wash and use cycle

HD: What linen colours do you work with and why? And, are some colour fabrics better suited to certain parts of the hotel than others i.e. bedroom vs. restaurant?

We work with only white linen for hotels. And table linen varies on customers choice.

Established in 1988, Tip Top Linen Services Ltd has a track record second to none in meeting the needs of restaurants, hotels, event organisers, catering companies and airlines.

With more than two decades of providing linen of high quality to the hotel and catering industry, meeting the needs of these businesses with particular taste and requirements, Tip Top Laundy & Linen hire has learned that attention to detail is everything, from timely deliveries to ease of ordering.

Tip Top Linen is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

Main image credit: Tip Top Linen

Mitre Linen launches eco range

 800 533 Hamish Kilburn
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Royal Warrant holder Mitre Linen has launched a new range of eco-friendly bedlinen, towels, duvets, pillows and robes…

The Eco Collection from Mitre Linen has been made to the company’s exacting standards from ethically produced recycled and natural products to create a range of exceptional bedding and towelling products. “With consumers becoming increasingly aware of green issues, responsible sourcing is a vital part of a modern hospitality business.” explains Mitre Linen General Manager, Kate Gough. “The Mitre Eco Collection allows our customers to help protect the planet, without compromising on the ultimate in terms of style and comfort.”

 The launch follows months of research and development during which time the Mitre team has been investigating and sourcing the finest eco-friendly products to ensure that the finished collection is green to its core. This helps deliver on the company’s famous commitment to quality, comfort and durability.

Made from 100 per cent organic cotton and with a 200 thread count, Mitre Eco bed linen is a classic, crisp white range that feels beautiful and soft to the touch. The cotton also conforms to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certificate which means it is guaranteed to be free from potential skin irritants.

The pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers are all made from organic cotton grown in a sustainable way to help support the bio-diversity of local ecosystems in the countries of origin. The cultivation methods ensure that farmers are not exposed to pesticides and chemicals. The new Mitre Eco soft and generous towels are also made from 100 per cent organic cotton in high quality 500gsm.

The range comes in a selection of sizes and is designed to fit well and launder superbly, making it ideal for all hospitality applications.

Mitre Eco duvets and pillows have fillings made from recycled plastic bottles which are extruded into soft, non-allergenic fibres. This process produces around 70 per cent fewer carbon dioxide emissions, uses 70 per cent less water and 40 per cent less energy compared to standard fibre production, but is as soft and warm as traditionally manufactured alternatives.

The new range is consistent with Mitre’s continuing commitment to reducing negative impact on the environment. This is further highlighted by the new brochure which includes nearly 1000 new lines and is printed on recyclable paper using solvent-free ink and which is wrapped in 100% recyclable oxo-degradable polythene.

With Mitre’s commitment to green issues being part of a growing trend, Gough feels that the range is being launched at a time when businesses are increasingly taking their environmental responsibilities seriously: “There has been a shift in the hospitality industry as a whole, as operators move towards responsible sourcing in response to consumer demand for greater environmental awareness.  We are proud to be able to contribute towards this important trend with the new Eco-Collection which brings quality green products to hoteliers everywhere.”

For further information on the new Eco range, or to download the latest catalogue, please visit www.mitrelinen.co.uk

Mitre Linen is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

In Conversation with: Fabrics experts at Mitre Linen

 800 533 Hamish Kilburn
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Concluding our month of putting Fabrics in the spotlight, editor of Hotel Designs Hamish Kilburn sat down with the general manager of Mitre Linen, Kate Gough, to explore more around trends and how the company is moving with modern times…

Personally, I’m a soft pillow kind of man – take from that what you will. My colleague to the left of me on the other hand disagrees entirely and insists that without a hard pillow in a hotel he will not sleep a wink. A hotel that claims to be luxury that does not offer a good night’s sleep is not somewhere guests will rush back to check in to after they’ve checked out. Therefore, keeping the pillow options open to all and investing in good linen will go far to ensuring your guests have a comfortable stay.

As technology continues to evolve, and while interior trends flow into the duvet, I sat down with linen experts Mitre Linen to put the topic into perspective.

Hamish Kilburn: How has the company evolved with technology moving forwards?

Kate Gough: Over the years, we have built a reputation for quality and reliability that has earned us the honour of HM The Queen’s Royal Warrant, which we have proudly held since 1955. Over the past 70 years, we have seen many changes within the industry, including major technological advances which have had a significant impact on many areas of our business, however, our key focus remains the same – offering exceptional customer service.

We work as hard as ever to ensure that anyone who contacts the Mitre team is left feeling delighted. Our friendly team, based in Merthyr Tydfil, in the heart of the Welsh valleys, has always been at the end of the phone to take orders, or offer advice and support to our customers. For those who prefer to, online orders can be placed quickly and easily via our new website, with a convenient Fast Order option available for those in a hurry, while those seeking advice or with product queries can take advantage of our new online LiveChat feature, which is available Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm.

We have created a selection of handy online Mitre Guides which is easily accessed via our website, helping our customers to make the right product choices for their needs. We also give online insight into the latest industry trends with our regularly updated Mitre Articles, which offer valuable advice from our experts, on topics such as the effective use of colour in hotel rooms, and tips on how to create a hygienic sleep environment.

The average person produces one to two pints of sweat every night

HK: What are your thoughts on the pillow menu?

KG: The right pillow is essential to a comfortable night’s sleep – pillow menus are easy to create and can be as simple as offering the option of either a hard and soft pillow, depending on a guest’s personal preference. Mitre Linen offers a wide variety of pillow styles and constructions available to suit the desires of any sleeper, and we are happy to guide you in your choices, making it easy for your business to provide the perfect pillow menu.

Our best-selling Comfort Palace Pillow features Quallofil extra life fibre which keeps it thick and plump, whilst ensuring a longer lifespan. The flame-retardant pillow is highly resistant to flattening, maintaining its shape after every use whilst retaining its soft profile, ensuring it’s quick and easy to achieve a welcoming bed. The Comfort Palace Pillow makes a great soft option for a pillow menu.

The Comfort Ultraloft Pillow would be ideal as a firm option for a pillow menu. With a Hollowfibre fill, its thick, plump design has a weight of 850g. Covered in durable polycotton, it’s designed to last through regular heavy-duty use, and is flame retardant.

We would also recommend that a pillow menu include at least one microfibre option, in order to offer the comfortable feel of feather and down without the risk of allergy. Mitre Linen’s Luxury Microfibre pillows are available in soft and firm variants, have 100% cotton covers with a 233 thread count, and conform perfectly to the head and neck to offer soft and comfortable support.

For further information, see our detailed pillow guide.


HK: How often should hotels replace bed linen?

KG: Bed linen such as duvet covers and sheets should be replaced at the first sign of wear and tear. Within two years, one third of a pillow’s weight is made up of dead skin, dust mites, oil and dirt and considering that the average person produces one to two pints of sweat every night, then pillows and duvets should be regularly replaced.  Protectors are invaluable to prolong the life of mattresses, duvets and pillows. Not only do they provide a more hygienic sleeping environment for your guests as they can be regularly washed, but they also extend the life of bedding which is a significant investment for a business.

HK: What are your thoughts on colourful bed sheets in the hotel guestroom?

KG: Our white satin polycotton range is our biggest seller, and whilst recent Mitre Connects* hotelier feedback confirmed that white bedlinen is perennially popular, we did note quite a few comments requesting a larger range of good quality colourful bed linen. In response to this valuable feedback we have added colour options into our Egyptian Cotton Range – our gorgeous 100% cotton percale bedlinen is now also available in ruby red, raisin, blush pink, lead grey and saffron yellow, as well as our ever popular white.

HK: What advice would you give to hotels when it comes to caring for bed linen?

KG: Freshly laundered, pristine, smooth and crease free bedlinen always rates highly for guests when they stay at a hotel so for those who launder on site, here are some care tips:

Always wash cotton bedlinen before use, at 50°C or 60°C. Expect 4-8 per cent shrinkage (Mitre Linen sizing allows for this). Hot iron when slightly damp to give a crisp finish. Don’t bleach, as this will reduce the life of the product. Soak stained bedding in water if immediate laundering is not possible.

Wash polycotton bedlinen at 50°C. Use a detergent intended for colours (to avoid colour fade due to OBA build up). A light iron is suggested.

For further advice on laundry care, please refer to our Linen Care Guide at www.mitrelinen.co.uk/care-guide.

*MITRE CONNECTS SURVEY 2018 – The Mitre Connects Survey presents survey data from nearly 300 hospitality industry professionals. The answers provided offer a vital insight into the industry’s concerns on topics that affect day-to-day business and future planning for the hospitality industry.

Mitre Linen are one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

Tyndale

Torquay B&B Tyndale wins AA 5 stars after Mitre Linen makeover

 615 459 Daniel Fountain
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A boutique B&B in Torquay has been given an AA 5 stars B&B award plus a breakfast award thanks to the help of a Mitre Linen makeover. Daniel Kilik and Andrew Burton run Tyndale, a contemporary boutique B&B in the coastal resort.

They invited Mitre Linen to work closely with them to help them achieve a unique look for each of their guest rooms. Laura Webber, Mitre’s Regional Sales Manager, visited their B&B to advise on the best products for both the property and their guests.

As Daniel and Andrew were looking for something unique, Laura recommended that they use Mitre’s bespoke soft furnishings service, where they could choose from countless prints and fabrics and be guided throughout the project.

One room was given a striking geometric look and feel using black and gold while another was transformed with on trend denim colours and a crushed velvet headboard in silver for the beautiful new bed.

Taking inspiration from a room’s green wallpaper, another bedroom was given a crisp new look using curtains, runners and a mixture of cushions in Rhapsody aqua fabric. They also bought the Duke toppers from the Heritage range plus Tencel pillows and Microfibre duvets from the Luxury range as well as luxurious white bathrobes.

Daniel said: “When we took over the property in 2011, it was a run-down 3 star rated guest house in desperate need of some love and attention.

“With their industry knowledge, Mitre Linen have helped us create unique, elegant and contemporary boutique rooms for our guests.

“Their work has allowed us to re-launch as a boutique Bed and Breakfast and we are already seeing the benefits. Not only has our refurbishment and attractive new look helped us to achieve an increase in our room rates, but we now hold AA 5 stars plus a breakfast award.

Tyndale“Our guests have given us a 5 star rating on TripAdvisor and we have been praised for our ‘beautiful decoration’, ‘immaculate rooms’ and ‘high standard finish’.”

Mitre Linen’s Laura Webber said: “Daniel had a very clear vision of how he wanted the rooms to look – all contemporary and individual and each totally different. We spent time working together choosing colours and fabrics to complement each room’s colour scheme and he was very welcoming to my ideas. He was thrilled with the results and has had some wonderful feedback from guests on how stunning his rooms are.

“We love helping hoteliers in their refurbishment and, as an experienced hospitality provider for over 70 years, we understand that every establishment is unique.”

www.tyndaletorquay.com
www.mitrelinen.com
01685 353456
Sales@mitrelinen.com

Mitre - Feefo Award

Mitre Linen awarded Feefo Gold Service Award 2017

 651 335 Daniel Fountain
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Experienced hospitality provider Mitre Linen has won a Feefo Gold Service award, an independent seal of excellence that recognises businesses for delivering exceptional experiences, rated by real customers.

Created by Feefo, Trusted Service is awarded to businesses that use Feefo to collect genuine ratings and reviews. A badge of honour, this accreditation remains unique as all the awards are based purely on the interactions with verified customers. This feedback has been collated by the Feefo review platform, with the accolades being awarded based upon performance.

Mitre Linen met the criteria of collecting at least 50 reviews between January 1st 2016 and December 31st 2016, and achieved a Feefo service rating of between 4.5 and 5.0. The company has won the award for four consecutive years.

Jim Mangan, Mitre Linen’s Managing Director, said: “It’s a real honour to receive this award from Feefo. To be recognised for delivering exceptional experiences to our customers is a great achievement.

“We’ve been working hard to ensure our customers receive the best service possible, and being able to listen, understand and respond to their needs has enabled us to improve our offering. We’re looking forward to another successful year ahead.”

Andrew Mabbutt, CEO at Feefo said: “We would like to offer our congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Feefo Trusted Service award. We are so proud that so many businesses are putting customer service first.

“We have been working closely with all our customers to build trust and transparency online, and ultimately helping shoppers buy with confidence and make better decisions.”

Feefo is a ratings and reviews, and customer analytics platform. It collects genuine, purchase-verified reviews on behalf of over 3,000 businesses. Feefo ensures that all feedback is authentic by matching it to a legitimate transaction and believes this is the best way to combat the rising issue of fake reviews.

Product Spotlight: Hollyhocks bed linen from Sanderson

 600 413 Daniel Fountain
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The new SS16 bed linen – Hollyhocks – from Sanderson embraces pretty blooms and celebrates colour. Pair with crisp white and metallics for a contemporary edge, or let vintage reign and combine with wood finishes, pastel palettes and shabby chic accessories, alternatively the brave could try an eclectic mix.

Printed onto a 300 thread count pure cotton percale and immersed in English nostalgia, Sanderson’s Hollyhocks design features a lavish bouquet of multi coloured blooms, against a backdrop of blue. The reverse offers a classic ticking stripe.

Hollyhocks from Sanderson
To introduce some texture to the look, team this bed linen with its counterparts – Jura, a petrol blue 100% cotton knit throw (£150) and 100% linen decorative floral cushion (£45).

Duvet cover available in Single (£80), Double (£95), King (£110) and Superking (£125). Oxford (£20) or Housewife (£17) pillowcases also available.

To view the Hollyhocks range alongside the rest of our Bedlinen collection please visit our website. For further details please call 01895 221005 or email press@a-sanderson.co.uk.