Veritas Organic Linens

Why It's Good:

Give your guests the royal treatment and greet weary holiday travelers with a welcome sight: a bed made up with luxurious tailored linens in rich chocolate, gold, white, and pale blue.

Why It's Green:

Veritas linens are made from SKAL-certified (SKAL is an independent, international certification organization), 100% organic cotton. Conventionally grown cotton accounts for some 25% of the world's total insecticide use. Organically grown cotton is free of toxic pesticides and fertilizers, which not only harm the land, but the hands that harvest it. Veritas uses eco-friendly processing methods including chlorine-free bleaches, AZO-free dyes, and natural finishes—great for those with allergies or sensitive skin. Veritas products come packaged in handmade paper boxes and recycled materials—no plastic or PVC is used.

Where To Get It:

Prices vary. Email info@veritasorganiclinen.com for questions or to order. To purchase directly from a limited selection, click here.

The Best-Dressed Bed

Thanksgiving saw the first of my holiday houseguests—and, having just read a primer on being a gracious hostess, I was prepared: the fridge brimming with my friend's favorite things (organic milk and eggs, fresh-pressed local cider, amaretto ice cream), fluffy new towels, and a plushy airbed topped with...polyblend sheets. I recently made the switch to organic cotton myself, but—still in settling-in mode—I hadn't thought ahead to dressing the guest bed. Fortunately, this guest was one of those blessed with the ability to conk out the minute their head hits the pillow, so comfort was not an issue. But with family visiting for Round Two (Christmas), I resolved to find a set of cozy, eco-chic sheets to ensure a good night's sleep—and, hopefully, smiling faces at the breakfast table. Happily, I discovered Veritas' new line of luxury organic cotton bedding. And I do mean luxury. These look as if stolen out from under a sleeping Queen. Richly embroidered scrollwork edges crisp pillow shams plumped atop matching matelassá coverlets and—
510 thread-count!—lacy sheets (the Fiorella design is hand-embroidered). For an ultra-luxe, pulled-together touch, a pair of decorative floral pillows completes the picture. Veritas also carries bedskirts, duvets, and toxin-free fine cashmere throws, if you're so inclined. Your guests will feel so pampered, they just might extend their stay...permanently. Good-bye, spare bedroom! Cheers for the holidays.—Elizabeth McMullen