What Is Matelassé?

The story of matelassé's origins begins in Marseilles, France, where in the early 18th century, the city was known for beautiful "trapunto" or "whitework" quilting. These luxurious, hand-quilted fabrics were highly popular, used mainly in fashion items for women.

In the early 1740s, Robert Elsden devised a way to reproduce a similar fabric on a loom that, although woven, maintained a quilted appearance. Once the fabric became commercially available in the 1760s, people in England called it "Marseilles Cloth." Eventually, it became better known as matelassé, meaning quilted or padded.

With the advent of the Jacquard loom in 1801 in France, producing the woven "quilting" became easier and faster, and today, most matelassé fabrics are manufactured on industrial Jacquard looms.

Matelassé is popular today for several reasons:

• Lightweight and versatile: Because the fabric is lightweight, it can go under or over the duvet without trapping heat and making you sweat.
  
  
• Durable: Matelassé fabrics are renowned for their strength and durability. They can withstand regular washing and daily use while maintaining their texture and appearance, making them perfect for households with little ones or pets.
  
  
• Easy care: Cotton matelassé is easy to care for and typically gets softer over time. Cozy Earth's matelassé products are machine washable.
  
  
• Breathable: Matelassé is much lighter and more breathable than quilted textiles with batting, providing a comfortable, year-round sleep experience.
  
  
• Timeless: The aesthetic of matelassé works in traditional, cottage, coastal, and modern-minimal spaces. It's often reversible, allowing you to change the look of your room quickly.

While matelassé is more durable than many other fabrics, it's still important to consider these things when choosing and caring for it:

• Fiber: For bedding, 100% cotton or cotton blends are breathable and easy to care for.
  
  
• Weight: A mid-weight coverlet is most versatile for layering.
  
  
• Washing: Use cold water on the gentle cycle with non-chlorine bleach, when needed. Tumble dry on low or line-dry to preserve texture. A fabric shaver isn’t usually needed; just smooth by hand or use a warm iron.
  
  

Matelassé fabric is a historically rich, elegant textile that imitates traditional quilting through weaving rather than stitching or padding. Its unique texture, durability, lightweight nature, and ease of care make it an excellent choice for bedding, offering style and comfort. Check out Cozy Earth's beautifully made Baja Matelassé Coverlet and Shams to see examples of this enchanting fabric.