 |
| Akemi exhibit at the SM Home Fair |
I
recently visited the SM Home Fair held at the SMX Convention Center in Mall of
Asia, Pasay City. As I visited each showcase exhibit, I was able to learn so
much. There’s definitely more to buying a set of comfortable sheets than just
choosing the right color for your bedroom. Sounds sensible right? After all,
you’re going to be sleeping on those linens every night for the foreseeable
future, so shouldn’t you buy the best? We spend roughly 33% of our lives
sleeping, according to the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research—that’s
equivalent to about 26 years. Let that sink in for a moment. Picture everything
that happened in 26 years of your life, wiped out in a dreamless sleep (a
pretty sobering thought). Fortunately, sleep doesn’t actually work that way,
but of course knowing exactly how much of our lives we spend in our bed—whether
it’s blissfully passed out or tossing and turning—makes us want our sleeping
conditions to be as conducive to a restful slumber as possible. And aside from
choosing the perfect mattress, the most important part of getting that deep,
so-good-you-don’t-want-it-to-end sleep is one thing: your sheets.
 |
| One of Akemi linens on display |
The best bed sheets depend on more than just a rating,
though. You have to pick the best-rated bed linens that suit your sleeping
style, the climate you live in, how cool or warm you keep your home, and the
feel you prefer.
So what are the things one must look for in a linen for it
to be considered good quality? First, you must look at the details of the
fabric, blends, and the reasons you shouldn’t compromise on linens for your bed.
Have you ever spread out new sheets on your king sized bed,
slid in between the fabrics, and then regretted your purchase? Some sheets can
be scratchy, uncomfortable, thin, and not at all how they were marketed. What
happened? You may not have paid attention to the thread count, the fabric, or
the instructions on how to wash your sheets. You’ll have to pay a little extra
for the best sheet set, but not as much as you may think.
I recently learned about thread count. Are as unfamiliar
with it as I once was? Thread count is an important part of getting the most
comfortable sheet set possible, but you don’t have to pick up 1,000
thread-count sheets. In fact, in some sheets, thread count doesn’t even matter.
It’s a matter of finding the right fiber and fabric, and we’ll get there in a
moment. Bottom line here, though, is that everyone deserves the best because
sleep is important, and your bed linens play a big part in you getting the bestnight’s sleep every night.
 |
| Another Akemi sheet at the exhibit |
I came across a world-class quality brand called Akemi. It’s
a Malaysian brand with a Japanese name which literally meant “Beautiful.”
According to the sales guy I had interviewed, its real name is Akemi Uchi which
meant “Beautiful Home.” But since in
the Philippines, only the bed sheets and linen are being sold, hence, the
owners dropped “Uchi” from its name because they do not carry other household
products here.
How can you distinguish a good quality linen/sheet?
One of the most common fabrics people look for in sheets is
cotton. There are some pros and cons to picking 100 percent cotton, though.
Cotton wrinkles easily, but it’s durable and soft. A cotton blend with a bit of
polyester means they’ll be wrinkle-resistant, and they’re still soft. Plus, they’re
more affordable. During my visit to the SM Home Fair, I came across with an
Akemi brand with MicroXT Sateen fabric with 650 thread count. It’s a term you
may not be familiar with.
Microfibers are softer than cotton, and it’s made from a
sustainable source, making it one of the eco-friendliest choices. Additionally,
it wicks away moisture, which means you get a much cooler sleep.
 |
| Some of the basic Akemi sheets |
What You Should Look for in a Quality Set of Sheets?
All sheets are going to suffer from wear and tear
eventually. To ensure you get the longest life out of your sheets, look for
long-fiber sheets, such as Pima, Egyptian, and Supima cotton sheets. While
cotton blends (with polyester) may resist wrinkles, they’re not quite as soft,
and they aren’t as breathable, so you may end up sleeping hot. Same for
microfiber sheets.
So, if you tend to sleep hot, you want crisp, cooling
sheets, and that’s a sheet set made of cotton with a high thread count or
microfiber sheets. If you’re looking for warmer sheets, microfiber and twill
sheets could be a better choice for you.
Price could also be a factor for you, so if your budget is
tight, you should consider blends. If cost isn’t an issue, buy the sheets that
offer the most comfort, durability, and softness you can afford. Many of the
sheet sets available are known for getting softer as they are used and washed
multiple times.
 |
| More Akemi sheets |
If you ask me, Akemi bed sheet is an excellent choice. For
someone who’s a bit frugal [read: kuripot in the vernacular], my initial
question nagged me: Are pricier sheets really that much better? The more I
researched, the more I realized higher thread count isn’t necessarily a good
indicator of quality—so how was I supposed to know if shelling out about Php3000 for
sheets I found via Instagram ad would actually give me the best snooze of my
life? Luckily, I found Akemi microfiber sheets from the said SM Home Fair which
I decided to test if it does live up to their hype.
 |
| The Akemi design which I have at home |
Sleeping is actually one of my favorite pastimes. The first
time I snuggled into these Akemi sheets, it blew me away in terms of quality
and value. There’s honestly not a single negative thing I can say about these
sheets. They’re soft, breathable and durable. It feels like it should be more
expensive. These are the kind of sheets you want to wake up in on a lazy Sunday
morning, then roll around, nap, and live in for the rest of the day using Bruno
Mars’ “Lazy Song” as a background. The lyrics “Today, I don’t feel like doing’ anything.
I just wanna lay in my bed” reverberating across your room.
Value:
The thickness and weight of Akemi sheet are perfect for every
season—no need to swap in anything else. If I had to choose on brand of sheets
in which I could sleep in for the rest of my life, these would be it. They’re
affordable but don’t sacrifice anything when it comes to quality, texture, or
feel.
Warmth: These made me feel instantly cozy when I slid into
bed. One chilly rainy night, I magically woke up feeling warm and toasty
without the need for a shawl or sweat shirt.
My dream sheets are the super-crisp cotton variety you’d find
at a hotel like Shangri-La Hotels—ones that have been bleached and starched within an
inch of their life but soften around you when they come in contact with body
heat. Honestly, these sheets from Akemi are comparable. They’re just right in
terms of thickness but not heavy and crinkle in the most indulgent, luxurious
way. They’re the kind of sheets that feels like a wafer-thin sheet of paper
being crumpled in your fist.
 |
| Akemi sheets are ffordably priced with good quality |
There’s something about the texture of these sheets—they
feel slightly cool to the touch but soften and meld to your body after just a
few minutes. Then, it sort of feels like you’re sleeping on a light, fluffy
cloud. Since they are linen, they wrinkled even after I laid them out flat to
air-dry, but I didn’t end up minding the artfully rumpled look. Though linen
devotees swear they sleep in them year-round, I’d probably want something a
little softer and warmer for the colder months. Quality-wise, however, I was
blown away by the material.
Overall, I’d have to say that I found myself looking
forward to going to bed (well, more so than I normally do) just so I could
slide underneath these Akemi sheets. They’re the crispest of all the ones I
tried but still somehow soft. They will keep you warm—they’re good quality and
a good investment for better sleep.
Akemi bed sheets and linens are available at all SM Home branches nationwide. For further inquiries, you may message them on their Facebook account.
Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions are 100% my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment