Reviving Bedlinen

User Expectations, Use-Life, and Repair Practices in Australia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54337/plate2025-10310

Keywords:

Bedlinen, Home Textiles, Product Expectations, Repair, Circularity

Abstract

This paper considers the relationship between user expectations of domestic bedlinen, product use-life and repair engagement within an Australian context. Bedlinen, in this instance, includes flat and fitted sheets, pillowcases, and quilt covers - also known as duvet covers, or in Australia, doona covers. There is limited data on this specific textile product within sustainability and circularity research. This paper discusses findings from the survey, Bedlinen and Sustainability (2023), which includes questions focused upon attitudes and behaviour regarding bedlinen purchase, use, care, repair, reuse and disposal. Key findings are identified and are discussed as factors that directly impact the use-life of bedlinen. These include laundering choices, emotional durability, change of mattress sizes, expectations of comfort, maintaining original condition, and repair challenges.

Author Biography

Emma Peters, UNSW Sydney, Australia

Emma Peters is a Lecturer and PhD candidate at Art and Design, ADA, UNSW, exploring circular design pathways for textiles.   Emma’s research operates at the nexus of industry and academia where practice-led, ’research through design’ methods generate new opportunities for discarded interior textiles and also aims to progress the economic benefits of circular economy systems for the bedlinen industry of Australia.   Since working as a commercial textile designer with several of Australia’s leading homeware brands, Emma has been awarded a Master of Design, published research, exhibited as a solo artist and is a founding member of the DesignForCE, a UNSW research group.

References

Ahirwar, M., Khatkar, V., & Behera, B. K. (2020). An integrated approach to develop performance index of bed linen fabric. Journal of Industrial Textiles, 51(1_suppl), 842S-855S. https://doi.org/10.1177/1528083720942963

Appadurai, A. (1988). The social life of things: Commodities in cultural perspective. Cambridge University Press.

Ayling-Smith, B. (2018). The Bedsheet: From Linen Cupboard to Art Gallery. TEXTILE, 16(3), 287-300. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759756.2018.1432142

Bakker, C. A., Mugge, R., Boks, C., & Oguchi, M. (2021). Understanding and managing product lifetimes in support of a circular economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279, 123764. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123764

Barnard, M. (2014). Fashion theory : an introduction. Routledge.

Chanda, T., Ahirwar, M., & Behera, B. K. (2020). Appraisal of bed linen performance with respect to sleep quality. Textile & Leather Review, 3(1), 19-29. DOI: 10.31881/TLR.2020.01

Chapman, J. (2015). Emotionally durable design : objects, experiences and empathy (Second edition. ed.). London New York : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Cooper, T. (2020). Slower Cycles: An Essential Characteristic of the Circular Economy. In S. Eisenriegler (Ed.), The Circular Economy in the European Union: An Interim Review (pp. 99-116). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50239-3_9

Cotton, L., Hayward, A. S., Lant, N. J., & Blackburn, R. S. (2020). Improved garment longevity and reduced microfibre release are important sustainability benefits of laundering in colder and quicker washing machine cycles. Dyes and Pigments, 177, 108120. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2019.108120

Douglas, M. (2003). Purity and danger: an anaylsis of concepts of pollution and taboo. London : Rougledge.

Dubale, M., Ejegu, H., Mamuye, W., & Addis, S. (2021). Development of Bed Linen Performance Index. Journal of Engineering, 2021, 1220130. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1220130

Gnanapragasam, A., Oguchi, M., Cole, C., & Cooper, T. (2017). Consumer expectations of product lifetimes around the world: a review of global research findings and methods. In (pp. 464-469). https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-820-4-464

Godin, L., Senja, L., & and Sahakian, M. (2020). Doing laundry in consumption corridors: wellbeing and everyday life. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 16(1), 99-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/15487733.2020.1785095

Gram‐Hanssen, K., & Bech‐Danielsen, C. (2004). House, home and identity from a consumption perspective. Housing, Theory and Society, 21(1), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/14036090410025816

Harper, D. (2023). Repair. Etymology Online. Retrieved 1 October from https://www.etymonline.com/word/repair

Healy, R. (2009). Striptease: An investigation of curatorial practices for fashion in the museum

Jensen, P. B., Haase, L. M., & Laursen, L. N. (2021). A Practical Approach to Companies’ Transformation toward Product Longevity: A Best-Case Study. Sustainability, 13(23). https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/sustainability/sustainability-13-13312/article_deploy/sustainability-13-13312.pdf?version=1638357201

Kamalha, E., Zeng, Y., Mwasiagi, J. I., & Kyatuheire, S. (2013). The comfort dimension; a review of perception in clothing. Journal of Sensory Studies, 28(6), 423-444. DOI: 10.1111/joss.12070

Kergoat, M., Giboreau, A., Nicod, H., Faye, P., Diaz, E., Beetschen, M.-A., & Meyer, T. (2012). CONSUMER PREFERENCE FOR TACTILE SOFTNESS: A QUESTION OF AFFECT INTENSITY? Journal of Sensory Studies, 27(4), 232-246. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-459X.2012.00388.x

Laitala, K., Boks, C., & Klepp, I. G. (2011). Potential for environmental improvements in laundering. International journal of consumer studies, 35(2), 254-264. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2010.00968.x

Lowry, E. (2020). Household textiles 1660-1850: hidden items of material culture from the country house. Family & community history, 23(2), 95-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/14631180.2020.1820717

Maycroft, N. (2024). A culture of visible mending: improvisation, or bodging the job? https://repository.lincoln.ac.uk/articles/conference_contribution/A_culture_of_visible_mending_improvisation_or_bodging_the_job_/25167428

McLaren, A., Oxborrow, L., Cooper, T., Hill, H., & Goworek, H. (2015). Clothing longevity perspectives: exploring consumer expectations, consumption and use. In Product Lifetimes and the Environment (PLATE) Conference proceedings, [Nottingham Trent University], Nottingham, 17-19 June 2015. (pp. 229-235). Nottingham Trent University: CADBE.

Merriam-Webster. (2017). A Tale of Two 'Repairs'. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 1 October from https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/a-tale-of-two-repairs

Parsons, H. M. (1972). The Bedroom. Human Factors, 14(5), 421-450. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872087201400505

Rao, N., Salvidge, C., Doriza, A., & Downing, P. (2023). Citizen Insights: Estimating the longevity of home textiles in the UK. WRAP. https://wrap.org.uk/resources/report/citizen-insights-estimating-longevity-home-textiles-uk#download-file

Rinkinen, J., Jalas, M., & Shove, E. (2015). Object relations in accounts of everyday life. Sociology, 49(5), 870-885. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038515577910

Shove, E. (2003). Comfort, cleanliness and convenience : the social organization of normality. BERG.

Shove, E. (2004). Sustainability, System Innovation and the Laundry

System Innovation and the Transition to Sustainability. In. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781845423421.00014

Sleep Hygiene: Good Sleep Habits. (2024). Sleep Health Foundation. https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-topics/sleep-hygiene-good-sleep-habits

Spelman, E. V. (2002). Repair : the impulse to restore in a fragile world. Beacon Press Boston.

Sundaresan, S., Ramesh, M., Sabitha, V., & Ramesh, V. (2016). A detailed analysis on physical and comfort properties of bed linen woven fabrics. International Journal of advance researn and innovative ideas in education, 2, 1649 to 1658.

Tronto, J. C. (2013). Caring Democracy : Markets, Equality, and Justice. New York University Press. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unsw/detail.action?docID=1153346

Walker, S. (1995). The Environment, Product Aesthetics and Surface. Design Issues, 11(3), 15-27. https://doi.org/10.2307/1511767

Yates, L., & Evans, D. (2016). Dirtying Linen: Re-evaluating the sustainability of domestic laundry. Environmental Policy and Governance, 26(2), 101-115. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.1704

Downloads

Published

24-06-2025

How to Cite

Peters, E. (2025). Reviving Bedlinen: User Expectations, Use-Life, and Repair Practices in Australia. Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025), (6). https://doi.org/10.54337/plate2025-10310

Issue

Section

Track 4: Repair, Care and Maintenance – Research Papers