The upsides of down pillows are obvious: an extra-warm sleep and squishiness beyond belief (for those of us who aren't allergic, at least). But it's the downsides that organic bedding start-up Boll & Branch was fixated on when it set out to make "the new gold standard of pillows" as part of their latest pillow and duvet insert launch. The brand's cofounders, Scott and Missy Tannen, spent nearly three years designing and developing these pieces before launch—a testament to their dedication to the cause, yes, but also how much they value a good night's sleep.
Foremost they were concerned with ethical sourcing; cases could be manufactured at the organic cotton co-op in India where they have an existing (and super-productive) partnership, and humanely harvested feathers were sourced at duck farms in northern Indiana. They are even triple-washed before stuffing. Then came construction—how to make a down pillow that would never fall flat or have prickly feather ends poking through the case? A smart down-to-feather ratio solved the first problem, while a tightly woven shell prevents the latter. And as for the matter of allergies, they opted to use a "low-environmental-impact" down alternative, a vegan material called PrimaLoft that feels quite a lot like down and won't get weirdly clumpy on you. Fun fact: It was originally developed as a hypoallergenic alternative for the U.S. Army.
Whichever stuffing you prefer, you'll be able to choose between two densities: soft (best for stomach- and back-sleepers) or medium-firm (best for side-sleepers). Down pillows start at $150; down alternative pillows at $80; and their all-season duvet-cover inserts—available in either fill—begin at $300.
