Eliteness #03 – EN

Elite SA | Unsere Zeitschriften richten sich an Privatpersonen, die knappe, leicht verdauliche und professionelle Informationen zum Thema Schlaf wünschen. Interviews, Ratschläge und Tipps: Sie werden ausschließlich zu Ihrem Wohlbefinden erstellt, um Ihren Übergang zu den für Sie am besten geeigneten Bettwaren zu begleiten und zu erleichtern.

ELITENESS SLEEP & LIVE BEAUTIFULLY

YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND THE PHOTOGRAPHER COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE PLANET

THE BEAU-RIVAGE PALACE THE PEARL OF LAKE GENEVA

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― E D I T O ―

SLOW TIME – THE RECIPE FOR EXCELLENCE

As Arthur Schopenhauer once said, “the nobler and more perfect a thing is, the later and more slowly does it mature.” The time allotted to us is the only vital variable that we’re not in control of, so let's make the most of it and enjoy it to the full!

A few years ago, ‘slow food’ appeared on the scene, giving a new lease of life to delicious, generous, traditional cuisine, taking into account the changing seasons and local produce. Other, similar initiatives are emerging: walks in the forest, the need to feel alive and capture the energy of hundred-year-old trees; more generally, we’re being drawn towards a return to nature and getting back to basics. Amid this kaleidoscope of activities, sleep remains a vital function, at the forefront of wellbeing, living better – and living longer.

Elite's guiding philosophy is fully in line with this return to authenticity and the cultivation of the art of slow living. Working

with traditional knowhow might seem like an anachronism in a global industry. But now as ever, patience, dexterity, and familiar gestures combined with technical skill, innovation and fine materials provide the guaranteed perfection and durability for which our products are renowned. Working with an ever more virtuous approach, we’ve commissioned solar panels, installed directly on our factory roof to produce all the electricity we need for our manufacturing – and more to spare. Now, the next phase is underway: the building will be heated by a heat pump powered by the electricity produced on site. These achievements underscore our eco-responsible commitment and make us one of the industry’s leaders in this respect. All of these efforts, combined with our local roots, have just earned us the VAUD+ label, a local distinction promoting companies that conduct their business in the canton sustainably and responsibly.

OUR MISSION YOUR WELLBEING

For 125 years, in Aubonne, on the shores of Lake Geneva, our craftsmen have been working on turning the beds of customers’ dreams into reality using natural, regionally-sourced materials. From headboard to legs to the mattress, we’ll make yours in the material, colour and shape of your choice, from the most traditional to latest designer look.

François Pugliese

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SWISS MANUFACTURING SINCE 1895 FIND YOUR NEAREST ELITE GALLERY ON WWW.ELITEBEDS.CH

― C O N T E N T S ―

32 _ ENVIRONMENT YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND “MANUFACTURERS THEMSELVES KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE HOW THEY CAN TAKE ACTION.”

18 _ SOPRANO REACH FOR THE STARS!

6 _ NEWS 8 _ HEALTH SLEEP STARTS IN YOUR HEAD

22 _ INTERVIEW TANJA GRANDITS: WHAT IS HER SECRET FOR SLEEPING WELL?

wholly made from beds Focus on natural materials

36 _ NUTRITION HOW DOES OUR DIET AFFECT OUR SLEEP? 40 _ DESIGN THE OTHER GREAT GATSBY 44 _ DESTINATION BEAU-RIVAGE, THE PEARL OF LAKE GENEVE

12 _ OWN HOW ABOUT TAKING TIME TO LISTEN TO NEWS FROM YOURSELF? 16 _ SHOPPING THERE’S NO DREAM TOO BIG

28 _ BEDDING DO YOU WANT TO SINK INTO FEATHERS?

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― N E W S ―

MORE THAN HALF OF SWISS PEOPLE DON’T SLEEP WELL

According to a Danish study published in One Earth in May 2022, we lose an average of forty-four hours of sleep per year. Another finding of note is that disparities have been identified between high and low-income households. The effects of temperature on sleep loss are much greater for those living in low-income countries, due perhaps to a lack of air conditioning. Elderly people (whose heat regulation is less effective) suffer more, as do women, who are more affected than men. The Danish team collected data from 47,000 individuals in 68 different countries, each equipped with a connected bracelet, and compared this data with local weather data. NB: For cooler nights, opt for a duvet and mattress with natural materials.

THE MYSTERIES OF SLEEP – AS REVEALED BY MRI Researchers from École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPDL) and the Universities of Geneva, Cape Town (South Africa) and Bochum (Germany) have joined forces to understand brain activity during sleep using MRI. They’ve discovered that our brains are more active when we’re asleep than you might think. Previously, studies on sleep had been conducted using electroencephalograms (EEG), a technique that measures the brain’s electrical activity by means of electrodes placed on the scalp. Obtaining MRIs of subjects’ brains during deep sleep has proved to be a very difficult task, though, because the machine is very noisy.

According to the ‘Sanitas Health Forecast 2022’ survey published in June of that year, more than half of Swiss men and women (52%) are of the opinion that they don’t sleep very well. Although the Swiss sleep an average of seven hours a night, many believe the time they spend in bed isn’t restful. The vast majority are convinced that stress and worry keep them awake. Respondents to the survey said that their ongoing lack of sleep resulted in lapses of concentration (83%), increased edginess (72%) and mental health problems (70%). The survey was conducted on 2000 individuals across the country aged between 18 and 74. The Sanitas Health Forecast is a survey that has been carried out every year since 2020 for health insurers Sanitas. It aims to achieve a better understanding of Swiss people’s concerns, questions as well as trends and assumptions about health, and share the findings.

GLOBAL WARMING IS CAUSING SLEEP DEPRIVATION WORLDWIDE

Coach Clotilde Dusoulier offers advice on how to cope with everyday stress on pages 10-13.

WHERE DO OUR DREAMS COME FROM?

According to a survey published in 2022 in Nature Aging, the ideal duration of sleep is seven hours for 40-75 year-olds. After examining medical data from some 500,000 adults, scientists concluded that sleeping too much or too little affects our health. Note: On this topic, see the interview on our blog with Dr Espa Cervena of the CENAS sleep medicine centre. Add a QR code to https://www.elitebeds. ch/en/maison-elite/actualite/sleep-deprivation

At the beginning of the year, Professor Francesca Siclari from the Lausanne University Hospital Centre for Sleep Investigation and Research was awarded a European grant to launch her Dreamscape project, aimed at unders- tanding how our dreams are produced. When we’re awake, the action we see is what is actually happening before our eyes, so where does what we see when we’re asleep come from? This research will help understand how the brain can create reality independently of the outside world, and may also help to understand other forms of hallucinations such as those found in certain psychiatric disorders. In addition, the research will be used to help individuals suffering from dream disorders (nightmares or incessant dreams that give sufferers the impression that their brain is never at rest).

A GOOD NIGHT’S REST MEANS 7 HOURS’ SLEEP

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― H E A L T H ―

hen you sleep well, you feel rested in the morning and on form all day long. Nowa- days, a lot of people expect to sleep for eight hours straight through until morning,

but as Dr Esther Werth explains, that’s not at all what healthy sleep is like: “Healthy sleepers wake up as often as 30 times a night. Doing so is part of an important physiological process allowing us to change positions, for example.” As she also says, “the comfort of a good mattress can help support a sleeper’s position and prevent back pain.” Prepare your sleep one or two hours before going to bed Sleeping well depends on what you do before you go to bed. Good sleep hygiene involves a soothing routine (such as taking a bath with lavender essential oil, drinking tea or reading) that helps us relax. Working at the com- puter or staring at your mobile phone has the opposite effect. “The body starts preparing for sleep one or two hours before you feel ready to go to bed. The process begins with the secretion of melatonin, which depends on our exposure to light. Computer screens give off a very harsh type of light known as blue light, which can halt melatonin and prevent the body from slowly getting ready to go to bed,” says Esther Werth. Women’s sleep is more vulnerable Other disturbing factors include noise, a snoring bed partner, or children coming to join us in bed. More wo- men than men suffer from sleep disorders. “Their sleep is more vulnerable, and affected by hormones, as a re- sult of which they wake more easily then men. Research has also shown that men sleep better with a bed partner, whereas women sleep better alone,” says Esther Werth.

DR ESTHER WERTH - SOMNOLOGIST

Sleep is specific to each individual. Some people sleep a lot, needing more than nine hours’ sleep, while others don’t need anywhere near as much, making do with only four hours. Taking due account of these genetic predispositions, you shouldn’t have problems sleeping. Dr Esther Werth, director of the University Hospital of Zürich’s sleep laboratory, explains why we may nevertheless have difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, and how we can recover good quality sleep.

Text - Simone Liedtke, Picture - ©Annie Spratt

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― H E A L T H ―

Do you know how many hours sleep you need? Individuals who don’t get enough sleep for a long period of time can build up a sleep debt that can’t be wiped out in a single weekend. According to Esther, “if sleep pressure continually builds up, people forget what it real- ly feels like to be awake.” This can have serious conse- quences. “Studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to take risks. During the day, a sleep deficit is easy to cope with, but at night, monotonous activities such as driving a car can cause drowsiness and serious accidents. In the longer term, a lack of sleep can also contribute to mental illnesses such as burnout and depression,” explains Esther Werth. “A good way of finding out how much sleep our bodies really need is to observe our sleep needs during long holidays,” she adds. Identify the root causes of sleep disorders be- fore taking action For patients who have persistent difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep, Esther Werth recommends sleep training as the best therapy: “we help patients learn how to sleep using cognitive behavioural therapy. The programme is tailored to each individual and includes relaxation exercises, adjusting the amount of time in bed, and other behavioural changes. Sleep medicine has identified over 70 different known sleep disorders. Two of these are sleep apnoea and restless legs syndrome. To take action, you have to start by identifying the cause of poor sleep. In a few cases, we prescribe medication, but we’re highly selective in this respect and don’t re- commend the usual sleeping pills.” How many hours sleep we need varies over the course of a lifetime Sleep changes over the course of our lives. Babies have polyphasic sleep patterns that gradually develop into a long sleep at night and a nap at lunchtime. Teenagers sleep late in the mornings, whereas the elderly find it more difficult to do so. On the topic of older people’s sleep, Esther Werth explains: “A 70-year-old cannot hope to have the same sleep patterns as a 20-year-old. The amount of sleep decreases, perhaps by as much as an hour. As we get older we sleep more lightly, too; we have to go to the toilet more often, and we find it more difficult to achieve deep sleep; that alters our perception of sleep. On the other hand we enjoy an afternoon nap more. The use of sleeping pills tends to increase with age, too.” There are exercises to achieve better sleep at this stage in life, too. Esther Werth again: “A lot of elderly

people go to bed too early and want to sleep for too long. Since the body doesn’t need a lot of sleep, it divides up sleep through the night, interspersing it with periods awake. That’s why we also recommended adjusting your bed-time in such cases.” Relax your body – and your mind In the end, a lot is down to our minds, says Esther Werth: “Simply going to bed thinking that it’s going to be hard to get to sleep is bound to make you sleep less well. That kind of tension also means that if you do wake up in the night you release adrenalin, and that stops you getting back to sleep – whereas if an individual who is fully re- laxed wakes during the night, they’ll simply turn over and go back to sleep,” concludes Dr Esther Werth. THE SECRET OF ELITE MATTRESSES Your mattress plays a major role in the quality of your sleep by reducing the number of unwanted microarousals. Elite mattresses allow you to reach the deep sleep cycle, when the body relaxes completely and the brain is refreshed, and stay there for longer. The manufacture of Elite mattresses is based on three fundamental criteria: comfort, back support and heat regulation. A mattress to suit your body shape must get rid of pressure on protruding points whilst also providing dynamic support for your body and optimum alignment of the spine. With the natural fillings we use, temperature can be regulated and surplus humidity removed, creating a healthy, moisture- free environment.

BIOGRAPHY: Dr Esther Werth studied behavioural biology and neurobiology at the Swiss

Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich. She was awarded a PhD in research on sleep and moved on from pure research to sleep medicine. For over 20 years, she has been working in this field both clinically and scientifically, and now heads up the Neurology Clinic sleep laboratory at the University Hospital of Zurich. She is also a member of the executive committee of the ‘Sleep and Health’ university skill centre in Zurich.

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― PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT ―

HOW ABOUT TAKING TIME TO LISTEN TO NEWS FROM YOURSELF ?

Clotilde Dusoulier, a certified master coach, is the founder of the Change ma vie (‘Change My Life’) podcast and coaching programme. Her podcast has been listened to over 25 million times. Based on the principle that human beings are a complex whole, she and her team believe there’s no point trying to partition off different areas of life that are inextricably interwoven. She offers a unified approach focused on each of us as individuals, since how we behave in our working lives affects how we are in our private lives, and vice versa. www.changemavie.com

CLOTILDE DUSOULIER

When it comes to personal development, have you heard about ‘white space‘? It’s the time you allow yourself to listen to your own news: a way of finding out what we really want and need, even before we treat ourselves to it.

Text - Sophie Franklin, Picture - © Marie Préchac

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― PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT ―

A midst our hyper-busy lives, cultivating ‘white space’ (special times when our inner self can at last get a word in edgeways) will improve our wellbeing. To find out more, we talked to Clotilde Dusoulier, certified master coach and host of the Change ma vie (‘Change My Life’) podcast.

Does the way we manage our time have a lot to say about our aspirations, self- esteem, and personal fulfilment?

The way we use our time reveals as much about what we see as being truly important as the mo- ney we have, and about what we really want to invest in. Our time is the most valuable resource we have. It’s non-renewable, and we

I sometimes give myself what I call ‘quiet weeks’, when I do my best not to listen to podcasts, read, or stuff my inner self full of information or discussions.

Is the danger of going without free times like this that you fail to notice yourself?

That’s exactly it – these times of ‘white space’ can lead to thoughts that would never surface otherwise. It’s

Why can it sometimes be useful to bring time to a standstill?

don’t even know how much we have of it! The way we use it reveals whether we’re able to say no when we want to, practice self-care, and make wise choices. There co- mes a crucial moment when you have to be honest

Our lives are full of distrac- tions, possibilities, and op- portunities; people to meet and experiences to savour.

often at such times, when we aren’t busy doing things, that we can hear what our inner self is actually saying. And in quiet moments like these, doubts and feelings of dissatisfaction, pe- rhaps even resentment, can also emerge. Worries and anxie- ties surface when you give them space for them to be heard. To begin with, these thoughts can be uncomfortable, but the best thing to do is listen to them – otherwise, you could spend your whole life running away from them.

with yourself, when it’s time to walk the talk. A councillor who says that waste management is one of their priorities for their town and then goes on to cut the waste management bud- get year after year would soon be called out. If you believe your relationship with your parents is very important but you

That’s all well and good, because moving forwards and moving fast does us good in many ways. At the same time, it can also be highly beneficial to balance this push forwards with fallow times: times to think, times to play, even times of apparent boredom; times like this add depth to everything

else and put things into perspective. Most of us would have a lot to gain from intentio- nally cultivating ‘times of nothingness’, living unproductive moments to the full: they prevent us from being overworked, too. This kind of inac- tivity meets a real need in human beings that our modern lifestyles no longer make room for. If we don’t take back control of our per- sonal time and space – if we don’t decide to make our free time really free – it fills right up when we’re not looking; we end up being tired by our free time because it’s actually jam-packed with ac- tivity!

When people say they can’t stop, it’s usual- ly because if they do, they can hear their own internal questions; and in the short term, it‘s easier and indeed tempting to sweep them under the carpet. Moments of ‘nothingness‘ and of ‘white space’ reveal the quality of our relationship with ourselves. Cultivating them is the best gift we can give oursel- ves, and we should do so without delay. It’s a way of having a quality relationship with yourself that will make you more self-reliant as and when challenges arise.

In our capitalistic, Judeo- Christian culture, idleness is quickly associated with laziness.

haven’t called them for two months, something’s not right. Either that rela- tionship’s not as important as you say it is, or you should be giving it more time.

Your podcast has been listened to 25 million times. Do people need to learn how to get to know themselves better?

We have a huge problem running through our society: there’s no place for emotions. They’re seen as something to be ashamed of; something embarrassing and inconvenient, whe- reas in fact they’re right at the centre of our life experience. I have children, and I can see that things are starting to change in that respect at school: emo- tions are talked about more and more often. If emotions aren’t taken into account, though, that will have an impact on how we feel in our everyday lives and how we handle our pro- jects. In response, we’re offering tools to help people examine all the different areas of their lives; practising ‘white space’ is part of that.

But nobody’s taught us how to do nothing! I’m worried about getting bored…

It’s true that most people associate ‘rest’ or ‘nothing’ with boredom; they even see it as a waste of time, a kind of loneliness or existential

Putting ‘white space’ into practice

Most of us need to schedule these appointments with ourselves, when we don’t

plan any activities or set any goals apart from simply listening to what we want. When I set apart ‘white space’ for myself, that doesn’t necessarily mean spending several hours doing absolutely nothing. The idea is more to create a sort of time- out during which I don’t let myself be overwhelmed by my to- do list to the point that I suddenly find myself cleaning out the joints between the tiles in the bathroom! Instead, I ask myself what I want. To lie down on the sofa, perhaps? Listen to music? Sit a while, read, daydream, or go for a walk? The idea is to give yourself the gift of ‘me time’ to listen to yourself – and it’s inte- resting to take note of what you then choose to do. Personally,

void. But during times of ‘white space’ the idea is to try and learn how to enjoy simply living in the now. That’s not so easy if as a child you were told that you shouldn‘t be doing nothing. In our capitalistic, Judeo-Christian culture, idleness is quickly associated with laziness. Someone who does nothing is seen as being of no use and as having no place in society. They may even be seen as some sort of freeloader, and that’s just one step away from saying that they have no ambition or value!

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― HIGHLIGHTS ―

THERE’S NO DREAM TOO BIG The atmosphere and comfort of your bedroom can create a distinctive gentle ambiance, helping you relax and go to sleep. Our stores feature a collection of bed linen and plenty of accessories for you to make yourself a cosy night-time refuge!

GOOD LIVING

Simply slip your feet into our cashmere slippers, and hey presto! – you can close your eyes and instantly feel relaxed.

“THE KEYS TO SLEEP” In an evocation of how we perceive sleep, perfume designer Daniel André has come up with a signature perfume featuring flower and citrus scents – fresh and delicate, like early morning dew.

Wrap yourself in an elegant, warm cashmere throw... and treat yourself to a moment of peace and deliciously quiet relaxation. COMPLETE PEACE OF MIND

PURE SOFTNESS Our different models of men’s and women’s dressing gowns are 100% cash- mere. Nestle into them and treat yourself to some slow time when you can indulge in some relaxing self-care!

SPEND THE NIGHT IN BEAUTIFUL SHEETS!

Our bedlinen is designed to add the perfect touch to your nights. It’s made with the finest ma- terials, and you’ll just love its exceptional, silky-soft feel. With the help our collection of duvet covers and pillowcases, your dreams will be even sweeter!

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― P R O D U C T ―

S OPRANO With 1350 springs per square metre, our Soprano mattress is designed for those who really enjoy comfort. Its flexibility allows it to mould to all our different body shapes. This addresses a new trend in sleep comfort: having a mattress that does away with pressure points whilst at the same time providing perfect support for the spine. If you’re looking for a soft mattress that also provides firm support, the Soprano is just right for you! REACH FOR THE STARS!

LIKE A CLOUD Its fully hand-made inner padding holds the materials and layers together, resulting in the mattress’ rounded appearance, as well as its elasticity and unrivalled softness. In a final, gentle touch, the mattress is covered with a woven viscose and cotton twill infused with Aloe Vera.

1250 g/sqm blonde horsehair

NATURAL MATERIALS The core component of the Soprano’s all-natural filling is a thick layer of blonde horsehair (1250g/sqm), renowned for alle- viating rheumatism. The summer side is made using Tussah silk, organic cotton and Sea Cell® fibre (algae rich in vitamin E); the winter side features Swiss wool and organic cotton cashmere. OUR BESTSELLER This soft yet firm mattress is acclaimed by a discerning clientele. After being tested for body temperature regulation, durability, and its seven differentiated support zones, it passed TÜV certification (recognised worldwide as a guarantee of trustworthiness and quality) with flying colours . Like all our mattresses, it’s also received EU Eco- label certification. Indeed, when subjected to endurance tests, the results show that all our mattresses lose only 2% of their elasti- city over the space of ten years – proof of their durability. This certification also gua- rantees that our bedding is good for your health, free from any harmful products such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could otherwise be breathed in during sleep and find their way into the bloodstream.

DIFFERENTIATED COMFORT ZONES The support layer comprises seven comfort zones to allow the head, shoulders and pelvis to sink in whilst maintaining the firm pressure required to support the spine. This system provides optimum support for the entire body, encouraging blood circulation and therefore cell renewal.

26 cm thickness

7 differentiated support zones

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― P R O D U C T ―

12 swirls

SOFTNESS THAT LEAVES NOTHING TO CHANCE No fewer than 1350 micro-springs per square metre are arrayed within the core. Individual- ly, these are very flexible, but collectively they provide much firmer support, like so many ‘little hands’ gently supporting each part of the body. Three layers of different springs are laid out around the shoulder zone to absorb the additional pressure in this sensitive area.

gentleness of hours of thousands For

EACH SPRING HAS ITS OWN EFFECT Designing a comfortable mattress is not that difficult; ensuring its support endures over a period of several years is far more of a challenge. The type of spring used is one key factor in a mattress’ durability and cha- racter. For instance, the firmness and elasti- city of a spring depend on its circumference, the thickness of the wire used, and the nu- mber of coils. The Soprano’s micro springs are 12-coiled; depending on the desired fir- mness, they are made with 0.8mm, 0.9mm or 1mm diameter wire, itself made from a top- of-the-range, non-magnetic steel alloy.

1350 micro-springs

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― I N T E R V I E W ―

TANJA GRANDITS AND HER SECRET FOR SLEEPING WELL

TANJA GRANDITS

After an exhausting day in the kitchen of a leading restaurant, it’s vital to be able to get some sleep! Tanja Grandits does: the Basel-based chef knows how to handle the day’s pressure. While having a good bed is important to her, she also relies on plant extracts – and having a smile on her face.

Text - Wolfgang Fassbender, Picture - © Tanja & Simon Kurt

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― I N T E R V I E W ―

D oes Tanja Grandits bring to mind cuisine with a feminine touch, or simply a highly personal culinary ethos? It’s a fact that dishes by Tanja, a woman who’s made Basel her home, have a unique taste and a different style to that usually found in Swiss fine gastronomy: it’s the flavours and colours that make the difference. The perfectly balanced flavours of her bass with parsley and hazelnuts and her sweetbread with cumin and spinach are a definite hit, and their presentation produces an unexpected effect on the plate. Add to that a refined atmos- phere, a huge wine list and friendly service and you have plenty of reasons why customers flock enthusiastically to her restau- rant in the city’s Bruderholz district. Whatever the challenges, this woman from Swabia in southern Germany never lets her- self be caught off balance. Her routines and interactions, her healthy lifestyle, and a good bed all help Tanja Grandits get a good night’s sleep.

Firstly, you need to have fini- shed the day in your mind. In the evening, I sit down on the sofa in the private kitchen

Is there a secret recipe for getting to sleep easily and sleeping well?

with my daughter Emma, who I work with, and we review the day – the good and the bad, then we move on; that can be learned. Anything we do regularly for three weeks becomes a

Mrs Grandits, as a gourmet and a chef you have a stressful job. Do you manage to sleep well in spite of all that?

Yes, I sleep very well! That’s my miracle cure, and has been ever since I was a young child. I fall asleep as soon as I lie down, after three or four minutes. That’s

the case every day, even when I’m on holiday. I feel sorry for all those people who don’t manage to do the same, perhaps tossing and turning for hours on end during the night. It’s a gift – but the quality of the bed and the pillow is important too. After searching for a long time, I now have a soft mattress and a special pillow that’s perfect for my neck.

habit. And one good ritual I can recommend involves lavender essential oil! It’s great to put a drop on your pillow and on the soles of your feet in the evenings. It calms me down and only takes a minute. I also believe that eating the right food helps us sleep. I use a lot of herbs and spices in my dishes, such as ca- raway. I use it for its taste rather than its properties, but it does have a beneficial effect. The environment in the bedroom must be right too: you need to create a good atmosphere. Certain plants help you sleep, and you can make the most of them too.

You have to keep working until late in the evening. Is it important to be able to know when enough’s enough and unplug?

Yes, you have to be strict with yourself to some extent. I always have to ask myself if wasting my energy is the right thing; wouldn’t it be bet- ter if I got up feeling fresh the

Sometimes waking is a bit like going to bed. What’s waking up like for you?

I wake up at half-past five in the morning without an alarm (although I do set one). It’s important to start the day

next morning? I don’t have to stay at the Stucki every evening until the last customers leave. Why should I? Of course I stay so long as we’re still serving food, checking the dishes leaving the kitchen. But I have a really great team who look after our customers properly. We have a very smooth and efficient ope- ration here; 90% of our tables are always taken! A few years ago we had 38 employees; now we have 48. I might not be able to sit down and enjoy a drink during the week, but I do love champagne!

on a good note. You just need to stay in bed for ten minutes. I smile, because I once read that we secrete happiness hor- mones when we smile, even if there’s no reason for us to! Then I stretch and do my exercises, followed by my little secret: mat- cha tea with frothy oat milk. It’s absolutely delicious! Up until two years ago, I drank far too much coffee – as many as twelve or even fifteen cups. Then one day I stopped. Now, I drink cof-

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― I N T E R V I E W ―

fee only in the afternoons, with dark chocolate made by our pastry chef Julien. I take matcha tea with me when I travel, too.

Travelling involves some compromises when it comes to sleep, of course, but I sleep well even when I’m on the road.

THE COURAGE OF INDEPENDENCE Tanja Grandits comes from the Swabian Jura, a chain of mountains in south- west Germany, but her career as a chef soon brought her into contact with the wider world. She worked at renowned restaurants in London and France before opening her own restaurant with her husband René Graf in Eschikofen, Thurgau. In 2006, she was elected chef of the year by the GaultMillau guide. But it was in Basel that Grandits found her true destiny in 2008, where she followed in the footsteps of legendary chef Hans Stucki. She has preserved and extended the culinary fame of the venerable Bruderholz establishment, home to a restaurant and delicatessen in the basement. 19 points in the GaultMillau guide, two Michelin stars and many other distinctions bear witness to Grandits’ talent. The experienced team is one of the secrets of her success: head chef Marco Böhler, master chef Gregory Rohmer, wine waiter Christian Juppe and pastry chef Julien Duvernay have been working alongside Grandits for many years now – as has her daughter Emma, with whom the entrepreneur and author of recipe books loves to travel and talk.

FOR

lastingly

better

nights

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― OUR FAVOURITES ―

DO YOU WANT TO SINK INTO FEATHERS ?

SLEEP LIKE ROYALTY

The edging strip allows the filling to provide volume and support right to the edge of the pillow. This model is especially recommended for people who sleep on their side. Thanks to the best down and small feathers, our pillows adjust to your neck, ensuring you stay comfortable all through the night.

TRY OUR UNRIVALLED DUVETS AND PILLOWS…

Our generous down bedding is truly a delight for the senses. It’s comfortable, soft, light and warm... There’s no doubt that the Elite collection includes the model that’s right for the season – and for your personal tastes.

The perfect pillow exists! You’ll find yours in our large selection.

RESPONSIBLE DUVETS

BORNE ON A CLOUD

All our duvets have DOWNPASS certification guaranteeing the quality, transparency, and traceability of our products. The feathers and down used come from ethical sources.

Our Imperial model duvets are opulent, light, and soft, filled with silvery white new wild goose down. They’re made with the very best materials – you’ll feel as though you’re in a cosy nest! Do you feel the cold and like to snuggle up in a warm duvet? Or are you one of those people who are always trying to stay cool and are perfectly happy with a featherweight duvet? Either way, you’ll certainly be able to find the one that’s right for you in our duvet collection.

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― OUR FAVOURITES ―

ELEGANT, COMFORTABLE BEDDING

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pages created by Sophie Franklin

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― ENVIRONMENT ―

“MANUFACTURERS THEMSELVES KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE HOW THEY CAN TAKE ACTION .”

YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND

Picturegrapher Yann Arthus-Bertrand has travelled the globe – and has been committed to protecting the planet for many years. He’s taking his action a step further through his GoodPlanet Foundation, investing in environmental education and the fight against climate change, and recognised as a foundation in the public interest since 2005.

Text - Sophie Franklin, Picture - © Quentin Jumeaucourt

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― ENVIRONMENT ―

M any of us will remember the Picturegraphs published by Yann Arthus-Bertrand in his book Earth from Above, especially the one of a heart-shaped island in the middle of the New Caledonian mangrove, which has become emblematic of his work. We went to meet this ecologist – and found someone who is in love both with Planet Earth and with those who live on it.

by individuals, not robots, whereas at the end of the day politicians are controlled by their electorate. That’s why personal engagement is so fundamental.

and not at all sceptical; they were there with plenty of optimism, to try to change the world. They sent a report to Emmanuel Macron. Of course, this has yet to be acted upon, but it was very exciting to see their amazing enga- gement... You know, 40,000 people taking to the streets to demonstrate for the climate is something that makes us happy. But when the winners of the World Cup come home, there are two million people in the streets. When there are two million people in the streets demonstrating not for the climate but for life on earth, the world will be a changed place!

changed is that I haven’t taken a plane for five years now. I could have stopped sooner, but that’s the way things are… For my most recent film, LEGACY, our heritage, we recycled footage we’d already filmed to avoid having to travel, as well as commissioning footage from local drone operators.

Manufacturers them- selves know better than anyone else how they can take action. If, as a mattress manu- facturer, you challenge yourselves about the materials you use in your products, how you trans-

Your GoodPlanet Foundation offers companies a GoodSME charter. What kind of role can they play?

For many years now, you’ve been raising people’s awareness of the need to care for the environment by using beautiful landscapes from around our planet. Is that more effective than negative pictures?

Unfortunately, I don’t believe that a very beautiful Picture of a glacier, mountain, or desert can in and of itself change the world. Besides, there’s beauty in the actions of people demonstrating love,

Do you think individual efforts are enough to tackle climate change, or do we need industrial commitments on a much larger scale?

I’ve stopped eating meat;

port them, where they come from, and how they can

be recycled or repaired, your individual decisions will have global conse- quences. Every business leader can make their business meaningful and more virtuous. The main thing is to do something. I believe that taking action is a source of happiness. Businesses can play a huge role; we mustn’t forget that the money for growth comes from them

I’m in the process of doing without dairy products too, so as to avoid animal suffering.

I don’t see any difference between individual com- mitments and those of bu- sinesses. The main thing is for us all to be aware of what’s happening. I’ve just given a talk by videoconfe- rence to one thousand children in a school in Belgium; I struggled to find the right words, because young people today are warning us about the end of the world, the destruction of the planet, and so on. Despite this, we remain incapable of curbing our appe- tite for growth at all costs. The louder the alarms soun- ded by the IPCC, the more CO2 emissions rise. We’re being reckless in the extreme, even though we know that all it would take would be a reduction in our use of fossil fuels of 5% a year. This cannot be achieved so long as we remain in a system in which growth reigns supreme, vir- tually to the point of becoming a religion – not least be- cause states, hospitals, and so on are funded by growth. Our everyday life depends on growth: our purchasing power, jobs, and all the rest. That said, there’s no reason why any and all of us shouldn’t do something about it – and that includes bedmakers. Companies are controlled

sharing and giving too. That beauty is what love is, in fact. I believe my films Woman and Human are impor- tant because they evoke something more than simply the beauty of the world around us. Saying that the beauty of the world will change the world might sound reassuring, but I think those are just empty words. Indeed, every time I show beauty, I get the impression that what I depict falls far short of what I’ve actually seen. You don’t need to go to South America to see beauty: there’s beauty right next to where I live – in my local forest, for instance; in the harmony of nature, all around us.

In 2009 ecologist and Picture- grapher Yann Arthus-Bertrand was appointed ‘Goodwill Am- bassador’ for the United Nations Environment Programme.

and them alone: they are what keep countries afloat. That means they play a key role, much more so than the state in my view. They hold the keys.

150 French people were picked at random from a whole range of social and political backgrounds to devise measures to tackle

You directed the film about the Citizens’ Convention for Climate. What are your feelings about that initiative?

On a more personal note, what have you changed in your own behaviour to cut down on your emissions?

I’ve stopped eating meat; I’m in the pro- cess of doing without dairy products too, so as to avoid animal suf-

climate change, without any prior knowledge of ecolo- gy or environmental challenges. They were able to learn together and identify solutions using their collective in- telligence. Their lives were utterly changed by this expe- rience. I realised that this is where the solution lies: wor- king together on a huge collective project is how we can hope to change things some day. They were less cynical,

fering. Of course, if you eat cheese the way it’s made in the Swiss Alps, you don’t need to stop; but sadly in France, three-quarters of the cheese we eat is indus- trially produced. If you can buy meat directly from small pig or cattle farms, where the animals are reared huma- nely on a small scale, that’s okay too. Another thing I’ve

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‑ 35 ‑

― N U T R I T I O N ―

ami Niederhauser is a qualified health and nutrition advisor. In recent years she has continued to expand her knowledge, and now practises a holistic approach that takes

into account both individuals’ physical particularities and their emotional state. Dami believes there is a direct link between diet, sleep and health.

Is there a magic formula for good sleep?

It’s difficult to make universally applicable recommendations! We’re all individuals, each with

different metabolisms. What I focus on is helping people get to know themselves better. We all have sleep intelligence and we need to get back in touch with it. Flatulence, acid reflux and migraine headaches after a meal are all signals sent by the body to say that something’s not right; you just need to listen to them.

Do some eating habits encourage sleep?

In general, I can recommend not eating after 8pm; most people don’t sleep well on a full stomach.

LETTING GO TO FIND REST Dami Niederhauser gave a talk about the effects of diet on sleep at our Elite Gallery store in Basel. On that occasion, she emphasised that relaxation also plays a key role in a good night’s sleep and offered a few tips to help with that, including writing: “Those who need to empty their minds can keep a diary or write a to-do list for the following day. Writing is a way of putting down and ordering things we’re stressed about, helping us get to sleep faster.”

When the body is busy digesting, it’s following a biological cycle. At four o’clock in the morning, the liver and kidneys get to work on purifying the body, and a lot of people wake up at that time. If you then find it difficult to get back to sleep, placing a hot water bottle on the right side of your body can soothe your liver and help you do so. That said, you shouldn’t go to bed on an empty stomach, either.

HOW DOES OUR DIET AFFECT OUR SLEEP ?

Do certain foods have a negative impact on our sleep?

Raw foods have the reputation of being difficult to digest, and therefore being harmful to the quality of our sleep. However, I’m

DAMI NIEDERHAUSER - NUTRITIONIST

one of those people who can eat a salad at 10pm without experiencing any difficulty at all. It’s true though that animal proteins (amongst other things) are more difficult to digest, as are spicy foods which can cause heartburn and reflux; what’s more, they heat the body from the inside just when we need to lower our temperature in order to go to sleep.

Diet has a direct effect on our sleep. While sleep is a personal matter and there are no one-size- fits-all recommendations, a few good ideas and habits can put the odds in your favour when it comes to deep, healthy sleep.

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― N U T R I T I O N ―

A TASTY BOWL, THEN OFF TO SLEEP!

RECIPE FROM DAMI NIEDERHAUSER

What we eat does indeed have an effect on our sleep, then; would you say that hydration plays an important role, too?

The human body is 60% water. Poor hydration causes headaches and blood pressure imbalance, which can also result in disturbed

Within the space of a few years, the ‘Bowl’ has become a global culinary phenomenon. This new practice of eating from a bowl is a way of varying foods and having a more balanced, less restrictive diet. Dami Niederhauser left us her recipe for easy-to-digest ‘Buddha bowls’, a vegetarian meal comprising a mix of vegetables, pulses and seeds to cleanse the liver.

sleep. Don’t rely on coffee, alcohol, or soft drinks to hydrate your body. Only water and unsweetened teas provide the body with the water it needs. Drink throughout the day if you don’t want to end up waking up at night. I also recommend not drinking coffee after 4pm.

METHOD Preparation time: approx. 30 minutes 1. Rinse the quinoa in warm water. Bring to the boil in twice its volume of water and cook over a low heat for 15-20 minutes. 2. Peel the mango and avocado, remove the stones and cut into cubes. 3. Briefly rinse the young spinach in cold water and gently wipe it with a tea towel. Pat dry. 4. Cut the peppers in half, remove the seeds, wash them and cut into cubes. 5. Divide the quinoa, mango, avocado, young spinach shoots and peppers into two large bowls. 6. In the meantime, prepare the vinaigrette by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix, season with the herbs and pepper, and add to the salad. 7. Finally, sprinkle with seeds.

BUDDHA BOWLS INGREDIENTS TO SERVE 2-3 • 200g quinoa • 1 mango • 1 avocado • 4 - 5 handfuls young spinach shoots • 2 red peppers • 2 dessertspoons mixed seeds (sunflower and marrow seeds) FAT FREE VINAIGRETTE • 2 dessertspoons maple syrup

Are there some foods that help you sleep?

A lot of people sleep better when they eat whole carbohydrates

such as those found in potatoes, vegetables and rice, because these relax the body. To help with digestion, steamed or oven-cooked vegetables with a drizzle of olive oil are preferable to fried vegetables. Some might say a mug of hot milk with honey will help you sleep, but of course that’s not a good idea for those who are lactose- intolerant! Another tip is that our bodies naturally produce melatonin when our pineal gland (located behind the eyes) is no longer exposed to bright light. This hormone regulates our circadian rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep. It’s very interesting to note that certain foods – including mushrooms and tomatoes – contain this precious melatonin, so it can be a good idea to eat them in the evening.

• Juice of 1 lemon • Juice of 1 orange • 1-3 cloves garlic • Spices to taste

• Crystallised salt, pepper, chilli • Approx. 150-200ml depending on your preferred consistency

Any final pieces of advice for those for whom the sandman still hasn’t turned up?

In addition to lavender, camomile, hop, valerian and lemon balm infusions, food supplements such as

ashwagandha sleeping berries combined with magnesium and vitamin B6 can be helpful. These also activate the pineal gland, where melatonin is produced, and can be a wonderful help with sleep problems, in particular during the menopause.

DAMI NIEDERHAUSER’S TIP What’s good about Buddha Bowls is being able to create tasty dishes at home, where you can give your creativity free rein. Don’t set yourself strict rules – and have fun!

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‑ 39 ‑

― P R O D U C T ―

THE OTHER GREAT GATSBY Gatsby is the latest addition to our bed collection. Featuring Art Deco-style curves, it draws on the entire gamut of Elite craftsmen’s expertise and all the wealth of materials used by the firm.

rawing inspiration from The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, the bed’s design uses the Art Deco style to great effect. Its poetic forms take us back a hundred years in a delightful bout of nostalgia, to a time when luxury was elegant and refined. Dive into the Art Deco style Our stylists have used the geometric shape most associated with Art Deco, namely the arch, giving it a new, more contemporary take along the way. The piping on the velvet traces a remarkable, unique trajectory. The bed itself is the perfect match for elegant, classical interiors. If you want to really showcase it, you could add other furniture featuring daring geometric shapes or spectacular ornaments. A generous atmosphere The bed was designed by stylists Fuhua Wang and Weichih, winners of the 2018 Elite Design Award and graduates of the Milan Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti. It’s available in any colour; its designers are especially fond of this latest version which further enhances its peaceful, relaxed ethos. Even more importantly than the precise shade, the true secret lies in the interplay of colours and materials that’s so typical of Art Deco boldness and extravagance. The Gatsby will give your bedroom a truly great and refined atmosphere.

Even more importantly than the precise shade, the true secret lies in the interplay of colours and materials that’s so typical of Art Deco boldness and extravagance.

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‑ 41 ‑

― ENVIRONMENT ―

ECO -LOGIC

Self-sufficiency In all, 386 solar panels have been installed on the roof of Elite’s manufacturing facility in Aubonne in the canton of Vaud. With total a surface area of over 750 square metres, the panels generate 175 MWh per year, enough to provide power for 39 homes , as Julien Frossard, engineer and project manager in the photovoltaic department of Société Électrique des Forces de l’Aubonne (SEFA), the contractors responsible for the installation, explains. The new power output will completely offset the entire electricity consumption of the site’s production workshops and offices. Some of the power produced will even be dispatched into the grid. Applying our values In addition to energy self-sufficiency, the installation allows Elite to apply its values in terms of sustainability and ecology once again, providing customers with products manufactured using low-carbon electricity. While conventionally-produced Swiss electricity corresponds to average emissions of 120 g CO 2 /kWh, solar panel installations account for emissions of just 40 g CO 2 /kWh on average, thus saving the planet 80 g CO 2 / kWh, the equivalent of 14 tonnes of CO 2 per year. Widespread enthusiasm Elite has been preparing for the installation of these panels for the past three years. Amid energy shortages and skyrocketing electricity prices, consumers and companies alike are increasingly turning to installers to fit similar power production facilities on their roofs. “If everybody followed their example, the energy transition would be much easier,” says Julien Frossard. The engineer has just one slight regret. “Ten years ago, these installations were much more expensive, putting some people off, but there could have been more uptake three years ago when prices were more competitive,” he says. To make matters even more complicated, there are now shortages of some components in the wake of the pandemic, such as inverters.

ELITE LOWERS ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT

In a further demonstration of Elite’s sustainable development policy and our commitment as an economic stakeholder to tomorrow’s world, our factory roof is now home to over three hundred solar panels.

An economy for the planet of 80 g CO 2 /kWh

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