Sleep & live beautifully | Is sleep important to you ?
ELITENESS SLEEP & LIVE BEAUTIFULLY
DESIGN MY BED BY ELITE
ADVICE ON GETTING BACK TO SLEEP WITH MICHÈLE FREUD
Life begins with true sleep
SWISS MANUFACTURING SINCE 1895 FIND YOUR NEAREST ELITE GALLERY ON WWW.ELITEBEDS.CH
― E D I T O R I A L ―
MEMORY MATTERS
Good sleep is vital for health in general and cognitive abilities in particular. Sleep specialist Véronique Negrel tells us how recently- formed memories are transferred from short- to long- term memory while we’re asleep (interview p.7)
Speaking of the long term, Elite is getting ready to celebrate its 130 th anniversary next year.
At such a venerable age, few SMEs in French- speaking Switzerland can lay claim to still being alert, inventive, and with their sights firmly set on the future – but Elite is a family business and like many of its peers it’s focused on the long term as a result. Family firms tend to prefer long-term strategy to short-term gains and Elite is no exception to the rule; the company has established an invaluable heritage in which knowhow built up over the years really is handed down personally, from Jules-Henri Caillet to his
granddaughter Edith Caillet and then to François Pugliese in 2006.
Last year Marie Pugliese joined Elite’s Board of Directors, marking the integration of the next generation into the brand’s DNA. Her arrival embodies both preservation and innovation: true heirs are not simply content to reproduce the past. Having followed further education in law and economics, like those before her, Marie Pugliese is well-placed to take care of the Vaud specialist in prestige bedding that’s the pride of the canton. Indeed, the Elite brand is very much part of the collective unconscious in French-speaking Switzerland, where just about everybody has slept on an Elite mattress at some point. Today, the company also covers German-speaking Switzerland and is expanding across Europe, as well as aiming to make inroads into the Asian market.
Welcome aboard, Marie!
Marie & François Pugliese
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INES
Welcome to our ‘Chambre à part’ catalogue – an invitation to fire up your imagination and be creative!
― C O N T E N T S ―
30 _ DESIGN MY BED BY ELITE
4 _ NEWS 7 _ RESEARCH SLEEP AND MEMORY
22 _ OUR STAR PRODUCT MAJESTIC SLEEP WITHOUT MISSING A SINGLE BEAT!
24 _ ENVIRONMENT THE MANY BENEFITS OF WOOD
36 _ INTERVIEW PRESTIGE BEDS FOR A PRESTIGE CLIENTELE
11 _ HEALTH TENNIS & REST 15-ALL
42 _ LUXURY PERFECTION: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS
28 _ OUR FAVOURITES NEW FIBRES THAT ARE GENTLE ON THE SKIN – & GOOD FOR THE PLANET
14 _ MICHELE FREUD ON GETTING BACK TO SLEEP
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― N E W S ―
Sports are good for your health in more ways than one, but do they help you sleep? In the scientific review Frontiers, researchers at the University of Caen have published their findings about the effects on sleep quality of practicing sport just before going to bed. Sixteen Science and Technique of Physical and Sports Activities (STAPS) students were assessed a er engaging in physical exercise one hour before going to bed. The research revealed that physical effort resulted in poorer quality sleep, with higher levels of cortisol and more electrical activity in the brain, indicating that it’s best to avoid practicing sport within two hours of going to bed. DAILY HABITS: IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO PRACTICE SPORT JUST BEFORE BEDTIME?
SCIENCE: SLEEP APNEA MAY BE BAD FOR YOUR MEMORY
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (more commonly known as sleep apnea) is a disorder where the sleeper’s breathing pauses or their respiratory flow decreases. Although these brief interruptions in breathing last only a few seconds, they result in lower blood oxygen levels which in turn lead to tiny but incessant periods of wakefulness, unbeknown to the sleeper.
According to new research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, sleep apnea sufferers may also be more likely to have cognitive and memory problems.
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― N E W S ―
LIVING: IS SLEEP PARALYSIS DANGEROUS?
The bewilderment, apprehension and anxiety experienced during sleep paralysis may be more dangerous than the phenomenon itself. If sleep paralysis occurs o en and becomes a problem, sufferers may consult a health professional. Sleep specialist and psychologist Annie Vallières suggests sufferers start by talking to their family physician or contact a psychologist specialising in the treatment of insomnia and familiar with sleep disorders. “Anxiety usually decreases once sufferers have had the phenomenon explained to them, as does the frequency of its occurrence” , she says.
That’s the estimated annual cost of lost sleep in Switzerland! According to Inglina Keller, prevention advisor at SUVA, the Swiss body insurance for accident and occupational disease, “the number of accidents due to trips and falls at work and in daily life increases fivefold. It’s four times as high during work with tools and machinery and increases by a factor of between 2 and 5 for related work such as tidying up and storage”. Not getting enough sleep is unhealthy – and apparently makes doing your job properly harder, too. TODAY’S NUMBER: CHF8-10 BILLION
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VICTORIA
Welcome to our ‘Chambre à part’ catalogue – an invitation to fire your imagination and be creative!
― R E S E A R C H ―
Dr Véronique Negrel has been practising at the Providence hospital in Neuchâtel since 2016 and is a member of the Swiss Society for Sleep Research. Elite invited her to talk about the influence of sleep on memory and its impact on brain health. WITH SLEEP AND LUNG SPECIALIST DR VÉRONIQUE NEGREL SLEEP AND MEMORY
Text - Witold Langlois, Picture - ©Valentin Brindesi - ©Milad Fakurian
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― R E S E A R C H ―
W
“We can’t control our memory or our dreams; they derive from our individual experiences,
What is memory, exactly? Memory is our ability to record, keep and use information. We can’t control our memory or our dreams; they derive from our individual experiences, which are by nature subjective. Every day we’re learning more about the neurophysiological mechanisms that support memory and learning processes. Research is underway to look at how changes to these processes also change the way memory is consolidated, as well as how ageing affects them. How is memory consolidated during sleep? Sleep is vital! For one thing, it helps with both learning and memory consolidation. The latter can be defined as a processes over time that lasts anything from several minutes to several hours, during which fragile, recently-acquired memory traces are strengthened in long- term memory. It’s an excellent example of the plasticity of the brain, in other words its ability to adapt its structure to incorporate new experiences. The field is expanding rapidly, as are research hypotheses investigating these highly complex mechanisms. I’d like to mention two dominant models: - the hippocampo-neocortical dialogue According to this theory, recently-learned information is quickly stored and kept temporarily during the day in parts of the hippocampus, an essential part of our brain that contains thousands of highly-connected neurones that look a little like tree roots. These memories are then transferred more slowly to long-term neocortical memory while we’re asleep. - the synaptic homeostasis theory This theoretical approach sees memory consolidation as a regulated homeostatic process, in other words our brain maintaining a stable balance in memory reinforcement in the same way that our body makes sure to maintain constant body temperature. The ability to recall facts and events such as historical dates, a person’s name, or the information required to pass an exam is referred to as declarative memory. Acquiring motor skills, for example when learning to walk, dance, or drive a car, is referred to as procedural memory. Together, these two types of memory make up long-term memory.
which are by nature subjective”.
Picture - ©Hai Gatewood
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― R E S E A R C H ―
The importance of REM sleep Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is a specific sleep phase characterised by intense brain activity similar to that observed during wakefulness but during which the body’s muscles are highly inhibited, with the exception of respiratory and eye muscles. Received wisdom up until 2001 was that memory was organised during REM sleep. Later, most people held that declarative memory happened during deep slow sleep and that procedural memory was formed during REM sleep. However, REM sleep has come to the fore again since 2018; it is this phase that facilitates all the various mechanisms for memorisation and the regulation of stress and emotions: the key components of our mental and physical wellbeing, in other words. Successive slow, deep and REM sleep cycles also play a crucial role. What happens to sleep when diseases occur? Most research into sleep disorders and dementia has been done in relation to Alzheimer’s disease. 25-35% of Alzheimer’s patients suffer from such disorders, with prolonged nighttime periods of wakefulness resulting in fragmented sleep and the decrease or disappearance of deep slow sleep and changes in REM sleep. Levels of beta-amyloid (a protein that forms naturally in the brain) in interstitial brain fluid increase during sleep deprivation, so a disrupted wake-sleep cycle could play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. During deep slow sleep, research suggests an increase in the volume of the interstitial space and convective exchanges of cerebrospinal fluid, facilitating the elimination of potentially neurotoxic waste such as beta-amyloid, which builds up in the nervous system while we’re awake. This is why fragmented sleep is so harmful.
Picture - ©Bret Kavanaugh
Picture - ©Viad Sargu
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ANAIS
Welcome to our ‘Chambre à part’ catalogue – an invitation to fire up your imagination and be creative!
― H E A L T H ―
TENNIS & REST 15-ALL
Sleep is a cornerstone of sports performance and especially important in elite sports such as tennis. Top athletes are well aware of this: a good night’s sleep is just as important as a demanding training session and a balanced diet.
Text - Jean-Christophe Aeschlimann Picture - ©Ryan Searle
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― H E A L T H ―
U
"Up to twelve hours a day”: Roger Federer has o en said in interviews that sleep is one of the secrets of his success. “Sleep is an essential part of my training regimen”, he says. “That’s when the body recovers and prepares for future challenges on court.” Sleep is important due to the many different ways it affects the mind and body. For one thing, it plays an essential role in muscle recovery. During sleep, the body releases growth hormones that help repair muscle tissue damaged during intense training sessions. This helps athletes recover faster and maximises their muscle-building potential. Sleep is also crucial for consolidating memory and learning motor skills. Athletes have to be constantly sharpening their techniques and strategies to excel in their sport, and sleep plays a key role in the process. Studies have shown that sleep
improves the brain’s ability to consolidate motor skills, enabling athletes to react faster and more accurately during matches. In addition, sleep is closely linked to mood regulation and mental wellbeing. Not getting enough rest can o en result in increased stress, anxiety and irritability, and this can have a negative impact on sports performance. Adequate sleep, on the other hand, contributes to better stress management and a positive mental attitude. According to the Association of Tennis Professionals, sportsmen and women who get less than eight hours’ sleep a night are 68% more likely to injure themselves. As you can see, what happens at night is just as important for a match as what happens on court during the day.
Novak Djokovic “Sleep is one of the pillars of my
performance on court. I make sure I stick to a regular sleep routine because I know it has a direct effect on my ability to play at my best.”
Serena Williams “I make sure I sleep at least eight hours a night. Sleep is crucial for my mental and physical recovery, helping me to be competitive in every match I play.”
Naomi Osaka “I take my sleep very seriously. It’s the key to keeping my concentration and energy levels up during tournaments. If I didn’t get enough sleep, I wouldn’t be able to compete at top level.”
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― H E A L T H ―
PIERRE PAGANINI: “THERE’S NO GOOD RECOVERY WITHOUT GOOD SLEEP”
We met Pierre Paganini (just back from a training session with Stan Wawrinka) in Lausanne. In the world of tennis, Paganini (65) is seen as one of the best athletic trainers around. As we discussed sleep with him, he exuded energy and intensity, as well as suitably professional discretion.
Dialogue and attentiveness are essential...
Is recovery holistic in nature? The athlete has to recover, as do their muscles and the emotions of the individual themselves. What impresses me in champions is their ability to turn up at your place and act as if nothing’s wrong, even when they’ve had a bad day. A person’s recovery pace is completely different from their athletic pace. Recuperation is just as important as training. Sleep is very important too, of course; there’s no good recovery without good sleep. In tennis, you have to take into account the irregular time slots and different time zones. Players never stay longer than three weeks in one place, all year round. They know how to pace their own recovery; every athlete has their own way of managing it.
The more time goes by, the more you get the feeling that the details are what makes the difference. That’s one of Federer’s strengths: when he tells you what he’s feeling, there’s no doubt that he’s being completely transparent. Like ‘Rodger’, Stan too has a straightforward way of saying things and has always been very up-front. That’s worth its weight in gold when it comes to recovery. In the final analysis, dialogue always saves the day. We get down to the nitty-gritty, looking for the little details that could make a difference, and we get there by talking about it. The reason I’ve had the privilege of training these players for so long is that we’ve never stopped talking.
THE SWISS MEDICAL CENTER’S ADVICE ON SPORT AND RECUPERATION According to experts from the Swiss Olympic Medical Center at La Tour Hospital, Geneva, good recovery helps reduce pain, muscle fatigue and the risk of injury and infection, as well as the danger of overtraining. Most importantly, good recuperation is all about preparing for the next effort, too.
HERE’S THE EXPERTS’ ADVICE!
ADOPT A MEAL PLAN Have a snack 30-60 minutes a er a training session followed by a full meal 2-4 hours later to rehydrate, replenish glycogen stocks and contribute to protein synthesis.
SLEEP IN A COOL ENVIRONMENT Eight to ten hours’ sleep are necessary in a dark, subdued, cool environment. Im- mersion in cold water improves blood flow back to the heart and reduces inflamma- tion and muscle pain.
MANAGE YOUR STRESS Stress and mental fatigue have a negative effect on recovery. Relaxation and stress management techniques can be helpful, as can physical exercise.
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― A D V I C E ―
ON GETTING BACK TO SLEEP
MICHÈLE FREUD / SOPHROLOGIST & PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Sigmund Freud’s great-granddaughter Michèle Freud is a sophrologist and psychotherapist – and has authored two books on sleep. Here she shares a few relaxation exercises for adults and children.
Sleeping well is an art. There are nights when for unknown reasons we miss the ‘sleep train’, even when we carefully follow the five top sleep tips. When that happens, we can help our stubborn brains get back on the sleep track with a series of sophrology exercises.
- 1 - RECOGNISE THE SIGNS OF SLEEPINESS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY
- 2 - FOLLOW A BEDTIME ROUTINE
- 3 - MAKE SURE TO SLEEP IN A SOOTHING ENVIRONMENT
- 4 - COMMIT TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
- 5 - CREATE A PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE
5 TOP TIPS
Text - Regine Buxtorf, Picture - ©Luca Bravo - ©Michel Freud
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― A D V I C E ―
FOR ADULTS RELAXATION EXERCISES
GET RID OF NERVOUS TENSION Imagine a scene that you like and that makes you feel peaceful. Soak up these peaceful images, engaging all your senses: sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch.
Stay in this environment for about five minutes, imagining the different features of nature. Enjoy the feeling of wellbeing this brings.
Now start listening to your calm, abdominal breathing. Then breathe in slowly through your nose, pushing your tummy out. When you breathe out, imagine your body and mind soaking up nature and relaxing more and more.
Repeat the exercise regularly to create an environment of calm.
FOR CHILDREN RELAXATION EXERCISES
SLEEP SAFELY WITH THE GUARDIAN OF SLEEP Let your child settle comfortably in their bed and ask them to begin by breathing in and out a few times, then quietly read them the following text: Now you’re lying peacefully in bed, imagine the guardian of sleep. They’re coming to say goodnight and tell you that they’ll be watching over your sleep all night long. How do they look like? Get your child to describe them. Some children see a castle guard, others a guardian angel, others a hero with protective super-powers. Take a good look... See what they look like; look at the colour of them clothes. They are smiling at you. They are there to protect you and help you sleep well, and you can let them look a er your sleep knowing that if you wake up in the night, you can call them, talk to them, and tell them everything that’s bothering you; they are your guardian, they are watching over you. Now they are moving away to let you go to sleep, but you know you can call them whenever you want to... They are saying goodnight now!
Finish by saying goodnight and leaving the bedroom. You could even suggest that they draw a picture of their guardian.
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― A D V I C E ―
THE SLEEP TRAIN
Every night, our sleep is organised into between four and six successive cycles or ‘trains’. Each cycle lasts around 90 minutes and includes various stages.
Between two ‘sleep trains’, we wake up for a few seconds before falling straight back to sleep – but sometimes we miss the next ‘train’, and that’s when we have a period of insomnia.
20 '
30 '
40 '
10 '
The body is resting, producing antibodies and growth hormone.
Dream sleep
5-10 mins
70-100 mins
10-15 mins
GOING TO SLEEP You go to bed. You feel good
VERY LIGHT SLOW SLEEP You can hear noises in the house but don’t feel like reacting to them. You can understand conversations.
LIGHT SLEEP You can still hear but you no longer make sense of what you’re hearing.
DEEP SLOW SLEEP You can no longer hear anything. You’re cut off from the world.
VERY DEEP SLOW SLEEP You sleep very deeply.
RAPID EYE MOVEMENT SLEEP The brain recharges its batteries and logs what it’s learned during the day.
LATENCY You wake up – or get on board a new ‘train’.
If you don’t go to bed when the ‘sleep train’ comes, you’re very likely not to get to sleep before the next cycle, typically around 90 to 120 minutes later. This is also the average length of a period of insomnia.
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CAPUCINE
Welcome to our ‘Chambre à part’ catalogue – an invitation to fire your imagination and be creative!
― FOR A PERFECT NIGHT'S SLEEP ―
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― FOR A PERFECT NIGHT'S SLEEP ―
THE RECIPE FOR A PERFECT NIGHT’S SLEEP
Elite has been a watchword for quality bedding for almost 130 years now. How comfortable your bed is has a major effect on sleep quality and ultimately, on your own wellbeing. Our Vaud-based firm has always made sprung beds, and today our beds offer the last word in comfort, support and temperature regulation; our historic and artisanal recipe has stood the test of time.
Text - Witold Langlois, Picture - ©Elite
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― FOR A PERFECT NIGHT'S SLEEP ―
I It’s such a delight to wake up in the morning feeling you’ve had a good night’s rest and are ready to start the day in a positive frame of mind, with plenty of drive and enthusiasm!
1. GUARANTEED COMFORT Elite has made this promise its core business. Made by cra smen in Aubonne, all our beds must meet strict specifications, creating a so environment to avoid any unpleasant pressure on the neck, shoulders or back and allowing the body to relax completely during sleep. Taking good care of your rest ensures the body can reduce the acidity built up by everyday stress and prevent joint and muscle pains and disorders. During rest, cells regenerate, memory is consolidated and the brain is flushed clean with plenty of cerebrospinal fluid. It’s not hard to see the wisdom of the saying that sleep is the best cure in the world!
2. UNWAVERING SUPPORT Elite has always used spring technology to ensure point-by-point support of the body. Our beds are the fruit of painstaking development; their pocket spring mattresses adjust to all body shapes and sleep positions. Arrayed into various comfort zones, the springs provide specific support for the neck, shoulder, spine, hips and legs, ensuring each part of the body is supported independently thanks to a design that reduces the number of pressure points and enhances a sense of weightlessness, as well as improving blood circulation to ensure maximum regeneration while you sleep. Mattresses that are too firm or too so can cause you to wake up, with sleepers roused by stiffness and pain. A good bed should provide a welcoming environment that prevents pain from pressure points as well as good support for the back, from the lower back to the neck.
3. STAYING DRY The structure of Elite springs provides highly effective ventilation. We lose some 50cl of water during sleep; this needs to be absorbed and removed in such a way as to preserve a cool, dry environment. That’s why Elite uses natural materials such as horsehair, wool, cashmere, silk, cotton and other plant fibres rather than synthetic fillings, so heat and moisture are fully regulated. This type of regulation is vital to ensure deep, restorative sleep.
Elite has cra ed its timeless solution for a good night’s sleep around the three key pillars of comfort, support and temperature regulation, all absolutely vital to prevent nights being disrupted by periods of wakefulness and ensure deep, reinvigorating sleep.
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― FOR A PERFECT NIGHT'S SLEEP ―
U
UNSULLIED NATURE Every day, each and every one of us breathes in around fi een thousand litres of air to keep our bodies working. Unfortunately, human activities give off large quantities of various pollutants that are harmful to our health. As a responsible company, Elite has adopted very stringent specifications to restrict its emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as these are detrimental to human health and the environment. Little-known by the general public, odourless and invisible to the naked eye (since they are concealed beneath the ticking), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful to sleepers’ health. For many years, Elite has committed to not using solvents, adhesives or other petrochemical derivatives and instead working with the most natural, untreated components possible. Many scientific studies have shown that what we breathe in from our mattress during sleep turns up in our blood and can result in serious respiratory diseases. By designing its mattresses using natural materials, our Vaud-based firm gives you the peace of mind you need to enjoy a safe, good night’s sleep. Our entire range of mattresses is European Ecolabel certified, guaranteeing that our bedding is absolutely free from chemicals and toxins. For almost 130 years now, Elite has been making beds and mattresses the artisanal way in its factory in Aubonne. The raw materials we use are one of the main reasons why our products last longer: quality Swiss wood, natural, local stuffing, plant fibre – and of course there’s also the outstanding knowhow of the carpenters and upholsterers working for us in Aubonne! When you choose an Elite bed, you’re making a long-term decision to take care of your heal.
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M MAESTRO ― OUR STAR PRODUCT ―
MAJESTIC SLEEP WITHOUT MISSING A SINGLE BEAT!
The word ‘Maestro’ immediately conjures up a sense of excellence and the promise of a perfect night’s sleep. Now, this promise has become a reality thanks to the expertise and painstaking attention to detail of Elite’s experienced master cra smen and women, transcending basic standards of comfort to deliver a flawless sleep experience. Discover the ideal combination of state-of-the-art technology and artisanal knowhow as you enter a world in which sleep becomes a form of therapy in its own right.
At the heart of this technological achievement lies a core of five layers of pocket springs in an ingenious design based on High-Low technology, providing both support and so ness. Like perfectly orchestrated musical scores, the anatomic comfort zones mould to your body shape, while the point-by- point support structure allows you to relax completely. With 2,020 springs per square metre, the Maestro mattress is the last word in comfort.
5 layers of pocket springs
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― OUR STAR PRODUCT ―
MAESTRO VIDEO
The Maestro’s finishings make it an absolute masterpiece of cra smanship. The quilting is done the traditional way, by hand, ensuring that the various layers of the mattress are perfectly maintained in position – and giving the bedding its uniquely so and gentle feel.
2’020 springs per square metre
35 cm
The Maestro uses an all-natural filling offering unrivalled quality: blond horsehair, alpaca wool, camel hair, SeaCell® plant fibre and Swiss lambswool, with tussah silk on the summer side and cashmere on the winter side. Each material is carefully selected on the basis of its qualities in terms of comfort and temperature regulation. The result is restorative sleep, whatever the season: every morning, you’ll wake up with a new spring in your step, ready to face the day.
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― ENVIRONMENT ―
THE MANY BENEFITS OF WOOD
INTERVIEW WITH DR FLORENCE AVIAT, HOLDER OF A PHD IN BIOLOGY AND FOUNDER OF YOUR RESEARCH – BIO SCIENTIFIC
Health and wood are at the heart of Florence Aviat's scientific research – and just as important to us here at Elite. We talked to a specialist in this noble, sustainable, and amazingly living substance.
Text - Witold Langlois, Picture - ©Florence Aviat
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― ENVIRONMENT ―
D
Dr Aviat, can you start by telling us what fields of research you’re involved in? Everything related to the inertia of wood, how it’s cleaned in the food industry, the health aspects of wood in certain structures, and the study of wood’s natural antibacterial properties. I study all this in partnership with various players in the sectors in question including professionals and public and private-sector research bodies. There’s talk of bacteria-eating wood... what’s that all about? Wood has some amazing natural properties. It’s highly absorbent; we talk about the porosity of wood. In the food industry, it’s been shown that live bacteria placed on an unvarnished wood surface can no longer be detected 24 hours later, whereas they can still be found a er a whole week on cardboard and plastic.
An experiment in Japan focusing on wood bathing In the Land of the Rising Sun, there are close cultural and traditional links with forests and wood is used in almost all buildings. What’s more, Japan is the only country in the world where shinrin-yoku (also known as sylvotherapy or wood bathing) has been practised as a medical discipline since 1982. Reducing stress at work and in school A large-scale experiment was carried out in schools in Austria in which 26 pupils worked in a room with pine, spruce and oak furniture while 26 others studied in a classroom with no wood. One of the major benefits was a decrease of 8,600 heartbeats per day! That’s the equivalent of two hours’ less heart activity per day, improving daytime
concentration and providing better sleep quality at night: the authors refer to this as the ‘deferred effect’ of wood. A study in Australia involving over 1,000 employees in working environments with and without wood revealed that those in a room with 40-60% of the furniture, doors, wall panels etc. made of wood had 4 fewer days’ sick leave per year due to a marked reduction in stress and an enhanced sense of wellbeing – so wood has economic benefits, too!
It’s also been demonstrated that wooden furniture has a positive impact on stress, sleep, concentration and wellbeing as a whole.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, a single study carried out on wood (unfortunately we don’t know the essence in question) established for the first time that the Covid virus could no longer be detected on a wooden surface a er 24 hours, whereas it was still to be found over a week later on stainless steel surfaces and lab coats in hospitals.
Some essences’ own intrinsic molecules are even more powerful. We now know that solid oak and Douglas fir can kill antibiotic-resistant golden staph. How are the therapeutic effects of wood deployed? Forests impart an immense sense of calm, affecting a range of physiological parameters: their peaceful surroundings, green colour and wood essences really do reduce anxiety. It’s also been demonstrated that wooden furniture has a positive impact on stress, sleep, concentration and wellbeing as a whole. This ties in with the concept of biophilia first put forward by Edward O. Wilson in the late 1970s: Wilson suggested that humans have an innate preference for natural environments and materials. A related theme is biophilic design: spaces designed with users’ wellbeing in mind in terms of sounds, materials and colours; wood is clearly one such construction material, significantly enhancing comfort and a sense of reassurance. There have been a number of very interesting experiments in this respect:
Therapeutic effects in a hospital environment Findings from two other studies clearly show a link between indoor furnishings, materials and health. In Norway, a study of over 180 patients found a correlation with shorter hospital stays. Patients had an art print, a photograph of a natural scene, or a wooden panel in their rooms; those in rooms with wooden panels were discharged from hospital sooner than the others. Another study conducted on some thirty patients in the oncology department of a hospital in Bratislava, Slovakia in 2019 measured a range of physiological parameters before and a er renovation work on the waiting room to replace conventional white walls with larch and pine. The wood environment correlated with a significant decrease in stress levels.
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― ENVIRONMENT ―
Less stress thanks to nature In Switzerland, research into the effects of immersive forest walks compared to walks in an urban environment are underway, looking more especially at the physical and psychological parameters of patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
Better sleep in the bedroom An Austrian study has found that sleeping in a Swiss pine bed reduces a person’s daily heart rate by 3,500 beats per day, thus improving sleep quality; imitation wood beds don’t produce the same effect. In conclusion, I’d like to add that all this research is promising, and shows that wood has a bright future!
For over fi een years now, Dr Florence Aviat has been conducting applied research into microbiology in and around Nantes, France. Her
main areas of interest include the relationship between wood and health, both for consumers (with respect to wood used in food production) and the health of users in general.
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LIA
Welcome to our ‘Chambre à part’ catalogue – an invitation to fire up your imagination and be creative!
― OUR FAVOURITES ―
NEW FIBRES THAT ARE GENTLE ON THE SKIN & GOOD FOR THE PLANET
E
Elite invites you to dive into the ultimate so ness to be found in its range of bed linen made with TENCEL™ Modal and hemp. Both these materials offer a perfect balance between comfort and environmental responsibility. Tencel™ Modal first appeared some fi y years ago. Derived from wood, it’s a kind of plant- based silk that has gradually been refined and is now established as a benchmark in terms of comfort and durability. Requiring twenty times less water than cotton to manufacture, it’s both strong and easy-care; it doesn’t shrink and keeps all its so ness and colour, even a er multiple washes.
VIRTUALLY WRINKLE-FREE
This regenerated cellulose fibre is a key ally when it comes to choosing your bed linen: it’s light, flexible, and almost impossible to crease. Night a er night, your bedclothes will still look immaculate.
Text - Regine Buxtorf, Picture - ©Elite
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― OUR FAVOURITES ―
A PLEASANT SENSE OF COOLNESS
Tencel™ Modal is a breathable fabric that repels dust mites and bacteria; it’s hypoallergenic too, making it perfect for those with sensitive skin. With twice as much absorbency as cotton, this natural fibre provides effective control of nighttime perspiration. Sleep right through the night! Not only does Tencel™ Modal gently caress you as you slip beneath the duvet – there’s all the assurance that comes with a sustainable, long-lasting product, too. What more could you wish for?
* Tencel™ Modal is a registered trademark of market leader Lenzing
REVISITING AN ANCESTRAL FIBRE
Hemp was seen essentially as a utilitarian plant until the 1920s-1930s. Its fibres are some of the strongest in the plant world and can be used to make paper, textiles or rope. Farmed in the same way as wheat and vines and originally from Asia, hemp is now making a real comeback. It’s an ecological fabric, too: it can withstand weeds and requires little water. When made into bed linen, it has the amazing property of becoming so er with every wash. Easy-care and highly absorbent, providing temperature control and repelling dust mites, hemp delivers welcome warmth in winter and calming cool in summer. With its naturally crumpled look resembling a so er version of linen, it will give your bed a delightfully chic bohemian air. Let yourself be won over by the natural comfort and environmentally-friendly luxury of our collection made with hemp and Tencel™ Modal. Try it out – you’ll love the comfortable feel and fresh, relaxing texture.
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M
― D E S I G N ―
MY BED BY ELITE There can be no doubt that your bedroom is the most personal space in your home. It follows that its centrepiece, your bed, should be a reflection of your personality and decorative tastes. Whether you prefer the uncluttered lines of a contemporary design, the timeless charm of a classic style or a more daring designer look, Elite’s cra smen and women will help you make your dream come true.
VICTORIA, “SO FRENCH” The Victoria bed is the most recent addition to our collection, boasting an iconic houndstooth pattern, French elegance and comfort. The houndstooth motif first appeared in Scotland in 1880 and was popularised by Edward VIII, a monarch who was as refined as his reign was short-lived. Although Edward’s reign was brief, the pattern’s fame was established and ended up becoming a hallmark of the English aristocracy. Revisited by Coco Chanel, houndstooth went on to feature on dress suits and became a symbol of absolute chic. With its stiletto legs and encompassing headboard, the Victoria bed embodies the essence of classic, timeless, and glamourous refinement. It is of course available in a range of colours and other patterns, too.
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― D E S I G N ―
LESS IS MORE
In 2018, Elite launched the Elite Design Award contest to support innovation in design and stay in step with the times. Every year, the firm invites designers from all over the world to take a new approach to the bed itself. In turn, these fresh insights allow us to continually introduce new developments. THE HEM BED, WINNER OF THE 2023 ELITE DESIGN AWARD 34-year-old French designer Joris Bonnesoeur won the 2023 Elite Design Award with HEM, a floor-level bed featuring an extra-wide headboard. Seen from a distance, the low-slung profile of the bed (and its promise of comfort) resembles nothing so much as a 1950s Cadillac. The bed base and headboard are quilted throughout, creating a sense of visual fluidity and very pure lines. The quilted headboard has large storage pouches on either side serving as invisible bedside tables; it lies over the wooden structure like a duvet. The end result is at once reassuring, minimalist, and very cosy. Together with his business partner Lucie Guinebault, Joris has opened Joie Design Office in Avignon, France, providing interior design and bespoke furniture. Won over by Elite’s DNA and its ethos of high-quality products built to last, Joris explains the thinking behind the award-winning bed: as he puts it, HEM is in line with “the simplicity and sobriety of the modernist movement, based on the principle that Less Is More”.
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― D E S I G N ―
GREEN, BLUE, NATURE
FABIEN ROY / DESIGNER
Designer Fabien Roy won the second prize in Elite’s 2023 Design Award contest with Saint-George, a bed inspired by the Vaud scenery of vines, forests and Lake Geneva. We spoke to this local lad and how he came up with an authentic bed – fully embodying Elite’s environmental values, absolutely in step with the times, and named a er his grandfather.
Text - Regine Buxtorf, Picture - ©Valentin Brindesi
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― D E S I G N ―
F
Fabien Roy was born deep in the Vaud countryside amid the hoary oaks of the Bois de Moiry woods. Today, he lives in the Joux valley, and still feels a close connection to nature and wood, a limitless source of inspiration that’s reflected in his work as a designer. With qualifications from the Lausanne’s École cantonale d’art university of art and design and the Fribourg School of Engineering and Architecture, Fabien Roy divides his time between design and interior architecture. Where did you get the idea for the Saint- George bed from? I was keen to highlight the natural ethos of Elite as well as promote the use of local wood from Vaud Jura forests, renowned for many miles around for their spruce, ash and oak wood. My project consists of three beds, each connoting three iconic locations close to Elite’s base; three beautiful Vaud villages nestled in a variety of landscapes. The Saint-George bed shares its name with a village at the foot of the Vaud Jura and is as green as the local spruce forest. It’s also a nod to my late grandfather, whose name was George. The Saint-Livres bed recalls the tiny village in the heart of the Aubonne valley, surrounded by vineyards; its burgundy colour brings to mind a fine wine. The third and final bed, Saint-Prex, takes its name from the attractive Vaud village on the shores of Lake Geneva, and naturally comes in a lakeland blue. What materials did you use for the Saint- George? The understated design was an opportunity to highlight the legs, which are made of solid ash. Bed legs are o en concealed, but here they give the bed character. Designing a bed is much harder than most people might imagine. Unlike a chair or armchair, their inherent proportions are not very dynamic, so to add a touch of movement here, I curved the legs slightly at the head end and approached Kvadrat, a Danish supplier of high-quality fabrics, to provide a material whose weave would add relief. The decorative geometric embroidery used for the headboard quilting is evocative of the Risoux Forest in the Joux valley, home to centuries-old spruce trees. The headboard curves inwards too, forming a wooden alcove stained green in such a way as to leave the veins of the wood clearly visible.
My aim was to create a bed that was simple using noble, natural, local materials. It’s a very authentic bed, rooted in its territory, and as such offers an intimate space in which one can fall asleep as if in the depths of a forest or vineyard – or on a lake shore. Can you tell us more about the connection between your work and the natural world? As a child, I was very close to my grandfather – and to nature. I was born in Croy near Romainmôtier and was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by the countryside, spending a lot of time in the woods. My grandfather was a meticulous man and a great lover of wood. He worked as a carpenter, and I used to spend a lot of time with him in his workshop. I was an inquisitive child and liked to watch him at work, learning as I did so. It’s important to me to understand how objects are designed, and I find the design process itself to be a personal source of enrichment and maturity. It helps me stay in touch with reality and its practicalities, and ask myself the right questions. As with most things in life, it’s a case of going one step at a time: a fascinating journey in which the process is perhaps just as important as the final outcome, if not more so. I enjoy drawing inspiration from traditions and then adapting them to present-day needs and lifestyles. My aim was to create a bed that was simple using noble, natural, local materials.
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― K I D S ―
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT BED FOR CHILDREN’S GROWTH
INTERVIEW BY AURÉLIE NEYROUD / PEDIATRIC OSTEOPATH
Sleep is of crucial importance at every stage of life and vital for the younger humans among us, helping them to grow up healthy – so taking care of your little one also involves choosing a good-quality bed and mattress for them. We talked to pediatric osteopath Aurélie Neyroud.
Finding the right mattress and the right bed seems to be quite a challenge! Indeed; first and foremost, it’s best to choose 100% natural materials and steer clear of anything artificial or synthetic. Babies are robust, but they are vulnerable too: they have virtually no immunity, and synthetic materials mean they run the risk of being exposed to various allergies – moreover, these are on the rise these days. Between ages 3 and 5, the endocrine disruptors present in artificial materials are a hazard for children too. What about children’s growth while they’re asleep in bed? What steps can parents take? Babies should be put to bed on their backs so they’re free to turn their head to the right or le . This is very important to avoid flat head syndrome. Once a baby is awake you can put them on their tummy so they can build up neck muscle.
Sleep regulates children’s growth; their brain plasticity is extraordinary, allowing them to learn fast and adapt quickly. Sleep plays a central role in regulating this plasticity and in other areas as well: it allows for physical, mental, emotional and cognitive development through the creation of nerve circuits and regulates the production of several hormones, including insulin (essential for appetite control) and cortisol (which controls growth). Good-quality sleep helps the spine and skeleton to grow properly by releasing hormones essential for tissue regeneration and bone development. Mrs Neyroud, what factors in children’s growth and comfort should be taken into account when choosing a bed for them? The ideal solution is to have a bed that will give the child the best possible rest so they can grow healthily. Infants can spend as much as 13 to 20 hours a day asleep, meaning that most growth naturally happens during that time. Their bed is their main living environment, so it’s important to make a good choice in that respect. The mattress should be chosen to ensure good bone development in the skull and allow the child to sleep in peace, safe from any hazards.
Text - Witold Langlois, Picture - ©Michel Bar Haim
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― K I D S ―
CHERUBIN BABY MATTRESS
Your baby spends most of their time asleep – almost two-thirds of the day! That means quality bedding is a priority. Our Chérubin mattress will give them the very best possible sleep experience and the right support for healthy growth.
When it comes to our little ones, nothing should be le to chance, and when it comes to sleep, every detail counts. Designed in accordance with Swiss Pediatric Society guidelines, the Chérubin mattress is much more than just a place to sleep: it’s the promise of exactly the right kind of sleep experience for your little angel! Featuring a high-quality foam core guaranteed to be free from VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), it provides optimum support for every stage of your baby’s growth.
The 100% natural lambswool and tussah silk filling provides a so welcoming sensation as well as optimum thermal regulation, so your baby can enjoy the perfect sleeping environment all year round. Chérubin is a unique mattress, designed with loving care to ensure your child’s wellbeing.
Tussah silk Organic cotton Lambswool
High-density Evopore foam
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― I N T E R V I E W ―
― I N T E R V I E W ―
L
PRESTIGE BEDS FOR A PRESTIGE CLIENTELE
Long life, beauty and health have been the core focus of Clinique La Prairie in Montreux since 1931, so it comes as no surprise to find Elite partnering with this Swiss fitness pioneer, providing specially adapted beds to meet the needs of the fast-growing institution. What are the secrets and key factors of your success? Clinique La Prairie is well-known for its scientific expertise in longevity, as well as the level of customisation of its holistic programmes targeting immunity, anti-ageing and detoxification. All our programmes are based on a unique, preventive, holistic approach that’s firmly grounded in our four-pillar philosophy encompassing the four cornerstones of a long life: medicine, nutrition, wellbeing and movement. What’s the role of sleep in cell renewal and anti-ageing effects? Sleep is an essential ingredient for good health and wellbeing and an integral part of our holistic approach to longevity. Our stays are designed to favour restorative sleep. This involves wellness treatments, diet, movement and of course having high-quality bedding. Why did you choose Elite? Good quality sleep is essential, which is why we chose Elite beds and bedding, made using the noblest of natural materials and artisanal manufacturing methods that guarantee outstanding beds. We’re delighted to have chosen Elite to make specific Clinique La Prairie beds, offering our customers restful, refreshing nights.
Lorenzo Amaglio, Managing Director of Hospitality & Wellness of Clinique La Prairie.
INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR, LORENZO AMAGLIO
Text - Regine Buxtorf, Picture - ©La Prairie
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“Sleep is an essential ingredient in good health and wellbeing and an integral part of our holistic approach to longevity”.
Who are your customers? Our very international clientele is made up of individuals from no fewer than 80 different countries, all keen to follow our ‘longevity’ programmes in order to live longer and enjoy better health. Every year, we have the privilege of seeing most of our
customers come back for another stay. Do you have plans to expand?
Absolutely. We’re planning to open ten ‘Health Resorts by Clinique La Prairie’ over the next ten years: the first of these will be opening in Anji, China, in 2024 and the second in Amaala, Saudi Arabia, in 2026. These clinics will offer the same range of services as Clinique La Prairie in Montreux in an ultra-luxury environment – apart from our flagship revitalisation programme which remains available only in our clinic in Switzerland. We also aim to open some forty ‘Longevity Hubs by Clinique La Prairie’ in cities around the world. A er Madrid, Bangkok, Doha and most recently Taipei, a new Hub will be opening in Dubai in early 2024. These Longevity Hubs are designed to enable our customers around the world to benefit from à-la-carte, state- of-the-art longevity, beauty and wellness treatments close to home.
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― E/BOUTIQUE ―
Treat yourself to a new ultra-light duvet or a pillow that’s just right for your neck! Our online store is open 24/7; you’re sure to find what you’re looking for here with our huge choice of duvets and pillows and guides ready to help you. Developed using noble and natural materials, our duvets create a dry, healthy environment to ensure quality sleep all year round. Sleep easy, safe in the knowledge that all our products come with the Downpass label guaranteeing quality, transparency and impeccable traceability. If you have any questions, you can ask the virtual assistant in the bubble at the bottom right of your screen – unlike the rest of us, they never sleep! THE VERY BEST IN DUVETS AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY IN A SINGLE CLICK
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― B O U T I Q U E ―
NEW ELITE GALLERY LOCATIONS
A er over a century in business, bespoke advice is all part of the service from Elite. As the firm’s director François Pugliese likes to say, choosing a mattress is “80% about technical details and 20% about what you feel”. For over ten years now, the Vaud-based firm has been opening sales outlets across Switzerland and internationally to serve its clients wherever they are.
SHANGHAI
This year, Elite has taken the decisive step of bringing its artisanally-produced beds made in Aubonne to Chinese clients on the other side of the world. Located in the heart of Shanghai in the lively Huangpu district, the new Elite Gallery Shanghai is close to the Bund and the range of international brands to be found there. The 200-square- metre sales area is both distinguished and welcoming, a peaceful refuge dedicated to sleep and wellbeing amid the bustling Chinese megacity and international financial capital. Elegance and comfort are of course everywhere to be seen, ensuring visitors enjoy a unique experience guided by the leading specialists in getting a good night’s sleep. Elite Gallery Shanghai Fuxing Place N33 Yancheng Road
Text - Regine Buxtorf, Picture - ©Elite
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