A noble material par excellence, the virgin wool selected by Elite comes from sheep raised in Switzerland. Over the years, experience has taught us that this natural keratin-based fibre is an essential component of a good mattress simply because it combines so many properties.

First of all, structurally, the wool is strong and resists twisting and elongation all the while remaining elastic. Moreover, its crimp encloses a large amount of air thus increasing the thermal protection against both hot and cold.

Another great property of virgin wool is its great hygroscopic capacity. Surprisingly, this wool can absorb up to one third of its weight in water without creating a sensation of humidity. This phenomenon is of particular interest when we realise that the average person loses about 0.5 litres of perspiration per night.

The wool is renowned to prevent disorders resulting from disturbed sleep and even rheumatism.

Alpaca, originating from the Andes, is an animal of the camelid family. It has been raised by humans for thousands of years in Peru, Chile and Bolivia. Nowadays, they can be found all over the world including in Switzerland.

Alpaca wool is softer, lighter and warmer than sheep’s wool. Its structure, including microscopic air pockets, gives it unrivalled thermal and insulating properties.

This noble fibre is also found in haute couture where it is renowned for its softness, finesse and exceptional quality.

Therefore, it is naturally part of the composition of high-end padding of some Elite mattresses.

This long silky wool lined with a tight down that protects the goats from icy cold wind (between -30 ° C and -40 ° C) is mainly used for padding the winter side of an Elite mattress.

Cashmere provides a cosy comfortable sleep combined with a feeling of softness and warmth.

Camel wool is said to have miraculous properties and has been a precious material in Europe since ancient times. It used to be prescribed by doctors to provide pain relief and to treat various pathologies such as arthritis, neuralgia and rheumatism.

It has similar thermal qualities to sheep’s wool; it is also greatly appreciated for its elasticity and capacity to absorb moisture and perspiration.

Light and soft like alpaca wool, camel wool provides superior comfort while helping maintain a constant body temperature. It protects against overheating of the body and is known to be hypoallergenic.

An ideal natural fibre, it is similar to the best natural wool and in the textile industry it is considered a luxury material.

Cotton is a plant fibre that surrounds cotton seeds. It is the most produced natural fibre in the world and is also certainly the one best accepted by our skin.

Naturally, this fibre is used to make Elite mattresses.

The organic cotton that we use has many properties particularly excellent ventilation providing coolness and air to your mattress. Moreover, its hygroscopic quality means it easily absorbs perspiration, a cardinal virtue for mattress padding. Experience has also taught us that, when laid out in thick layers, its elasticity provides a smooth and soft feeling. Mattresses made this way are more than a bed, they are a cosy nest.

The cotton is grown by small organic producers do not use GMOs. They use natural pesticides, such as pheromone traps and Neem-leave concoctions, and manure as fertiliser.

The absence of chemicals ensures that this cotton is better for the skin; it is naturally hypoallergenic and – a non-negligible advantage – it avoids repeatedly exposing farmers to dangerous chemical substances.

Soy fibre is produced from proteins extracted from soybeans. It dries quickly thanks to its moisture transmission capacity and provides good heat insulation because it naturally retains heat.

100% natural latex is a raw material of plant origin harvested from Asian rubber trees. Rubber tree forests prevent soil erosion; provide lumber and heating as well as creating jobs. From its distant Asian source, natural latex milk is transported to Europe in the ballast tanks of large freighters. This transport method does not require any additional energy!

At Elite, natural latex mattresses are a veritable gift of nature and are guaranteed to be free of synthetic rubber.

In reality, there is no current standard for what “natural latex” is. On the market, there are many mattresses allegedly made using “natural latex” but there is a distinct failure to say that these “natural latex cores” contain between 15 and 30% of synthetic latex milk.

At Elite, the use of synthetic rubber from petrol-based derivatives (SBR) is prohibited. All the qualities mentioned in our literature are certified according to the Eurolatex standards as well as the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX^®!

This is a 100% cellulosic fibre and is environmentally friendly given that it is made from a mixture of wood pulp; Lyocell meets the Elite requirements perfectly.

This biodegradable fibre has some excellent properties: very high strength, high moisture absorption and great flexibility. For the user, it provides a soft and silky touch.

Ingeo™ is a 100% natural material made by processing corn seeds. This environmentally friendly fibre creates less CO2 emissions, is biodegradable and comes from renewable resources.

Ingeo™ combines the qualities of a natural material with the advantages of a synthetic material. It is hypoallergenic, very stable and highly resistant to shocks. Moreover, it absorbs moisture while regulating body temperature.

Ingeo™ is anti-mite by its very nature.

SeaCell® fibre has several interesting properties thanks to its algae cellulose. It helps care for skin by releasing vitamin E, mineral salts, calcium and magnesium; it prevents irritation while helping skin to heal after inflammation, all the recognised qualities associated with Lyocell, including its soft touch and breathability.

SeaCell^® active is a Lyocell fibre combined with seaweed and silver fibres. The amino acids and minerals contained in the algae are released by the slight humidity of the body, creating a balancing effect on the organism. Mineral salts from the SeaCell® seaweed re-mineralise the skin.

The silver content gives the fibre an antibacterial effect. Permanently bacteriostatic, SeaCell^® fibre keeps your sleep cool.

Silk is certainly the most valuable raw material used in making mattresses. It has so many natural qualities that it speaks for itself. The Tussah silk we use comes from the cocoons of various breeds of caterpillars living in the wild in India, China and Japan. The blending of the threads makes the silk luxurious and sensual.

Among its many other qualities, silk has hygroscopic and thermal regulation properties that allow it to both absorb up to 30% of its weight in water without generating a sensation of moisture while dispersing heat, creating a refreshing effect.

After vigorous washing and thorough disinfection, the horsehair is steam heated and then dried. This treatment gives it its spiral shape which it will keep indefinitely.

Thanks to this structure, the horsehair padding makes your mattress even softer and more elastic. For people who sleep mainly on their side, these properties are greatly appreciated because they reduce the pressure on the shoulders and hips thus facilitating blood circulation. The horsehair also provides excellent ventilation and guarantees a pleasant sleeping atmosphere. Its hygroscopic effect allows it to absorb and neutralise perspiration.

This specific quality is particularly sought after by heat sensitive people because it ensures complete rest. At Elite, we select only the very best of pure horsehair.

For our needs, we are exclusively supplied by a Swiss spinning mill, which has been dedicated to producing very high quality horsehair for six generations. In our daily work of combining noble materials, experience often leads us to use horsehair because it has a very long lifetime, thus supporting the guarantee of excellence of an Elite mattress.