Organic Cotton Unfilled Pillow Shells

Choose our USDA Certified Organic cotton pillow cover (also known as a  "shell") which is made in a soft, durable twill weave and stuff it with the fill of your choice!

FAQ 1: Can these shells be used over another pillow as a pillow protector? No. Whereas the zippers are wide enough to insert all different types of fill, they aren't wide enough to insert a pillow of the same size.

FAQ 2: Do I need to prewash the pillow? Nope. We wash (with a free & clear detergent) & dry each pillow cover before stuffing so it’s coming to you clean & ready to sleep on!  Due to the minimal processing of our fabric, some post-drying wrinkles & uneven coloration may be present (as seen in the photos).

The absolute truth of the matter is this: there is no perfect pillow fill.  Every stuffing available has its pros and cons, from comfort to origin to chemistry.  And everyone has their preference. A Little Pillow Company has picked the recycled-sequestering of plastic water bottles as our particular "favorite" but many of you would choose differently.  

The good news is now you can!  And by starting with a pillow cover made with old-fashioned quality from natural regenerative organic cotton.  

The Texas-grown cotton is USDA Certified Organic, spun into thread in North Carolina, woven into a high quality twill on a vintage loom in Pennsylvania then finally hand cut, sewn together, washed and dried in small batches here in Virginia.

From field to fabric, the regenerative and biodegradable cotton is never touched with scouring agents, bleaches, dyes, or flame retardants so it maintains its natural color and plant-wax coating that helps prolong the life of the fiber. We pre-wash and dry every shell (with a free-and-clear detergent) so it's clean and fresh upon arrival.  NOTE: Due to this minimal processing of the fabric, some post-drying wrinkles and uneven coloration may be noticeable but is perfectly normal.

We chose a twill weave because it is denser and more durable than a percale.  But since it has been so gently processed and respected at every stage, it's still soft and makes the loveliest pillow cover imaginable.

The concealed zipper on one end is what enables you to stuff it with whatever fill you've chosen.  Simply unzip, stuff then zip closed.  This makes it easy to adjust, replace, or top-up whenever you need.  If you select a fill that can't be washed, such as buckwheat hulls or wool, the zipper will allow you to extend the life of your pillow by removing the fill until you launder the cover and refill.  Since twill is known for both its softness and durability, your cover should last you years and years!

Here's a quick skinny on the usual fill options:

1. PLANT BASED
   1. Cotton
   2. Kapok
   3. Buckwheat hull
   4. Grains
2. ANIMAL BASED
   1. Wool
   2. Llama
   3. Buffalo
   4. Down
   5. Feathers
3. SYNTHETIC
   1. Memory Foam
   2. Foam rubber
   3. Natural latex
   4. Shredded latex
   5. Micro beads
   6. Polyesters (PETs & rPETS)

*This last one (rPET) is what we chose because we can get a recycled one that's sequestering a product the world is drowning in (i.e. plastic water bottles), it's supportive, soft, holds its shape, washable, allergy-free, and ours is Made in the USA.

If you'd like another type of pillow fill, Etsy is a good place to find the various above options!