A few nights between lavish linen sheets at a Byron Bay boutique hotel was all it took to inspire Georgie Cavanagh and Carlotta Casals to create their own bedding company.

Captivated by the elegant natural fabric’s breathability and softness, the Sydney-based friends founded Carlotta & Gee four years ago. They started with bedding and soon grew to table linens as well as pyjamas and loungewear – all made from high-quality, Oeko-Tex and Global Organic Textile Standard-certified French flax linen that’s grown in Normandy.

Though it began as a side hustle, both Cavanagh and Casals resigned from their previous jobs to focus on the brand in February 2020 – a couple of weeks before the first Covid lockdown. The ensuing period saw their business grow by over 365 per cent, and it has continued to expand within Australia, and to Europe and the US.

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Now, Carlotta & Gee has launched into New Zealand.

Cavanagh tells Broadsheet how thrilled she and Casals are to be expanding over the ditch. “We [were] already starting to get a few more orders organically, but now we are really creating noise and buzz within the New Zealand market.”

Thanks to the strength of flax, longevity is woven into the brand’s fibres – and the fabric is pre-washed with Malaysian volcanic stones, making it soft and scrumptious against the skin.

The duo say they plan to meet a demand for premium linen with a wide colour selection. Carlotta & Gee stocks over 20 naturally dyed shades, with more to come in April. “A number of interior designers were saying it is hard to find good-quality linen which is as nice as ours with the colour range,” says Cavanagh.

“Our wide range of colours and patterns is what people love so much about us … and we wanted to create the opportunity to build a collection of shades that work well with one another.” Rich, dark red pinot, a warm brownish tobacco, and deep green olive are some of the new colours to look out for when they’re released in a couple of months, along with new checked and striped patterns.

Cavanagh and Casals are interested to see what colours will take off in Aotearoa. They predict the earthy tones will do well, as they invoke a sense of nature and simplicity for the “laid-back” New Zealand vibe.

Carlotta & Gee is also primed to deck out Aotearoa’s high-end hospitality venues – in particular, wineries. “A lot of the wineries are approaching us to have new, fresh French linen as tableware, napkins and placemats because it really suits the beautiful surroundings”, says Cavanagh.

We all know that it’s important to prioritise a good night’s rest. Both Cavanagh and Casals believe a key to achieving this is making your sleeping environment as serene and beautiful as possible – and cultivating tranquillity to counteract the bedlam of daily responsibilities. “You have your coffee in the morning, then move on with the day, but investing in that [respite] is imperative to your wellbeing … It’s the simple touches in our homes that make a big impact overall.”

carlottaandgee.com