THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Kapok Pillow
Kapok Pillow – Please note we no longer stock this item.
Visit Our Shop For Keen Gardeners Here
The Kapok Pillow at Modern Mint
Our pillows are made from natural kapok. Kapok fibre is cotton-like and is known as silk cotton, or Java cotton. You will find the kapok tree in rainforests in Asia, but is a native of Central America. It is important to know this, as the harvesting of the fibre – labour-intensive as it is – becomes vital for local economies and provides work for communities in countries where it is needed. No only that, but because the trees have a purpose – e.g. money can be made from them – it means the trees don’t get cut down. So you are saving rainforests by buying these great pillows!
Kapok fibre is lightweight, like 15% the weight of cotton. (That would be the organic cotton you are using already right?) It was used in life jackets at one point, before they started using synthetic materials to make them, because the fibre is so buoyant.
This lightness makes it the softest of our pillows. Lots of masseurs buy them from us. Think of it as a luxury item, for when you need a moment… or three… or even if you have your own masseuse who wants to get you comfortable….?
It is also flammable. So please don’t smoke in bed.
Washing the Pillow
The cover can be machine washed at 40 degrees celsius. Kapok, being a plant fibre, means you do not need to remove it from the case before sticking it in the washing machine. Do make sure the filling is thoroughly dried after washing it though – don’t rush back to wanting to use it when it is still wet!
A Few More Details…
The case can be unzipped if you want to adjust the height of the filling.
Size of the pillow: 50 x 75cm – if you want that in inches, just copy those figures and plug them into Google to find out…
The weight of the filling is approximately 700g. A lot of filling, because it is so light!
If the Kapok Pillow is Not For You…
Don’t think we can’t accommodate you or your needs. Modern Mint can also supply you with an organic spelt pillow, or even an organic buckwheat one… they are cheaper options, so may be better value to you – but the Kapok pillow is so light, it really is fabulous for a treat…
We no longer stock these pillows – please visit our shop for tools for keen gardeners!
Topiary Workshop 2026 at Waltham Place
The next topiary workshop I will be teaching is now live on the website and can be booked! Just visit Waltham Place to get a ticket for the Topiary Workshop I will be teaching on Friday September 4th at Waltham Place. Myself and Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society (Buxus expert! Like, he knows everything there is to know about the plant! So worth booking just to tap into his knowledge….!) will be teaching here for the… fifth year in a row I think? The garden is a beautiful place to spend time clipping. We will teach …
Michael Gibson, New York Topiary Art!
In the New York Times earlier this year was a lovely interview with Michael Gibson, who makes topiary and gardens in New York. The article is here but you may not have access… however, search the internet, find it and have a read. It is great! His philosophy of pruning is especially worth it… Sacred geometry in topiary? Yes please! What a phrase! I think (and speak) of balance, of major and minor, of leaf volume… but sacred geometry might well make it into my topiary teaching lexicon! And the idea of directional trimming? I realise I do this, but …
Topiary Library
I do a lot of teaching topiary. I had the opportunity from my mentor, Charlotte Molesworth, to work on her garden and experiment and test techniques and generally try making shapes without the worry of failure, or being fired, or being sued and run out of business for getting it wrong. This opportunity was essential (along with Charlotte’s insistance that pruning standards had to be high!) in becoming better at topiary. When I look around the world at our cultural vitamins, what we see in the media day in and day out, I see the stupidest and grossest of people …