Organic Cotton Sateen Sham Single

The sham is made from 100% Egyptian cotton in a sateen weave at 300 thread count, woven with pure 60's yarn in both warp and weft. It is garment-washed at MATTEO's Los Angeles dye-house using non-toxic reactive dyes, which gives the fabric its characteristic softness without requiring ironing. The organic cotton is OEKO-TEX certified, making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin.

A sham has a more structured construction than a pillowcase: it holds the pillow insert in place with a closure (here, an envelope back), and this sham adds a 1/2-inch micro-flange with contrasting white double-stitch detail around the perimeter. A standard pillowcase loosely encases the pillow and is open on one side without a closure or decorative border. Shams are typically used as the finished, visible layer on a made bed, while pillowcases serve a more functional sleeping role.

The Organic Cotton Sateen Sham is available in Queen, King, and Euro sizes. Queen measures 20 x 30 inches (51 x 76 cm), King measures 20 x 36 inches (51 x 91 cm), and Euro measures 26 x 26 inches (66 x 66 cm). Select the size that corresponds to your pillow insert for a proper fit.

Yes. The fabric is 100% organic Egyptian cotton, OEKO-TEX certified, and dyed with non-toxic reactive dyes at MATTEO's dye-house. The garment-washing process softens the sateen weave so it feels broken-in from the first use rather than stiff or scratchy. For sensitive skin, MATTEO recommends washing in a lukewarm cycle with a gentle detergent and avoiding any products containing chlorine bleach, alpha hydroxy acids, or benzoyl peroxide on garment-dyed colors.

Machine wash in a lukewarm cycle with a gentle detergent and a cool rinse, separating light and dark colors. Do not overload the machine, as overloading can damage the long cotton fibers. Tumble dry on low heat and remove promptly to minimize wrinkling; line drying gives the best results. Bleach may only be used on white cotton shams; avoid whitening agents on garment-dyed colors, as reactive dyes are not resistant to them. If you prefer a crisper finish, press the sham while slightly damp on the Lightweight Cotton or Medium iron setting.

Garment-washing means the finished sham, not just the raw fabric, goes through MATTEO's wash process in the dye-house before it ships. This pre-softens the 300 thread count sateen and eliminates the initial stiffness common in unwashed cotton, so the sham feels lived-in from the first night. Because garment-dyeing is an art rather than a controlled science, a shade variation of plus or minus 10% between dye lots is normal and expected. You can read more about MATTEO's garment-dyeing process here.

Thread count measures the number of yarns per square inch of woven fabric; 300 thread count in a sateen weave produces a fabric that is denser and has a subtle sheen on the face side, which gives sateen its characteristic smooth hand. The sateen construction means the face threads float over more warp threads, creating the surface softness associated with hotel-quality pillow shams. MATTEO's sateen uses pure 60's Egyptian cotton yarn, which prioritizes fiber quality over artificially inflated thread counts, giving the fabric durability and softness that holds up over repeated washing.

The sham uses an envelope closure on the back, which overlaps the fabric to hold the pillow insert securely without buttons, zippers, or ties. The 1/2-inch micro-flange border with double-stitch detail runs around all four edges, adding structure and keeping the insert from shifting. This construction is the same finish used on the full-priced Organic Cotton Sateen Sham collection designed and manufactured by MATTEO in Los Angeles.