For the most part, when we crawl into a bed, we just want it to be comfortable. We want the sheets to feel soft, probably, but also crisp, and for the color to complement the surrounding room. For Carlo Bertelli, these judgments are a veritable science. Bertelli, a third-generation textile master, has been weaving linen, percale, sateen, and lace from his Florentine studio for 40 years.

He's supplied linens to some of the world's best known brands, including RH, which has worked with Bertelli for over 15 years on its private-label bedding. For RH, Bertelli creates collections as varied as Ultra-Fine Lightweight Linen and delicate Tombolo Braided Lace. They are all the product of a near-obsessive attention to detail and quality, a consideration that starts before the seed of a cotton plant has even sprouted. AD PRO sat down with the expert to hear about what, exactly, goes into the world's finest bedding.