Cotton Cloud Futons- Our Story

The Cotton Cloud Story

I started Cotton Cloud Futons in 1981, when I was 17 years old. I guess two driving forces combined to inspire me to start on a journey that, 26 years later, is going stronger than ever: my parents. My mom was always a Do-It-Yourself type of woman; it was the 70s, and women were coming into their own power. She was also the single mother of two kids, and had to get inventive to make ends meet. My dad was also very creative and encouraged me to always examine the world around me and talk about what I saw. Their support of my creativity and my own way of looking at the world gave me the foundation I needed to begin the adventure that would one day be Cotton Cloud Futons.

Cotton Cloud has always been a labor of love. Ever since I can remember, I have had a very close connection to nature, and a deep respect for the planet with which we’ve all been entrusted. By chance, I took a class on futon-making, and from that moment on, it was clear to me that making beds out of cotton provided the perfect synergy of art, craft, and mindfulness for the Earth. At first, I was living in a little farm house out in the woods, making covers on a treadle sewing machine and building each mattress by hand. The whole experience was very zen, and it gave me the chance to brainstorm and try different combinations of materials and construction methods.

My initial clients were my family and friends. Soon my neighbor, who was a wood-worker, built Cotton Cloud’s first tri-fold frame. I sold the frames and futons at Portland, Oregon’s Saturday Market, my primary source of advertising, for two years. In those days, I delivered each mattress myself, on the city bus!

			Soon I needed a more central and expansive house; I moved into a house on E. Burnside, now home to the Full Circle Temple. I made futons in the basement and sold them out of a little store front attached to the house. Over the next ten years, Cotton Cloud Futons grew and grew, expanding into the main house. I ended up expanding into Beaverton, Oregon, where I sold futons for fifteen years. Managing two stores allowed me to really hone my skills, not just building futons, but also running a business.
	The Original Cotton Cloud Futons On Burnside
			Eventually Cotton Cloud outgrew the house on Burnside and expanded to a storefront on NE Broadway. This larger showroom and production space enabled me to expand my product offerings. The store became a fun and funky place to shop not just for futons, frames, and covers, but also for furniture and accessories that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
	Cotton Cloud Futons @ 1916 NE Broadway
			13 years later, Cotton Cloud had moved again, into yet another larger space; we are now at 701 NE Broadway. Shortly after moving into this great new space, we moved our production to a separate warehouse and expanded our showroom. We can now display an ever-growing collection of frames and accessories to compliment our futons.
	Cotton Cloud Futons @ 701 NE Broadway

	Through all these changes, one thing remains the same: all Cotton Cloud futons are still made by hand, with an emphasis on natural materials and attention to detail. My commitment to the planet and my close connection to my community are still as strong as ever. Cotton Cloud has grown up here in Portland, Oregon, and I’m so thankful for the local community of friends, family, customers, and artisans who have helped us thrive all these years. I’m proud to say that Cotton Cloud Futons strives to work in synergy with our earth by selling comfortable, functional, affordable futons, furniture, and accessories. We consciously emphasize products that are made of natural materials, with renewable resources that are harvested in sustainable ways. I look forward to continuing this work, and making these connections, for many years to come. Blessings Terri Treat Owner, Cotton Cloud Futons terri@cottoncloudfutons.com