What’s in a Name?
Reclaiming ‘Promiscuous’
Words are a bit like old duvets – sometimes they get heavy, a bit dusty, and desperately need a refresh. At Promiscuous Bedding Designs, we’re doing exactly that with our name. We aren’t just choosing a provocative word for the sake of it; we are staging a linguistic revolution.
A 16th-Century Throwback
To understand why we chose this name, we have to look back to the 1500s. In its original 16th-century context, ‘promiscuous’ simply meant ‘undiscriminating’. It wasn’t a judgment on a person’s character or a tally of their partners; it meant ‘consisting of elements mixed together,’ casual.
It was only in the 19th century that the word picked up its modern, negative weight. It became a weaponised term used primarily to gatekeep the freedom of women, creating a “moral surveillance” that dictated what was considered respectable.
The New (Old) Definition
Just like the “brat” generation has redefined what it means to be unapologetic in 2024, we are reappropriating ‘promiscuous’. For us, it’s not about scandal; it’s about a refusal to be pigeonholed. Our definition rests on three pillars:
- Spontaneity: The boldness to change your mind, your mood, and your surroundings without seeking permission.
- Adventure: Treating the bedroom – the most private and personal space in your home – as a site for thrill-seeking design rather than just a place to sleep.
- Undiscriminating Style: Having “No Loyalty to Conformity” when it comes to what you love. It’s about a curated love for fine art that ignores the ‘standard’ rules of interior design.
Beyond the Bed: Real Empowerment
Our core value is empowerment, but we aren’t talking about vague versions often casually bandied about. We believe in shaking off the outdated, biased attitudes that still haunt modern society.
In a world of equal sexual freedom, there should be no derogatory word judging people for exercising that freedom. For too long, a blatant double standard has stood: men with multiple partners are viewed as ‘studs,’ while women are labeled ‘promiscuous’ – a “polite” mask for much nastier slurs.
We’re reverting this word to its original meaning – undiscriminating – whilst simultaneously injecting our 21st-century brat definition. It is incredibly apt that a bedding brand should lead this charge. After all, the bed is where these judgments are born, and it is where we choose to reclaim our autonomy.
No Loyalty to Conformity
We care about fine art, contemporary style, and the freedom to be exactly who you are, without the weight of 19th-century baggage. Whether you are drawn to our ethereal Whimsical watercolours or the edginess of our Rebel collection, you are making a choice that belongs to you alone.
Being promiscuous with your choices – in life and in design – isn’t just allowed; it’s a statement of independence. Welcome to the revolution.