Historical duvet covers with central openings explained

During the socialist era in various regions, including Hungary and the former Yugoslavia, it was common for duvet covers to feature a large, diamond-shaped or oval opening in the center instead of using buttons or zippers.

This design served a practical purpose due to the weight of the bedding at the time. Duvets were often heavy, filled with wool, down, or feathers, making them difficult to insert into covers. The central opening allowed users to reach inside and manually redistribute the filling and smooth out the fabric toward the corners, ensuring the heavy duvet did not bunch up.

Additionally, this method was more economical. By eliminating the need for fasteners like zippers or buttons, the manufacturing process was simplified and made the products more affordable for households.