First of all, the packaging here is outstanding and perfect for a gift.  The box and ribbon are sturdy and really good looking.  The pillow cases themselves are super soft and smooth but still substantial and durable.  Unlike a lot of other sheet sets, the stitching is too notch and there are no loose threads poking out.  You can tell these are high quality.  They feel so nice right out of the box and after a couple of washes they soften up even more.  Some people have noticed pills but I haven’t run into that issue yet.  These are definitely worth buying.