We had kapok pillows and mattresses when I was a kid. Mum replaced them with foam around the 60s, still have one of her pillows of small foam crumbs in use. I remember mum plumping up the mattress and pillows each day, and it was like snuggling into feathers at night. If you didn't use 'duck' fabric I think it was called for the covers the kapok filtered through other fabrics. It was done away with here as a health hazzard.