Dream Makers

Former fashion editors Kate Zubarieva and Asya Varetsa co-founded ethical sleepwear company Sleeper in Kiev at the height of the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity in 2014.

While their country was in a state of unrest with an uncertain future, the duo were determined to find a silver lining. Explaining how they conceived their brand, the duo explains: "We have always favoured the idea of effortless chic in our everyday life. We wanted to create pajamas that could go beyond its original and expected purpose. That's what inspired us."

Sleeper, which is affectionately known as "the uniform for happiness" to its founders, was a self-funded project with a startup capital of US$2,000. Today, the brand is stocked in Barneys and other top American retailers and their sales have grown 500 per cent since their launch. Loved by influential fashion personalities such as Leandra Medine of Man Repeller and fashion journalist Pandora Sykes among others, the brand has also earned lots of praise in the fashion industry particularly from the late editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia Franca Sozzani, who named Sleeper "the brand of the month" when they launched their first collection.

Besides its impressive sales figures, what sustains the brand is their work ethic and company philosophy which stands by artisan-manufacturing traditions. All their pieces are "made-to-order" which means there is no wastage as the brand prides itself on quality not quantity. Each garment is handsewn and takes eight to 12 hours to finish. Only natural eco-friendly fabrics are used, with the bulk of their garments made in linen, which is the local fabric. "It is ideal for hot weather since the fabric is breathable, and it looks great both well-pressed and rumpled," they explain.

The idea behind Sleeper's transitional sleepwear wardrobe is simple. According to Zubarieva and Varetsa: "Before creating a garment we always think about how it could be integrated into your closet. You can wear a pyjama top to the office instead of a regular shirt; a silk robe can function as a summer coat, and our silk white pyjamas can (alternate) as a wedding outfit." First time buyers can start with their basic PJs, off-the-shoulder linen dresses or the Brigitte Flower Print Maxi dress. "These garments are timeless."