Sisterly love — mixed with some blunt honesty — was the inspiration behind the creation of Sleep Sassy, a collection of colorful, coordinated and comfortable sleepwear.
Donna and Deborah Taylor, siblings who live together in Suffolk, came up with the idea seven years ago. It all started because of Deborah’s dismay one morning of Donna’s worn baby doll nightgown and mismatched bonnet.
“My sister said it looked horrible and didn’t look comfortable,” Donna Taylor said. “And she was right.”
Admitting she doesn’t usually pay attention to her younger sister’s comments, Donna Taylor said she thought maybe this time she had a point. She searched for sleepwear with matching bonnets, but when she couldn’t find any, she sat down at her sewing machine — a skill learned in New Jersey grade school — and designed her own.
At the time, the Taylor sisters were both in the throes of menopause with hot flashes and night sweats in full swing. So, they agreed the sleepwear needed to be luxurious but also cooling.
“It couldn’t just be any type of fabric,” Donna Taylor said. “It had to be breathable and comfortable as well as presentable.”
They selected pajama pants and short sets, nightgowns, sleep shirts and onesies made from brushed viscose, a soft fabric derived from bamboo known for its moisture-wicking properties. The Taylors design the custom-printed fabric.
Each item comes with a matching satin-lined elasticized bonnet with a drawstring. Bonnets or some sort of hair covering are a staple in the Black community to keep hair from tangling, frizzing and drying out.
The sleepwear, available up to size 3X, is for women going through perimenopause, menopause or those with sensitive skin who also want to protect their hair.
“We are offering a solution from a sleep perspective to address the need that women have,” Donna Taylor said.
And the five-star reviews on the business’ website reflect that they have done just that. One customer commented that she has horrible night sweats and hot flashes but slept well after using one of the pajama pants sets, so she ordered another pair.
The sisters first launched the business in 2018 on a designer’s platform before revamping and relaunching two years later as e-commerce business Sleep Sassy.
Donna Taylor left corporate America after 40 years to become an entrepreneur. Deborah Taylor maintains a full-time job in the pharmaceutical industry, but helps her sister often.
In April, the duo auditioned for “Shark Tank,” a TV show where entrepreneurs pitch their concepts to famous investors, at Rivers Casino in Portsmouth. They weren’t selected but plan to try again.
For more information, visit sleepsassy.com.
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@pilotonline.com
