Sleeper is a Ukrainian fashion brand of multifunctional apparel founded in 2014 by Kate Zubarieva and Asya Varetsa. The concept of the brand lies in the idea of the «First Walking Sleepwear» which can be worn both at home and outdoors.
History
Sleeper was launched in 2014 by two former fashion editors Kate Zubarieva and Asya Varetsa.
The Sleeper first collection was launched 6 months later with the startup capital of just $2,000 and a single seamstress. In two months, then editor-in-chief of
Vogue Italy,
Franca Sozzani
Franca Sozzani (; 20 January 1950 – 22 December 2016) was an Italian journalist and the editor-in-chief of '' Vogue Italia'' from 1988 until her death in 2016.
Biography
Sozzani was born and grew up in Mantua, Lombardy, northern Italy. She wa ...
, named Sleeper the brand of the month.
In 2015, the brand put out its first line made from linen.
In 2016, Sleeper debuted its first Bridal collection which consisted of a slip dress, pajama sets with pants and loungewear dress.
In 2017, off-the-shoulder dresses became the dress of the year according to Marie Claire. The same year Sleeper released Party Pajamas as a part of the Holiday Collection’17 which soon and appeared on the covers of British versions of Cosmopolitan and Tatler.
In February 2019, Sleeper's co-founders Kate Zubarieva and Asya Varetsa were included into the European Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in the Arts & Culture category.
In 2021 brand used recycled materials in its collection for the first time. It presented the ‘Weekend Chic’ set made with recycled plastic.
Founders
In 2011, Kate Zubarieva graduated from
Kyiv University
The Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (; also known as Kyiv University, Shevchenko University, or KNU) is a public university in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The university is the third-oldest university in Ukraine after the University of Lviv and ...
with an MA in International Journalism. She worked in the Information Agency, and later in media management. Since Kate was 19, she worked in Playing Fashion newspaper (2009) and later held the position of editor-in-chief of the online version of the Pink magazine (2010-2013), VDOH (2010-2013). She wrote articles on fashion and art-directed shootings for fashion publications.
Asya Varetsa graduated from
The State University of Management
The State University of Management (SUM, ) is a public university in Moscow, Russia. It was founded in 1919. Its rector is Ivan Vasilyevich Lobanov. There are more than 250 professors and 12 academics and members of the Russian Academy of Scien ...
in
Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
with an MA in marketing in 2012. In 2009 she worked for the Playing Fashion newspaper, and in 2010 she became a junior fashion editor for ELLE Russia.
Production
Sleeper supports artisan manufacturing traditions and ethical consciousness. Sleeper's garments are made in Kyiv, Ukraine in the sewing studios.
In summer 2020 the brand expanded into footwear, and swimwear.
Sleeper's customers include Eva Chen, Katy Perry, Brie Larson, Kourtney Kardashian, Aurora James, Kelly Lynch, Busy Philipps, Chloë Grace Moretz, Zoey Deutch, Dakota and Elle Fanning, Veronika Heilbrunner, and Lena Dunham amongst others.
Global presence
As of 2021, Sleeper's collections are available in 32 markets, and more than 160 boutiques around the world. Sleeper's collections are sold at Net-a-Porter, Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, Shopbop, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Harrods, Browns, Neiman Marcus, Ounass.
Charity projects
Under charity initiatives, Sleeper provides support to NG
Happy Todaywhich helps children with autism, charity fun
Kvitnathat supports women with breast cancer.
Since 2020, the brand has donated to
Black Girl Ventures and
NAACP LDF to support fighting for racial justice in the US and around the globe.
Documentary
In 2019, Sleeper created a documentary called “Behind the Seams” that conveys the process of creating a new collection, Sleeper's team, the office, production, and the world's largest shirt.
In 2020 Sleeper's documentary was shortlisted by Milan Fashion Film Festival.
[{{Cite web, title=RE NATURE 2021 {{! Fashion Film Festival Milano, url=https://fashionfilmfestivalmilano.com/re-nature-2021/, access-date=2021-12-01, language=en-US] In 2021 the documentary was awarded with the Webby Honoree.
References
External links
Official websiteInstagram
Clothing brands of Ukraine