Textile Insight

May / June 2018

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textileinsight.com Fabrications for a Better Night's Sleep "Our message is how to get better sleep without spending more time in bed." SHANA ROCHELEAU, VP STRATEGY, BEDGEAR May/June 2018 ~ Textile Insight • 21 Shana Rocheleau, VP of strategy, Bedgear edgear puts its own spin on today's specialization trend in a line of sleep solutions that promotes personal fit and high-tech func- tionality. The company's approach goes stride for stride with current thinking about how to optimize an active lifestyle – be it through diet, or exercise, or in Bedgear's case, through sleep. "Our message is how to make the most of your time in bed," explains Shana Rocheleau, VP of strategy. "Whether you're shopping for a run- ning shoe or buying a bra, you want what's right for you. And with the popularity of sleep monitoring these days, you want the best gear you can get." Textiles are central to the firm's mission. Proprietary tech- nologies used throughout the collection focus on maximizing airflow for cooling and enhanced comfort. "Our real strength is being able to understand the role of performance textiles in today's active lifestyle and make them softer and more flex- ible for bedding," explains Rocheleau, whose background is in home furnishings. (She was a buyer for Levitz, a popular New York company no longer in business. The company's slogan "You'll love it at Levitz" is iconic.) Fit is also key to Bedgear's design and development. Again, like today's advances in individualized fit for footwear and clothing, Bedgear provides a fitting process based on sleep position and body type. The Lightning 2.0 performance pillow is a good example. Ver-tex cool touch fabric deflects heat to help maintain temperature balance while Air-X ventilated panels keeps air flowing via a 3D structure that dispels heat, while keeping dust and dander from getting in. Dri-tec fabric pillow- case is a nylon/rayon blend that wicks moisture and is cool to the touch. The pillow is suggested for back sleepers or medium body types. "The inspiration for Air-X was a run- ning shoe," Rocheleau explains. "The mesh is used effectively to enhance ventilation for toes, so we thought why not the ventilate the entire body." The 3D mesh one-way Air-X baffle does the trick in the Lightening pillow. The company's technologies can work together as a system, and are used across the Bedgear product line that includes sheets, blankets, and mattresses in addition to pillows. Running is a good market for Bedgear; the Farmingdale, NY com- pany is a New York City Marathon sponsor, as well as other marathons around the country, and will partner with the Chicago Marathon for the first time this Fall. Bedgear also has a Boston pop-up shop near the marathon finish line, and sits side-by-side with outdoor brands Arc'teryx and Patagonia. "Runners see the value in Bedgear products believing that a better night's sleep can optimize recovery," says Rocheleau. Others are realizing ben- efit, too. Market dynamics – starting with Arianna Huffington's "sleep revo- lution," combined with today's growing awareness around fit and functional fabrics – are working in Bedgear's favor says Rocheleau. "Sleep is the new frontier for customized perfor- mance." O B

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