Ex advertising boss develops 'revolutionary pyjamas that help you nod off'

A former advertising executive claims to have created pyjamas that help people get off to sleep.

James Smith spent three years researching sleep after struggling to nod off for much of his adult life - often because of over-heated bedrooms

Volunteers clocked up more than 1,000 night’s sleep in experiments led by UCL neuroscientist and sleep expert Professor Vincent Walsh.

The research revealed that pyjamas made from a combination of ultra-fine merino wool known for its natural thermoregulatory properties and a plant-based fibre extracted from eucalyptus trees was most effective in regulating the body’s night time temperature,

He has now created a range of sleepwear made from the new material called Sleepdeep.

Smith said: “Room temperatures in our homes have risen by nearly six degrees centigrade over the last 50 years and this causes us to be too warm to sleep properly. Sleeping naked is not the answer as sweat stays on the body and causes hot and cold spikes throughout the night that lead to poor quality sleep.

“The problem with traditional sleepwear is that many of the fabrics used are not good at managing thermoregulation. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester are very poor at absorbing moisture, while natural fabrics like cotton or silk are poor at evaporating moisture, so we created something that worked.”

“I tried to find something that would help me sleep but while there was plenty on offer that tracked sleep quality there wasn’t much that improved sleep quality so I set about changing that. I wanted to create something that you would naturally wear for bed that helped you sleep and sleepdeep does that.”

Professor Walsh, who was so impressed by the findings that he invested in the company, said: “I was initially sceptical about the idea that sleepwear could improve sleep quality. After the first phase of scientific testing, the physiology and psychology of sleep were clearly improved by the absorbency and wicking properties of the textile. In addition to improving sleep quality, further testing showed significant improvements in concentration and other cognitive functions after wearing sleepdeep.

“Finally we carried out tactile tests – how does the fabric feel? The results of this were overwhelming. Sleepdeep was chosen as the preferred fabric to the touch by 94 per cent of our testers.

"At the end of the process I think it’s the most clearly applicable piece of scientific research I’ve done in 30 years, and the only one to cause me to invest in a company of any kind.”