From Mums With Love: Sleepy Doe
With 10 years' experience in the fashion industry, creative directing and designing loungewear for British heritage brands, founder Sophie Woodrow launched Sleepy Doe.
Born in Bath in 2016, Sleepy Doe provides timeless printed sleep and loungewear for children aged 0-9 years. All products are organic or eco with soft with subtle design details, bringing comfort and an effortless style to the mini bedtime wardrobe.
With the all-too familiar experience of having a child who doesn’t sleep through the night, Sophie primarily wanted to help give adults the reassurance that their minis can be as comfy as possible when it comes to bedtime. With her design experience and knowing the importance of achieving quality alongside style, the super-soft fabrics are hand-picked for comfort, maximising chances of the good night’s sleep every parent hopes for.
With Sophie's love of childrenswear, interiors and print design, Sleepy Doe's collections are classic, whilst injecting simple hand-drawn prints in friendly colours that sit happily in any home. Each season Sophie likes to offer a girl print for those tiny humans that love all things pretty alongside unisex options that siblings can share.
All methods of manufacturing are sustainable and ethical reflecting the standards of the whole brand. No harmful dyes are used in the printing method and all products are printed on cotton ecologically sourced from British manufactures. All products are designed and made in the UK, supporting independent factories and businesses, hurrah!
Who are you?
Sophie! Mama to Flossie Coco and Founder & Designer of Sleepy Doe. A British childrenswear brand specialising in eco sleep and loungewear.
How does motherhood inspire your work?
Since being in the world of motherhood I’ve found being surrounded by other mums really inspiring, just knowing we are all in this chaos together. Whether they are full time mamas or also juggling a work/life balance, they’re constantly proving it's all possible and made easier with the right support.
I have always designed prints and loungewear and I suppose motherhood drifted me naturally towards the mini wardrobe. The innocence of children inspires me to keep designing clothes that are timeless and not trend driven.
How do you achieve your work life balance?
I am very lucky to be doing the two things I love but I don't always get it right. Being both a mama and business owner are full-time commitments that demand a whole lot of patience and love. Flossie's happiness is by far more important than any business decision I will ever make. Her well-being puts all of the stressful business moments into perspective, which is invaluable.
Where does your support come from?
My partner Dan is my biggest support. He helps me wherever he can, saying that I keep him at a distance for any creative help! We are a good team at home which makes life easier; he's an amazing cook and a whizz at Excel, two areas that I'm not flash at.
What is the best business advice that you’ve been given?
I've been given lots of helpful advice over the last year or so. It's important not to try and be something you're not - play to your own strengths and passions. It’s easier said than done in this age of instagram, but don't compare yourself to others - back yourself, inspire and be kind along the way.
What’s the best part of running your own business?
Seeing people enjoying your products makes everything worthwhile. My customers share their photos with me with #mysleepydoe and nothing beats seeing sometimes total strangers wearing your product just the way you designed it to be.
If your child were a fruit, what would they be?
A peach, her bottom is the best.
If you could create a hashtag that summed up your life, what would it be?
#nosurprisesplease I do not like surprises!
We all love a bit of social media indulgence (stalking), who are your top 3 accounts to follow?
So many that I love, but let’s go with @dhowelldesigns (how is her life so white!) @isabel_mjj for style and @bright_mama for lols.
What are your favourite things to do with the kids in your local area?
There's always something going on in Bath what with all the independent businesses, families and markets to explore as well as the lush countryside surrounding us. We love to go for breakfast at Hunter & Sons in town, watch the street entertainers and the parks are pretty special all year around.
What are your favourite bedtime stories?
I'm a magazine hoarder, pass me Lionheart, Frankie, Cereal, Milk, Wildling, Drift, Smallish, The Gentlewoman, 91magazine, Lulu, Hello Lunch Lady...
How do you relax?
Eating I suppose! Dan and I love food. I do the bath and bedtime routine as Dan cooks. We have dinner together every night before getting out our laptops. We chat without phones and stop for half an hour, it’s so important to have screen-free time. I also play scrabble with my mum and dad online! We always have a game on the go.
What are your top 3 picks from Acorn & Pip?
This is tricky. Let's go with a pair of Bubble Bloom liberty bloomers, a HYP pregnancy candle (not pregnant just a sucker for a nice looking candle) The Reva Oval basket is stunning, and Woody the knitted sheep is too cute. Shoot that's four things…
Love Sophie x
Born in Bath in 2016, Sleepy Doe provides timeless printed sleep and loungewear for children aged 0-9 years. All products are organic or eco with soft with subtle design details, bringing comfort and an effortless style to the mini bedtime wardrobe.
With the all-too familiar experience of having a child who doesn’t sleep through the night, Sophie primarily wanted to help give adults the reassurance that their minis can be as comfy as possible when it comes to bedtime. With her design experience and knowing the importance of achieving quality alongside style, the super-soft fabrics are hand-picked for comfort, maximising chances of the good night’s sleep every parent hopes for.
With Sophie's love of childrenswear, interiors and print design, Sleepy Doe's collections are classic, whilst injecting simple hand-drawn prints in friendly colours that sit happily in any home. Each season Sophie likes to offer a girl print for those tiny humans that love all things pretty alongside unisex options that siblings can share.
All methods of manufacturing are sustainable and ethical reflecting the standards of the whole brand. No harmful dyes are used in the printing method and all products are printed on cotton ecologically sourced from British manufactures. All products are designed and made in the UK, supporting independent factories and businesses, hurrah!
Who are you?
Sophie! Mama to Flossie Coco and Founder & Designer of Sleepy Doe. A British childrenswear brand specialising in eco sleep and loungewear.
How does motherhood inspire your work?
Since being in the world of motherhood I’ve found being surrounded by other mums really inspiring, just knowing we are all in this chaos together. Whether they are full time mamas or also juggling a work/life balance, they’re constantly proving it's all possible and made easier with the right support.
I have always designed prints and loungewear and I suppose motherhood drifted me naturally towards the mini wardrobe. The innocence of children inspires me to keep designing clothes that are timeless and not trend driven.
How do you achieve your work life balance?
I am very lucky to be doing the two things I love but I don't always get it right. Being both a mama and business owner are full-time commitments that demand a whole lot of patience and love. Flossie's happiness is by far more important than any business decision I will ever make. Her well-being puts all of the stressful business moments into perspective, which is invaluable.
Where does your support come from?
My partner Dan is my biggest support. He helps me wherever he can, saying that I keep him at a distance for any creative help! We are a good team at home which makes life easier; he's an amazing cook and a whizz at Excel, two areas that I'm not flash at.
What is the best business advice that you’ve been given?
I've been given lots of helpful advice over the last year or so. It's important not to try and be something you're not - play to your own strengths and passions. It’s easier said than done in this age of instagram, but don't compare yourself to others - back yourself, inspire and be kind along the way.
What’s the best part of running your own business?
Seeing people enjoying your products makes everything worthwhile. My customers share their photos with me with #mysleepydoe and nothing beats seeing sometimes total strangers wearing your product just the way you designed it to be.
If your child were a fruit, what would they be?
A peach, her bottom is the best.
If you could create a hashtag that summed up your life, what would it be?
#nosurprisesplease I do not like surprises!
We all love a bit of social media indulgence (stalking), who are your top 3 accounts to follow?
So many that I love, but let’s go with @dhowelldesigns (how is her life so white!) @isabel_mjj for style and @bright_mama for lols.
What are your favourite things to do with the kids in your local area?
There's always something going on in Bath what with all the independent businesses, families and markets to explore as well as the lush countryside surrounding us. We love to go for breakfast at Hunter & Sons in town, watch the street entertainers and the parks are pretty special all year around.
What are your favourite bedtime stories?
I'm a magazine hoarder, pass me Lionheart, Frankie, Cereal, Milk, Wildling, Drift, Smallish, The Gentlewoman, 91magazine, Lulu, Hello Lunch Lady...
How do you relax?
Eating I suppose! Dan and I love food. I do the bath and bedtime routine as Dan cooks. We have dinner together every night before getting out our laptops. We chat without phones and stop for half an hour, it’s so important to have screen-free time. I also play scrabble with my mum and dad online! We always have a game on the go.
What are your top 3 picks from Acorn & Pip?
This is tricky. Let's go with a pair of Bubble Bloom liberty bloomers, a HYP pregnancy candle (not pregnant just a sucker for a nice looking candle) The Reva Oval basket is stunning, and Woody the knitted sheep is too cute. Shoot that's four things…
Love Sophie x
