You might ask why there is a post about eye masks for sleep on a hair blog, and it would be a fair question for which there are two answers. The first answer is that this particular eye mask also wraps around your ears and will keep your hair in place during sleep and travel (yes, you heard correctly!) and the second is that it happens to be my own company!
Like so many of us during the pandemic, I realized that I needed to create something sustainable that I feel passionate about aside from my day job .. and so I created Cosy London! An eye mask for sleep, designed by a hairstylist with a passion for sustainability.
Cosy London; quality eye masks for sleep, ethically made in London
There are so many unique value points in this mask, so I’ll start with the design. The main criteria for me when creating this mask was that it covered the eyes and the ears. I have been sleeping with a pillow case over my ears for years, because I crave the cosy feeling I get when my ears are covered and I hadn’t found a mask that is light enough to wear. In my experience, most masks that I had used before that cover the ears were too thick and too hot.
I created this mask to cover the ears, while being breathable and light. The mask is very thin, less than half a cm thick, and is made from breathable and light fabric. The outer fabric is made from TENCEL™ Lyocell, which is a sustainable fabric made from wood chips. It has zero carbon footprint and has many proven benefits to the skin such as oil and moisture control and temperature regulation. The stuffing of the fabric is made from organic bamboo / cotton blend, allowing for maximum breathability.
In order to create a one size fits all mask, I used Velcro as a fastener. Obviously coming from a hair background, I was aware that Velcro usually snags the hair. In order to prevent that, I sourced a super flat Velcro that won’t snag the hair at all. The mask is thin and flat, ensuring that even at the back when you fasten the Velcro, it is less than 1cm in thickness. This guarantees maximum comfort, with no lumps or bumps, no matter which position you sleep in. It feels like a second skin, thin, light and breathable from all angles.
Sustainably sourced and ethically made
When creating Cosy London eye masks, I wanted to make sure that not only the fabric quality was sustainably sourced, but also the labour and manufacturing. It was important to me to know that everyone who had a hand in creating the mask was treated fairly and paid a London Living Wage.
I’m very proud to say that we manufacture locally in London at a social enterprise. Their focus is on uplifting women who have faced previous barriers to employment, teaching them skills, while working in a safe and empowering environment. I am confident to say that you can sleep well at night, knowing that these masks were made in an ethical and loving way.
If you’d like to know more about the masks, please do leave a comment below. You can find them here at https://www.cosylondon.co.uk/ and here at https://www.instagram.com/cosyldn/, because you need a good night sleep!