Sleepwear that keeps wearers safe from insects

A startup is making bamboo sleepwear with insect repellent incorporated into the fabric, for greater sustainability and fewer bug bites

Spotted: Malaria is an all-too-common and life-threatening disease. It is caused by parasites that are transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitos. There are an estimates 229 million cases of malaria each year, with around 410,000 annual deaths – more than half of which occur in children under five. The best way to avoid malaria is to not get bitten in the first place. Now, a new innovation may be able to help – bamboo sleepwear with built-in anti-insect technology. 

The insect repellent sleepwear company We Drifters was founded by Naudia Salmon, who came up with the idea while travelling in Southeast Asia and struggling with bug bites. She found insect repellent sprays to be uncomfortably sticky and unpleasant, and came up with the idea of incorporating bug-repellent into clothing fabric.  

We Drifters’ sleepwear is made from bamboo fibres, which are naturally breathable, and has thermo-regulating properties. In addition to repelling insects, the material has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, meaning that it needs to be washed less often – saving energy. To prevent bugs from reaching uncovered body parts, the top includes thumb holes while the trousers have stirrups that keep the fabric in place around the ankles – a spot where bites occur.

The sleepwear comes in a unisex design and the set includes socks and a pillow case that doubles as a storage bag. Although designed for travellers, the sleepwear is also appropriate for everyday use at home, especially for people who are allergic to bug bites. Acccording to the company, “You can find some insect repellent clothing on the market, but ours differs in two ways. Firstly, we work with natural bamboo fabric, retaining its natural great properties… Secondly, we focus on comfort, particularly the sleep experience, which is when people are often most vulnerable to bug bites.”

Seemingly no area of life is free from innovations – especially those aimed at adding functionality or sustainability. The We Drifters pyjamas are designed to prevent travellers from getting bug-borne diseases, but we have also seen pyjama innovations designed to improve bedtime at home. These include sustainable pyjamas made from reused high-quality hotel bedlinens and scannable children’s pyjamas that contain bedtime stories.