6 To 6 Collection

Preparing for an active lifestyle means eating the right foods, getting enough exercise and generally taking care of ourselves. But there’s one aspect of our wellbeing that’s often overlooked: to deliver the ultimate performance, we need to rest our minds and our bodies through restorative, nourishing sleep. The 6 To 6 collection will celebrate and encourage the healing benefits of sleep, and the role that it plays in our sartorial lives. This project is a collaboration between LENZING and Studio Eva x Carola. Partners involved in the project include international circular knitting manufacturer Santoni Shanghai, along with innovative and sustainable suppliers such as TinTextiles, ATB and Ton Design.

1. Why 6 To 6 matters 

Sleep well, perform better 

Research institutes such as Stanford University's Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory have found that sleeping more hours than average improves speed, accuracy, alertness and overall performance in athletes. The fitness writer Faya Nilsson recently found that adding an additional two hours sleep a night increased her reaction time when training to 41% and improved her strength by 37.5%.

Aside from these powerful benefits, sleep not only clears toxins from the brain, it also releases growth hormone which stimulates fat burning, muscle growth and bone building. Sleep also repairs the heart and blood vessels. Getting adequate sleep should therefore be a vital part of any active lifestyle.

The good news? Sticking to a sleep routine should be easy for athletes who already practice the art of routine in their sporting lives. Sleep is a hotly discussed topic within the lifestyle community with yoga routines now being specifically designed for sleep and even yoga pillows designed for maximum bodily support.

The sleep environment 

As our lives get more and more active, we also need to take more down time in order to replenish ourselves and restore energy levels. Spending time in bed - the place where we feel most comfortable and safe – is an important part of this. We often surround ourselves with bedding and décor in white and other light colours which create feelings of lightness, freedom and wellbeing. White in particular makes a room look less cluttered and therefore puts us into a restful mindset. In addition, it reflects all wavelengths of light and this means it absorbs the least heat when compared to other colours.

Sleepwear for the future 

We spend about a third of our lives in bed, whether reading, relaxing or sleeping. Yet many of us underestimate the importance of creating the optimal conditions for sleep. The right textiles, when worn against the skin, can deliver a wealth of benefits to the sleeping body including comfort and thermal regulation. We should focus not only on the textiles we sleep in, but also those that we sleep on; the bedding must deliver the same level of comfort and thermoregulation as the clothing.  To encourage the wearer to feel safe and serene at bedtime, we use the soft silk sensation of Lenzing fibers to replicate human touch. These fibers add an extra level of reassurance when we consider that they are produced using natural materials that have been developed with the wellbeing of the planet in mind.

2. The collection 

Based on these insights, the 6 To 6 Collection, a range of mindfully crafted loungewear and sleepwear has been designed to meet the wearer’s needs between the hours of 6pm and 6am. 

This collection includes sleepwear, bedding, activewear and footwear that will deliver important benefits to the wearer before, during and after sleep. This concept follows on from the Forever Young collection, which is based around the idea of feeling youthful and invigorated through an active lifestyle.  Deep, restorative sleep is an important part of feeling refreshed and energised in this way.
Our direction for this project is based on the idea of an elegant feel combined with a gentle touch, clear surroundings and a dreamy, almost ethereal use of colour.

Phase 1 - Before sleep

This phase is all about the themes of restoration, replenishment, wholeness, and mindfulness.

• Playing with shine versus dull elements for a luxe aesthetic 
• Loose layering for comfort and multi-functionality 
• Graphic design for a sophisticated look and feel

Colours: freshness, purity, clarity and cleanliness

Phase 2 - During sleep
This phase will revolve around the themes of intention, awareness, beauty, depth, shine, gentleness, and the feeling of being at home.

• Terry structures for coverage and loft dimension 
• All-over repeat patterns with engineered edge or shaping that is specific to the product 
• Soft use of colour and muted tones for a calming effect 
• Adaptable support for a customisable level of support and good posture

Colours: will emphasise the body's natural form and support

Phase 3 - After sleep 

This phase is all about connecting to the body through movement and exercise, and the feeling of being rejuvenated and energised by sleep.

• Ventilation engineered into the pattern of the garment 
• Patterns engineered around movement and different zones in the body 
• Use of colour to create a multi-dimensional energising hue effect 
• The application of decorative and feminine graphics

Colours: will encourage the ideas of staying active and feeling healthy and energised

3. How 6 To 6 was developed 

In order to innovate, it’s necessary to do things differently. For this project, the latest circular and seamless knitting technologies were used, combined with data-driven insights to produce intelligent, future-facing design solutions.

Designs are a result of fiber, machine and material selection, rather than vice versa. This enables the production of textiles and garments that are uniquely tailored to the needs of the wearer. Each element of the making process is carefully considered, from yarn selection to machine settings. This hands-on approach means an exceptional level of value can be delivered.

Three important variables will form the basis of this project:

1. Yarn: Yarns were selected that use Lenzing technology to benefit the wearer during sleep. Using these yarns allowed for the creation of layers that interact with each other, thereby meeting the needs of the consumer.  The same carefully selected yarns were used throughout the collection whilst applying different blends, textures, graphics, machine settings, styling and finishing.
   
2. To promote sustainability, all yarns were locally sourced in terms of where they were manufactured.
   
3. Colour: For example, white is a colour that encourages feelings of lightness, freedom and wellbeing. Colours can also add depth to different textures. Sustainable ways of dyeing and printing are also important, along with the engineering of coloured graphical elements.
   
4. Shape: Different shapes, textures and structures were investigated in terms of how they encourage comfort during sleep. This included not only tight, body-hugging silhouettes but also those that fit loosely and allow for air flow and sensuality. 

Important elements to consider
With the main focus on comfort, other elements considered include:

• The sensation of touch 
• Thermal regulation 
• Shape vs. no restriction 
• The “second skin” affect 

Since research has shown that sleeping naked is best for getting good quality sleep, the “silk slip” quality of Lenzing fibers will be perfectly suited to these designs as it mimics the softness of the skin.

4. What will the collection include?

With all this in mind, the 6 To 6 Collection will be a collection of garments ranging from intimates to activewear. It will be comprised of mindfully created solutions that support and encourage deep sleep, including:

• Intimates that create a sensual silk-skin effect, with the added qualities of beauty and refinement 
• Loungewear that can be easily layered over the sleepwear when the wearer needs to leave the house
• Bedding that is created to encourage sleep and enhance the environment 
• Slippers or easy footwear, because when feet feel good, so does the rest of the body 
• Lounge socks – warm feet have been proven to make you sleep faster