Mum-of-two who left her corporate job to make stylish sleepwear DOUBLES her sales in 18 months – after coming up with a comfy ‘his shirt for her’ idea
- Sherri Kiernikowski launched Wanderluxe Sleepwear after maternity leave
- She was spending a lot of time at home in pyjamas with her twin boys
- During this time she realised there wasn’t a great range of stylish and cosy pjs
- And so her brand was born, with a focus on fine details and suiting structure
- The latest collection, which is a collab with Kate Waterhouse, is selling fast
An Australian mother has doubled the sales of her unique tailored pyjamas in the past 18 months as the Covid pandemic saw demand for loungewear skyrocket.
Sherri Kiernikowski, who lives in Melbourne, came up with the idea for Wanderluxe Sleepwear while on maternity leave for her corporate job after giving birth to twin boys.
Spending plenty of time at home and in pyjamas during this period of time the 49-year-old was surprised to find there wasn’t any comfortable and stylish pieces on the market that she would ‘be happy to answer the door in or have friends and family see’.
‘I have always loved fashion, particularly fine detailing. I come from a tailoring background – the fourth generation of a men’s suiting business which started back in 1907,’ Sherri told Daily Mail Australia.
Sherri Kiernikowski (pictured), who lives in Melbourne, came up with the idea for Wanderluxe Sleepwear while on maternity leave for her corporate job after giving birth to twin boys
Spending plenty of time at home and in pyjamas during this period of time the 49-year-old was surprised to find there wasn’t any comfortable and stylish pieces on the market that she would ‘be happy to answer the door in or have friends and family see’
‘It was this family history and experience and the fact I couldn’t find any pyjamas I liked, which inspired me to develop a range of sleepwear based on the principles of suiting and Savile Row tailoring.’
Savile Row is a street in London’s trendy Mayfair district filled with men’s tailors who arguably make the best made-to-measure suits in the world.
‘My vision was to use the perfect fabrics to create stylish, tailored pyjamas that you could feel proud to wear,’ she said.
‘My vision was to use the perfect fabrics to create stylish, tailored pyjamas that you could feel proud to wear,’ Sherri said
Sherri came up with the idea of a ‘his shirt for her’ in the form of pyjamas but didn’t want it to feel like sleeping in a business shirt, so instead she developed her own fabric – a custom cotton-modal – that each design is made from.
‘We use traditional menswear shirting inspiration to formulate our patterns. For example we love using weave types such as pinstripes, dobby, poplin and then reimagine it in a feminine way,’ Sherri said.
The latest collection, which was a collaboration with racing royalty Kate Waterhouse, features springtime colours reimagined into long shirts and trousers, loungewear you could easily wear all weekend long.
Sherri came up with the idea of a ‘his shirt for her’ in the form of pyjamas but didn’t want it to feel like sleeping in a business shirt, so instead she developed her own fabric
And as Australians doubled down through a number of lockdowns this year – with Melbourne experiencing the world’s longest – sales have risen twofold.
‘My business really grew during Covid, the demand for sleepwear and loungewear increased dramatically as we change the way we live. Wanderluxe is the perfect attire for a Zoom meeting and you are definitely not embarrassed to answer the door wearing Wanderluxe,’ she said.
The brand is now stocked on David Jones’ and The Iconic’s websites with a number of Australian boutiques, lifestyle stores, spas and luxury hotels also housing the label.
The brand is now stocked on David Jones’ and The Iconic’s websites with a number of Australian boutiques, lifestyle stores, spas and luxury hotels also housing the label
Customers enjoy the fact Wanderluxe is breathable, super soft and made from natural fibers so their skin is never irritated while they sleep.
‘Our products are ethically and sustainably made and our exclusive fabrics have become a signature of Wanderluxe quality,’ Sherri said.
‘All our products are beautifully packaged in our bespoke gift box making it the perfect gift to give or receive especially at Christmas time.’