Testimonials, Uncategorized

Chris Parsons – Designer – Origins of the Nite Hood™

Nite Hood Better Sleep MaskI am a light-sensitive sleeper who once used traditional sleep masks that always fell off with the first turn on my pillow. When the sun came up at 6:00, I was awake with the birds. In frustration, I would press my face into pillows and or bury myself under blankets – close to having oxygen deprivation. One day, I put an inverted t-shirt on my head. Yes, I did! The neck hole fit perfectly over my face, just above my nose so I could breath. The rest of the shirt flopped up out of the way. It worked! And I did this for about a year, always thinking,”This is something but it could be better if the ribbed neck fabric was softer and the fit less floppy.”

patternAdjust7oldI started to sketch things out and then moved to paper patterns. Once I had what I thought was a good design, I went out to find the most comfortable fabric, one that you would want next to your skin and quickly found that bamboo (that hard material they use to make scaffolding in Asia) can also be a delightfully soft, breathable and anti-microbial fabric. Perfect – except that it is fairly expensive. I made a couple for myself and found it worked like the t-shirt, but better – much better!

I told some friends about it and they were curious but thought perhaps that I was crazy as well. It was just before Christmas and I decided to make 30 and give them to friends and family. The first design was very much like it is now – kind of like a old time sleeping cap except you pull it down over your eyes.

OliEveryone was pleased to receive his or her own proto Nite Hood™ and as weeks passed; I heard back some very positive responses; “This is a product” or “You need to patent this!” These were encouraging notes but I wasn’t all that sure about building my own product and business. I crunched some numbers and sat on it for a few months.

P1160100 copyOne day while sniffing around at Designer Fabric Outlet on Queen Street West in Toronto, I found 150 yards of very nice Bamboo fabric on sale at a crazy low price. I made a few samples with it – washed it – wore it and it performed very well. I went back the next day and bought the whole lot as I saw this as a sign to move forward. Even the guy at the cash was shocked at the price and said that I would never find this price again.

Sleep Mask SaleI was lucky enough to find a small factory that could sew my pattern at a decent price. I designed an eCommerce website and packaging and had things ready for the next Christmas. Needless to say it went surprisingly well and things grew.

A bit later, I found a local knitting mill that made the best bamboo fabric I have ever seen. This new relationship also allowed me to understand the nature of Lycra and how to apply it for best results to the bamboo. This made a huge difference, one that I wouldn’t have found if I had been importing the fabric. Every detail that goes into the Nite Hood™ has been considered and refined for the best sleep possible. It is a product designed, knit, sewn and distributed all in Canada.

NiteHoodonDragons

That’s me, presenting to the Dragons Den

As a product, the Nite Hood™ is a very simple and effective idea. People like it, the business continues to grow and I still hear very encouraging things from happy sleepers all over the world! If you have any thoughts or questions about the Nite Hood™, I would love to hear from you. Thanks.

 

Chris Parsons

Nite Hood Test Pilot and Designer

 

 

 

4 thoughts on “Chris Parsons – Designer – Origins of the Nite Hood™

  1. Faith S says:

    I don’t wear it every night, just when I can’t sleep, or when I wake up early. It’s my magic bullet, does the trick everytime. It stays on, even though I’m a restless sleeper. Love it!

    1. admin says:

      Tell that to the Dragons. 😉

  2. Fran Garner says:

    Nite Hood is one of the rare products, (along with Canadian Polar Feet) that I would bother to actually write a review for. I’ve had a Nite Hood for years, and am totally impressed with both the design idea and the function. I live in the country, and have no need for curtains in my house. As I’ve aged I have encountered the common annoyance of insomnia. Pulling on my Nite Hood is like crawling into a safe, dark cave, wherever I am, or any time of day or night. Even better is the sleep I get in my hammock with my Nite Hood on. My den has a parachute nylon hammock, lined with a big sheepskin, with a down sleeping bag and alpaca blanket – totally dreamy – like being in a cozy pod, floating in space!
    I was interested to read how successful your product is being in helping folks therapeutically. Nite Hoods should be available to hospital patients to allow daytime sleep and calm. As well, they would make a great ‘perk’ for airline companies to give away (probably only in 1st Class, but that’s OK – I already have mine!). Bravo, Chris Parsons, for following through on a very good idea – I wish you continued success!

    1. nitehood-canada says:

      Hi Fran, you’re big sleeps sound amazing. I have taken notes.
      Thanks getting in touch!

      Chris

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