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I Know It Sounds Crazy, But Here’s Where It All Began…
Around the holidays every year, I fly from NYC to LA to visit my childhood best friend Sarah. Last year she received this gorgeous velvet weighted blanket from Bearaby as a gift, and I fell in love with it so much when I visited her that I tried to order the exact same one the moment I got home… only to find that it was already sold out.
I became obsessed, I’ll admit it. I think it was because I had the best sleep of my life while I crashed on her couch under that heaven-sent blanket. I checked the Bearaby site pretty much every day for three months last winter, but unfortunately once they were out of stock, the limited edition collection was gone for the year. It was torture seeing all sorts of celebrities like Michelle Monaghan and Sasheer Zamata cuddling with their Velvet Nappers all winter long.
As my luck would have it, there’s a cult-like following for the limited release eco-velvet collection and it sells out every year in just a few short weeks (if not days). Once I realized I’d missed my chance, I ordered the Tree Napper instead, which I LOVE… but there was something about that Velvet Napper that I couldn’t get out of my mind.
I’ve patiently waited for it to be restocked for almost a year, so when I finally spotted it on Bearaby’s website a few days ago, I ordered three different colors so I could have one in every room. Yesterday they showed up at my door, and I couldn’t be happier with them!
So What Is Bearaby, Exactly?
Bearaby was founded with the mission to make great, restorative sleep possible for everyone while helping the planet in the process. They craft beautiful, hand-knit weighted blankets from sustainable materials that promote a calming, cozy sensation akin to being swaddled like a baby or wrapped in a big warm bear hug.
It turns out, this is called deep touch pressure, or DTP, and it’s been scientifically proven to produce hormones that improve your mood, lessen stress and anxiety, and promote sleep. I won’t bore you with the details, but if you’re interested in having your mind blown, check out this blog post from Bearaby’s website on how deep touch pressure works.
But why does the Velvet Napper have such a cult following? I’ve got a good idea…
First of All, Sustainability
As I mentioned, all of Bearaby’s products are designed with the planet in mind. While their other products are made using organic, sustainably-grown cotton or eucalyptus fiber, the Velvet Napper is GRS Certified and made from a proprietary “eco-velvet” material which literally reduces the amount of plastic trash in the sea. Each Velvet Napper is made from almost a thousand ocean-bound plastic bottles, which are spun and brushed into their silky signature fabric.
This means I can sleep (even more) soundly knowing I’m doing something to help our oceans! Saving the environment is an issue near and dear to my heart, so I’m drawn to companies like Bearaby who don’t just use “eco-friendly” as a branding tactic, but actually weave sustainability into the fabric of their business.
Next, the Luxuriously Cozy Fabric
When I discovered that Bearaby somehow made a buttery-soft fabric completely out of recycled plastic, I was floored. The look and feel of the eco-velvet is simply sublime, almost like a mix between velvet and silk. It’s luxuriously soft and luminous (but not super shiny which I love).
For the first time, I’m actually excited about the frigid New York winter so that I can cozy up with my blanket. It could be the velvety-soft fabric or it could be the slightly more heavy-weight feel compared to the Tree Napper, but when I sleep with my Velvet Napper, I genuinely feel like I’m in a cocoon. That said, the knit design means it’s still breathable and definitely not too hot for comfort.
Finally, the Gorgeous New Colors
The limited edition Velvet Napper collection features four gemstone-inspired colors: from the vibrant Tourmaline to elegant Peridot, Rose Quartz, and Silver Topaz. I stalked Bearaby’s Instagram and saw that last year’s collection featured a different set of colors, which means that once a color is sold out, there’s no guarantee it’ll be back again next year.
Everyone Is Weighing in on Bearaby
In addition to features all over the internet, from Architectural Digest to E! and Refinery 29, Bearaby has over 100,000 happy customers! According to their glowing reviews, the Nappers are expertly-crafted, the quality is excellent, the evenly-distributed weight helps people sleep, and they look incredible in any room.
“The velvet is unbelievably soft and cozy. Since the weight is in the material itself and there are no beads, there’s no awkward shifting around. And because it’s woven, it stays cool and comfortable all night!”
Amanda M.
But you don’t just have to take their (or my) word for it. Bearaby offers free shipping and returns, plus a 30-day “try it” policy, which means you can test it out yourself. In the unlikely chance that you’re not a fan, you can send it back, no questions asked!
That said, I can almost guarantee that you’ll fall in love with the Velvet Napper as quickly as I did. As of this writing, all of Bearaby’s colors and weights, which range from $269 to $299, are still available, so there’s an option for everyone!
All I can say is that, if you want a Velvet Napper, hurry up and get your favorite color now… or you could be waiting until next year like me.
