At Shades Of Sleep, we are so grateful for the flourishing small business community in Calgary. Because of this, we wanted to highlight some amazing companies that we think you should know about starting with Black Sheep Mattress Company. We recently got in touch with them to share more of their story below. Enjoy!

Established in 2011, Black Sheep Mattress is a small, luxury mattress manufacturer located in Calgary, Alberta.

So what makes us different from other mattress stores?

Natural Materials
One significant difference between Black Sheep Mattress and other stores is our commitment to high quality, natural materials. Our mattresses never contain any chemicals, toxic fire retardants, pesticides, or glues. We do not use any materials that off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as they have been proven to cause harmful effects on our body, from skin irritations to organ failure. Instead, we keep our materials list short and sweet, consisting mainly of natural wool, natural cotton and 100% natural latex, with no fillers or additives. By avoiding synthetic materials, not only do we avoid adverse health effects, but we also create a higher quality sustainable product that is built to last.

Customizable
We believe that each individual is unique– we mean even bed partners– so every one of our mattresses are built-to-order. Your mattress isn’t stock sitting in a storage room, you’re receiving a mattress that has been carefully crafted and curated to your unique needs. We have options to customize mattresses with different firmnesses, dual-profile (different firmnesses on each half), sizes, or even to meet special requests such as omitting materials for allergies, sensitivities, or personal values (e.g. vegan mattresses).

Local
Everything we make is made by hand in our shop here in Calgary. What you’ll find in our shop are real people crafting your perfect mattress with care and attention. We also do our best as a consumer and partner, to work with local companies and suppliers which align with our values– like Shades of Sleep!

There’s a lot more that we can say about our company and our products, but if you’re curious, we would love for you to visit our showroom and let the products speak for themselves.

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Click here to learn more about Black Sheep Mattress

We love to “shop local” too when sourcing products for our store and are thrilled to be carrying this new line, Essentials by Nature, made in Edmonton with love by founder, Jill Godin.  The idea for Essentials by Nature came to Jill after her oldest daughter was diagnosed with asthma and many allergies. She has been Jill’s inspiration to create natural, non-toxic, homemade products.

In search of products that would not exacerbate her daughter’s condition, Jill took it upon herself to research and create her own natural, non-toxic, homemade products.  All Essentials by Nature products are made out of natural essential oils and other plant-based, all-natural ingredients. All products are free of chemicals, parabens,  dyes, synthetic fragrance, sulphates and formaldehyde.   Jill strives to establish sustainable processes, mixing, testing, and packaging her products in small batches out of Edmonton, Alberta.

The planet is important to all to us and we are pleased that Jill tries to maintain sustainability in her products and packaging.   She sources locally as much as possible and works in collaboration with many other local companies to create her products.

Plant Based, Natural, Pure, Simple.

Many people struggle with sleep, and bedtime can be a difficult time. It’s important to take care of yourself and create a bedtime routine to help you sleep better. A bedtime routine will not only improve the quality of your sleep, but it also offers several other benefits! In this blog post we’ll discuss five benefits that come from having a bedtime routine.

1. Improved Sleep Quality – By having a routine your overall quality of sleep will be much better. You will fall asleep faster and sleep deeper, giving you more energy during the day.
2. Better mood – A better-rested person typically will be in a better mood throughout the day. Sleep deprivation can cause irritability and mood swings.
3. Increased creativity – Research suggests that when we sleep our brains integrate memories with recent experiences to consolidate long-term memory storage in the hippocampus, which helps us learn new information and form creative ideas. Since bedtime routines help you fall asleep faster and sleep deeper, your brain will have more time for dreaming and creation.
4. Health for both body and mind – People who consistently do bedtime routines are more likely to have healthier lives. By just being more conscious of your nighttime routine you are more likely to look at all of your daily habits and start improving them.
5. Improved memory – According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation can lead to forgetfulness, which means you’ll have trouble remembering how to get home or what you ate for breakfast that morning! So by having a routine and getting a better sleep you will be improving your memory!

It can be tough to find time for yourself in today’s busy world, but it is so important. A nightly bedtime routine can not only improve the quality of your sleep, but also offer several other benefits! Here are just five reasons why you should try a bedtime routine tonight. If getting ready for bed isn’t something that comes naturally to you or if you’re struggling with insomnia and need some help calming down before bed, we have all of your bedtime essentials online and in-store. Get started with these 5 steps to start feeling refreshed tomorrow morning!

Here are a few of my most asked questions which may help guide you towards your perfect bed sheets!

What is Lyocell?

A newer type of natural fiber, lyocell is made from beechwood or eucalyptus.  It boats silky texture, natural luster and breathability.    You may see it sometimes labelled as modal or Tencel – the branded names of lyocell from Lenzing.    Perfect for hot sleepers!

What is Linen?

Derived from the flax plant, linen has proven to be safe and environmentally friendly.  This unique fibre has natural lustre, stiffness and breathability and holds up to 20% its weight in moisture.   Perfect for nightsweats and for anyone needing cooler sheet.

Organic cotton vs OEKO-TEX Certified

Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers and using methods and materials that have a low environmental impact.  Oeko-Tex certifies non-hazardous end products and all of their components.   Products that carry the Standard 100 label have been tested and proven free of harmful levels of toxic substances.   Quality sheets should be either organic or Oeko Tek certified so you should feel very safe putting either type of cotton or linen against your skin.

How important is thread count?

Thread count is the total number of horizontal and vertical threats in a square inch of fabric.   The quality of the cotton is more important than the thread count.  When high quality cotton is used (long staple Egyptian cotton) , you can have a beautiful fabric with a threadcount as low as 200!

What is percale cotton?

Percale is characterized  by its matte finish and crisp hand.  The simple over and under weave prevents it from draping closely to the body, making it feel cool to the touch.   Percale is an excellent choice for hot sleepers.

What is sateen cotton?

Also known as a satin weave, sateen fabric is characterized by it smooth, supple, lustrous surface.  The opulent feel makes it the most popular choice for luxury bed linens.  It drapes softly over the sleeper and because of its weave, it feels warmer than percale.

We are so excited to announce that we are the first retail location in Alberta to carry Pillowise!

This isn’t your average pillow. Pillowise pillows come in a range of sizes for a more custom fit for your specific needs.

“To get the best possible rest and for your muscles to be at their most relaxed, it is important to sleep on a pillow that’s tailored to your dimensions. An appropriate pillow, one that’s the correct height and shape, will adapt to the contours of your neck, is comfortably soft and gives great support.” – www.pillowise.com

Invented in 2003 by co-founder and Dutch physiotherapist, Thijs van der Hilst, each pillow is crafted in the Pillowise factory in the Netherlands with only the best materials: 

• Pillow size: 22in x 14in
• Core material: 100% premium Dutch memory foam
• Cover materials: Moisture regulating 100% Tencel
• Cover removable and machine washable at 70°F

Pillowise offers a five-year warranty on their custom fit pillows to assure you of your best night’s sleep every night! Their custom pillows are also recommended by over 5,000 health care professionals around the world.

Ready to get your Pillowise pillow?

Head into our Inglewood location and we will take all of your measurements for the perfect pillow fit. We also have different sizes for you to try out in-store.    We will help you decide on the perfect pillow that meets your personal needs for a better night’s sleep.

As we slowly get back to a new normal and we are travelling again, we have personally discovered that it makes the trip so much more enjoyable and comfortable if you feel like you are taking a bit of home with you.

The first most important thing to take on your travels?   

Your own pillow. It seems to be an adventure when travelling  as to what pillow you may have in your hotel or B & B.

We have enjoyed taking the down travel pillows from St Geneve on the plane to cuddle up with or the travel pillows from Pillowise that fit comfortably into your carry on luggage. The Pillowise travel pillows are big enough to use for your whole trip. We have also created for customers their own personal sized down pillows, a bit bigger than the travel pillows meant for the plane but small enough to still fit in your carry on luggage. A proper pillow when sleeping in a new bed when travelling, just adds that extra level of comfort.

Don’t forget your sleep mask if you need a totally dark room in which to sleep, we have learned that you cannot assume that all accommodation will have room darkening window coverings, so your sleep mask can create that dark cozy room for you to enable you to sleep.

Don’t forget your favorite book. Reading on the plane or when cuddling up in bed after a long day of sightseeing always helps with relaxation when sleeping in a new environment.

Lastly, I am sure you will have your own personal favorite pajamas! 

We love our sleepwear from the Dagsmejan Balance collection as it not only wicks away moisture if you find you are perspiring at night but keeps your body temperature 1 degree below normal for that perfect sleep. Available in a cute short set for hotter sleepers, long or short sleepshirts or a two piece lounge set, great for waking up and grabbing that first cup of coffee but also great if you find you are needing that bit of warmth at night.

Travel safe and enjoy!