Balance 2.0—A REVOLUTION IN MOISTURE MANAGEMENT AND TEMPERATURE REGULATION
SLEEP DEEPER AND LONGER IN THE IDEAL CLIMATIC ZONE
To be able to enjoy a good night's sleep we need to keep the right temperature. When our temperature fluctuates during the night, the very important deep sleep phases suffer and our sleep quality is reduced. To be able to fall asleep our core temperature needs to drop and it needs to stay at a lower level during the night. At the same time our skin temperature elevates.
When we sleep we are more sensitive to temperature changes and are more prone to either start sweating, if we are too warm, or start shivering, if we are too cold.
Our body temperature also fluctuates more when we are in the REM phase of our sleep compared to when we are in the lighter phases.
In a nationwide German poll, 38% of women and 44% named being too warm or too cold as the most commonly disturbing factor for a good night’s sleep.
Central heating and home insulation have further complicated this situation, as our bedrooms now are about 5ºC warmer than in 1971. This is comfortable during the day but can lower our sleep quality during the night, if we can’t release excess heat and keep the perfect sleeping temperature.
If we get too warm, and can't release that heat fast enough, we begin to sweating while sleeping. This is completely natural and an important tool for our bodies to regulate our temperature. However, the result is often a restless sleep. Our body on average contains 60% water and we have 4 million sweat glands to be able to manage heat and temperature increases. We lose up to 2.5 liters of fluid every day.
We sweat on average one cup every night which with the wrong materials can lead to uncomfortable wetness on our skin.
BALANCE 2.0- SUPERIOR MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE REGULATION
To ensure that we stay in the critical climatic comfort zone we developed Dagsmejan Balance. This collection is a result of and interdisciplinary research project with our esteemed research partners EMPA and HSLU. EMPA is home to some 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and general staff, making it a world-renowned research institute for innovation in materials science and technology. Founded in 1877, the Lucerne School of Art and Design today offers strong expertise in research and development in textile, making it one of Switzerland's leading providers of degree programmes in art and design. We also worked with medical experts in the field of sleep, including professor Åkersted at the Stockholm university, to understand every aspect of our sleep from a physiological perspective.
The break-through benefits of Balance comes from NATTWELLl™, a fabric that combines high-tech natural fibres with innovative construction techniques. Achieving results previously known only to the world of synthetic fibres used in sportswear.
NATTWELL™—HIGH-TECH NATURAL FIBRES WITH PATENTED SLEEP SCIENCE
Nattwell™ fabric is based on a natural fibre called MicroModal, that is both soft on the skin and exceptionally ecological. The fibre is extracted from beech wood, a unique tree that has grown in Europe for thousands of years. MicroModal is produced using Edelweiss® technology, a production process that is low on energy usage and other resources.
Thanks to extensive research the key has been found to enhance the properties of the MicroModal fibre, giving you NATTWELL™—a breakthrough new fabric used in Dagsmejan Balance collection.
The natural moisture absorption properties of the fibre's core remain unchanged, while the outer layer is adapted to make it water resistant and repel moisture. This gives Nattwell™ fabric revolutionary moisture and temperature management properties.
READ MORE ABOUT NATTWELL
Nattwell™ fabric is made of cellulose, which is obtained from beech wood and formed into fibres. Other kinds of cellulose fibres include cotton, linen, bamboo and lyocell. A common feature among all cellulose fibres is there high moisture storage capacity. The fact that cellulose is able to store moisture in its interior explains cellulose’s excellent climate-regulation capacity and ability to moderate temperature fluctuations.
The capacity of synthetic fibres, such as polyester, polyamide or polypropylene to store moisture is far less than that of Nattwell™. Polyester for example is only able to store one-tenth the amount of moisture that Nattwell™ fabric is able to, which explains synthetic polymers’ poor capacity for temperature regulation.
Conventional cellulose fibres absorb moisture very rapidly, which means they have very good wicking rates. If you drop a few droplets of water on cellulose material you will see that they are absorbed within a few moments. Cellulose fibres are therefore often used as wicking materials for clothing. However, since the water absorbed remains in the textile’s structure, a disadvantage of this high absorbency, is the speed at which we experience a wet, cold feeling when the fabric comes into contact with our skin. Synthetic materials are therefore often preferred for sportswear, since they dry faster and thus eliminate the cold feeling quicker. This benefit comes, however, at the expense of poor thermal control.
In Nattwell™ fabric the cellulose fibre has been modified in such a way that the moisture storage capacity of the cellulose in the fibre’s interior remains unchanged and thus the ability to maintain climatic buffering is preserved. However, a layer has been created on the surface of the fibre’s cell, which transports moisture into the fibre’s moisture-absorbent storage zone. The fibres therefore constitute micro-composites, consisting of a cellulose core coated with a hydrophobic surface.
Nattwell™ fabric thus combines two properties that have up until now not been seen in cellulose fibres:
- Moisture released from the body is regulated and controlled in the textile structure by absorption and diffusion to the outside. These textiles are therefore very good at preventing changes to the temperature of the fabric.
- During a phase in which we sweat, moisture can be passed first to a storage layer and then if necessary the fibre’s interior can act as a storage zone. This means that Nattwell™fabric can store up to 50% of its own weight in liquid while still feeling dry to touch.
These properties give Nattwell™ fabric a unique combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic functionalities. Properties which were once thought irreconcilable, i.e. moisture storage and moisture transport, have been successfully combined in Nattwell™.
DESIGNED FOR SLEEP
By assessing our nightly temperature and sweat patterns, as well as sleep positions and movements, we have been able to design a unique range of clothing optimised for sleep. Dagsmejan sleepwear will keep you in the ideal climatic comfort zone for longer, helping to boost the duration and quality of your sleep.
Through extensive research we have found a unique way to seamlessly integrate temperature and moisture-control zones in high-sweat areas supporting optimal temperature regulation and moisture wicking throughout the night.
This type of technique has never been used with natural fibres before and allows us to offer the best of performance fibres in a totally natural way.
SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO BOOST YOUR SLEEP
Dagsmejan Balance has been proven in independent testing to increase your physiological sleep comfort, leading to a longer and deeper sleep.
Extensive laboratory testing has been done with our research partner EMPA to establish the right fibre mix and knitting structures to give optimal temperature regulation and moisture management. The superior benefits has been supported by additional testing in climate chambers at BICO.
Explore how you can sleep better with Balance 2.0: