Asya Varetsa and Kate Zubarieva take lounging seriously. Very seriously. Their brand, Sleeper, consists entirely of pajamas that are nice-looking enough to wear all day. They’re best known for their billowy nightgown with puffy sleeves (which has a bit of a prairie dress vibe), but they’ve expanded to pajama sets with feathered cuffs, robes, and linen slips. We spoke with them about trends, early-aughts style, and men’s Uniqlo shirts.
How do you thank someone for a gift?
AV: Giving the warmest hug.
KZ: I always try to take a short break to realize how I feel when I get a gift. Only after that I thank this person or give a feedback. I don’t have any standard reactions; I am a human being, after all.
What would you never wear?
AV: A Halloween costume.
KZ: There is no such thing, I could wear anything.
What’s your dream vacation?
AV: Something unplanned and unexpected.
KZ: To fly over Kamchatka peninsula on a helicopter.
What’s a good book on your coffee table right now?
AV: Watchmen.
KZ: Vladimir Nabokov’s Letters to Vera. Highly recommend.
Favorite piece of furniture in your apartment/office?
AV: My side table in the shape of a sheep.
KZ: My great-grandpa’s chair from his office.
Last show you binge-watched?
AV: Curb Your Enthusiasm.
KZ: The 15th season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
Secret to hosting a good party?
AV: Good food, a good laugh, good people.
KZ: To play music that was popular when my guests were in their 20s; to invite only those people whom I actually happy to see; and, of course, lots of cocktails.
What is a trend that you like right now?
AV: The trend of no-trends. I love that we starting to forget about the word “trend” and the word itself is not trendy anymore. The most important thing is you and what you love.
KZ: I adore the feminine vibe of early 2000s.
A trend you don’t understand?
AV: Why people are moving to Manhattan.
KZ: When people make drama out of nothing.
Favorite museum/gallery?
AV: De Young Museum, not the museum itself but the Observation Tower.
KZ: Kyiv National Museum of Art, for their rich collection of avant-garde.
Shoes you wear most often?
AV: Mules.
KZ: Classic Reebok sneakers.
What’s your favorite…
Flower?
AV: Mimosa.
KZ: Red rose.
Candle?
AV: Unscented White Pillar Candle.
KZ: Any rose-scented one.
Scent?
AV: Wet concrete after the rain.
KZ: Warm Cotton by Clean.
Sheets/bedding?
AV: Linen white bedding.
KZ: Only white, well-ironed, made with a high-quality polished cotton.
Pillow?
AV: Soft, cold, and big.
KZ: The one that’s filled with feathers.
Restaurant?
AV: Weekly Sunday dinner with friends at my Brooklyn apartment.
KZ: Goocha in Tel Aviv.
Suitcase?
AV: Black, Muji.
KZ: Lojel.
Socks?
AV: No socks.
KZ: Fila.
T-shirt?
AV: Men’s white cotton Uniqlo, rounded neck, size large.
KZ: White tees from Uniqlo, or the ones with my favorite bands printed on them.
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