Five years ago I embarked on a "life-changing" shopping experience (that may be a tiny bit of an overstatement but it was about as life-changing as shopping can get). It was the morning of December 23rd 2004, and I had about five hours to go before I was to meet my fiance at Grand Central and take the train to his family's house for Christmas. As usual, I had worked myself up into a terrible frenzy regarding a minute and somewhat insignificant detail, which was whether or not everyone would wear pajamas around the house in the morning, or whether they would come to breakfast fully dressed. If it was the former, I was going to need a new pair of pajamas. I headed out of my apartment imagining a brief trip where I bought the first pair of nice pajamas I could find, regardless of what they cost, so that I could still maintain my plan of having a leisurely morning sipping coffee and watching talk shows while I wrapped presents. That didn't happen.
After searching some of Manhattan's finest stores for hours I was positively bewildered. How could it be that there was nothing I wanted to buy? The majority of sleepwear I saw was adorned with silk, bows, & lace which have never really been my thing. I loved prints, but not so much ones that included junk food, cartoon animals, or in one unfortunate case both. I found flannels that were priced right but were just slightly softer than cardboard.
As our train rolled along later that afternoon I stared out the window and started planning the creation of what is now Elizabeth Cotton. I had worked in the fashion industry for almost ten years, so luckily I had a pretty good head start.
Five years later our pajamas have been carried in what I think are some of the coolest stores around, and we have also been in Oprah Magazine twice (including the "O" list!), InStyle, and Vogue. An entire Royal Family wears our pajamas, so if you wear them you ought to know that you are in the company of actual Princesses! We searched the world over to find the finest fabrics for our pajamas, and I am 100% sure that we have (for more about our fabrics please see below).
Most importantly, we have acquired a very loyal customer base of women who really love our pajamas. I am very thankful for the fact that we are still here and growing despite the many bumps in the road that come with running a small business, and I am proud of the fact that the majority of people who shop with us eventually return to purchase another pair for themselves or as a gift.
Thank you to all for a wonderful five years. Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Liberty of London Print
Our prints come from the legendary collection of Liberty of London, which dates back to 1783. Liberty's rich heritage in pattern design and color palette is unrivaled in the world of fashion. Liberty Fabrics are printed in England on 240 thread-count cotton lawn.
Signature Sateen Solids
When we went looking for the sateen fabric for our solid pajamas, we were searching for the ultimate combination of comfort and durability. We found our fabric in Dresden, Germany, in a mill that has been spinning this dreamy soft cotton for over two centuries. This 280 thread- count fabric makes for the ultimate in sleeping comfort. This is our most lightweight fabric.
Double Brushed Flannels
When it comes to flannel, there is no place in the world that rivals the flannels produced in Portugal. After a road trip in 2007, we found a double brushed fabric that perfectly replicates the soft and relaxed feel that traditionally comes from hundred of washing cycles. We promise, you have never felt flannel this soft before.
We proudly manufacture our collection here in the United States, in the Garment District of New York, NY.
What is your return policy?
If for any reason one of our products does not meet your expectations, it may be returned for an exchange or refund. Items must be in their original condition and must be returned or exchanged within 30 days of receipt. Detailed instructions explaining how to return or exchange an item will be enclosed with your order. Items that have been washed may not be returned or exchanged.
How are your pajamas sized and how should I know what size to buy my friend, wife, etc. as a gift?
Our pajamas are available in sizes XS (0/2), S (4/6), M (8/10), L (12/14), and XL (16). Sizes are designed to correlate to what dress size you wear. If you are unsure of your exact size and wavering between two different sizes, we recommend that you go with the larger size as pajamas are always comfortable if they are a bit roomy.
May I purchase a different size top and bottom?
Our pajamas are manufactured and sold as sets and we regret that we are unable to sell different sized tops and bottoms. If you think that you are a size medium on the bottom and a large on the top (or vice versa), please select the larger size for the best fit.
How should I care for my pajamas?
We recommend washing your pajamas with like colors in cold water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent (no bleach). Tumble dry low and remove from the dryer promptly to prevent wrinkling. Fabric softener is great for keeping your pajamas extra comfortable. Some of our favorite fabric detergents and softeners come from The Laundress.
When will my order ship?
Your order will ship within 48 hours of when it is received, however please note that orders received on a weekend are not processed until the next business day. Items are shipped by ground, so please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery. If you need your order shipped faster than that please contact us Monday through Friday at (646) 707-3506 from 9:30 am- 5:00pm EST to arrange for express shipment.
May I place an order over the phone?
Yes, please call us Monday thru Friday at (646) 707-3506 from 9:30am - 5:00 p.m. EST.
Which credit cards do you accept?
We accept American Express, MasterCard, Visa, & Discover.
Will I be charged sales tax?
Only orders shipped to addresses within New York State are subject to sales tax.
What makes your cotton so soft?
Our fabrics are extraordinarily soft for a few reasons:
The first reason is the premium quality cotton fibers that are used to weave the fabric. Cotton fibers vary in length, and threads made from longer fibers result in fabric that has a softer, silkier feel.
The second reason that our fabrics are so soft is because of the processes used to improve the quality of the cotton fibers. Cotton is a natural fiber, so after it is harvested it should be combed and carded in order to remove impurities. Carding cotton fibers cleans them by separating them and laying them parallel to one another. Carding removes short fibers, which allows the remaining longer fibers to be woven into very fine yarns for high quality fabrics.
What does "double-brushed" flannel refer to?
Brushing flannel loosens the cotton from the cotton yard. This gives flannel its unique feel. Double-brushed refers to the fact that a fabric has been brushed on both sides.
What does thread count mean?
Thread count is a measure of the fineness of fabric. Specifically, it is measured by counting the number of threads contained in one square inch of fabric, including both the length (warp) and width (weft) threads. It is most broadly used in regard to cotton linens such as bed sheets.
Our Signature Sateen solid fabric has a 280 Thread Count, and our printed fabrics have a 240 Thread Count.
Thread count is often used as a measure of fabric quality, so that "standard" cotton thread counts are around 150 while good-quality sheets start at 180 and a count of 200 or higher is considered "percale" or of the highest quality.
Beware of high thread counts in the range of 300 to 1,000: Certain vendors have elected to use a loophole in the definition of thread count to re-market fabrics with 200 thread counts to as high as 1,000 and beyond. While we could use the same loophole, it feels dishonest and we would rather educate our consumers. Trust us when we tell you that these are the world’s finest fabrics. It took a lot of trips to find them. For more information on thread count, check out Wikipedia.
Is thread-count the best indication of a fabric's quality?
Thread Count is one of the indicators of a fabric's quality but not the most important. By far, to people in the industry the most important factor is the quality of the fibers used to weave the fabric. The linen industry has focused on thread count because it is easy to print a number on the outside of a box. It isn’t nearly as easy for a box to illustrate all the true measures of quality.
Selecting a cotton mill is akin to selecting a wine vintner: there are no numerical measures that can remotely come close to replicating the sensation you get from tasting the wine or feeling the fabric.
When you wear our pajamas, we trust you will understand!
