Brand to know

Stola London

Co-founded by Poppy Fordham and Charlie Thomas, Stola London was born after a chance encounter on London’s famous Portobello road, during the UK’s first lockdown. The sleepwear brand, which launched in May 2021, aims to spread awareness of hemp as a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to cotton, through a collection of elegant flowing pyjamas. It marries inspiration from the ancient world (hemp stolas were staple items of clothing for women in Ancient Rome) with classic styles pulled straight from the archives of Vogue. The result is a collection of beautiful, timeless soft pyjamas which transition seamlessly from sophisticated daywear to comfortable sleepwear. Here, Poppy talks us through three of her favourite pieces.

Albanda white pyjama set

“We called our first collection Gaia, named after the goddess of Earth, with a focus on having earthy, natural pieces. And we decided to name all of our sets after ancient cities that used to produce hemp. There’s just something about a fresh, white, crisp pair of pyjamas (this set also has navy stitching), I think they’re so chic and sophisticated. This set has a pointed collar and fits kind of boxy – I didn’t want anything too fitting. It falls slightly flared but is very classically done. I wanted something that my generation would feel quite cool and comfortable wearing but also that an older generation would feel the same in. It has a V-neck, which is quite flattering, and falls quite low but not too low. The trousers are essentially like a white linen trouser and they are so easy to wear in the summer. They’re very much part of my summer wardrobe and I think they would look so cool slipped on with a vest and some sandals. I really love it as a day-to-night (literally) look.”

Mylasa pink pyjama set

“The Mylasa pink set is a very similar style to the Albanda white set: pink with white stitching. But it’s a very different pyjama, in the girliness of the pink. I looked at so many different shades of pink and thought, ‘Where do I begin?’ I finally settled on this rose quartz hue, which is a very soft, pretty pink but doesn’t scream girly. It’s the every-girl pink – even if you don’t like pink that much, you can get away with it. I love wearing the pyjama top over a bikini – I think it’s that sort of material that still feels OK to put on when you’re wet; it shows how versatile the pyjamas can be. I love showing all the different ways you can wear them. Yes, they’re pyjamas, yes you can sleep in them, but they don’t have to be for that –they are versatile and something you can dress up.”

Atalanta pink pyjama set

“This set is from our second collection, Metamorphosis, and is named after one of the female characters in Ovid’s Metamorphosis. We wanted a summery design; I live in linen shorts in the summer and I wanted a nice pair of shorts that I could get out and wear every day. I love wearing the shorts with a vest underneath. I also love those men’s Hawaiian shirts with the loud colours; the pyjama shirts are that kind of shape. I think the shirt can be quite sexy, particularly if you wear it open, or wear it like a Hawaiian shirt – that was the inspiration behind this set. They are shorts you can wear every day and a fun shirt you can throw on. It also has a boxy fit and doesn’t hug too tightly.”