Behind the Making of a Jade and May Long Linen Nightie
A Jade and May long linen nightie begins in Geelong, long before it reaches the cutting table in Bali.
It starts with a fairly question: what would make this easier and more comfortable to wear in real life?
Not just for sleeping, but for the cup of tea before bed, the slow morning at home and those warmer nights when anything close or clingy feels like too much.
Designed for comfort, not decoration
Our linen nighties are designed with room to move.
The maxi nightie has a softly rounded neckline, an easy A-line shape and adjustable tie straps that can be worn straight or crossed at the back. The ties allow you to change the position of the neckline and make a little more room through the bust when needed.
It falls to around mid-calf, with a wide hemline that gives the nightie weight. This helps the linen hang properly and creates movement without feeling flimsy or floating up around you in bed.
It is bra-friendly, pregnancy-friendly and breastfeeding-friendly, because sleepwear needs to work with changing bodies rather than expecting bodies to fit one fixed shape. All of our sleepwear features minimal seams and fuss. Simple designs for ease and comfort
You can see all the details of the Maxi Linen Nightie in Black, including the available sizes and current fit information.
Why we chose linen
We wanted a fabric that felt good against the skin, allowed the body to breathe and would become better with use.
Our nighties are made from European flax linen certified to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®. This means the fabric has been independently tested for harmful substances. We also use AZO-free dyes.
Linen has a naturally textured feel when new, then softens with washing and wear. It does not need to look perfectly pressed. The gentle creases and relaxed drape are part of what makes it so well suited to nights at home, holidays and mornings that move at their own pace.
You can explore the full Jade and May linen sleepwear collection, including nighties, pyjama sets, separates and bathrobes.
Made with people we know
Once the design and fit are settled in Geelong, our linen nighties are made in Bali by the same female-owned factory we have worked with since 2019.
There are around 33 people in the team. Over the years, we have built a relationship based on communication, trust and a shared understanding of how each Jade and May piece should fit and feel.
Working with the same makers matters. They know our fabrics, our shapes and the small construction details that make a garment sit properly. We know the people involved in bringing each design to life.
Our sleepwear is produced in small batches rather than large seasonal runs. This allows us to be more thoughtful about quantities, reduce unnecessary excess and keep working with styles beyond a single season.
Fabric offcuts are reused wherever possible rather than being treated as waste.
Made to be worn repeatedly
A nightie does not need to be complicated to be well designed.
The work is often found in the details you notice after wearing it for a while: straps that adjust properly, enough room through the body, a hem with substance and linen that continues to soften without losing its character.
We want our nighties to be worn often and kept for years. They are not designed around a passing sleepwear trend or a perfect bedtime routine. They are made for warm nights, untidy mornings, cups of tea and the general business of being at home.
Browse the wider Jade and May sleepwear collection to see more of our natural-fibre pyjamas, nighties and robes, all designed in Geelong and ethically made in small batches.
That is the story behind our linen nightie: a simple, useful shape, beautiful natural fabric and the work of skilled people in Geelong and Bali.
