A cool business venture

Menopausal women know the discomfort of hot flashes and night sweats but what many might not know is that there is a way to sleep comfortably through the night, and it comes from Tri-City.
Coolfemme, a company headed by Port Coquitlam's Susan King-Wilson, specializes in a line of absorbent nighties made from a high-performance material that dries rapidly. The idea is women will be able to sleep full nights without the frustration of waking up numerous times with soaking nightgowns.
"Women with moderate night sweats may sleep right through the night," said King-Wilson. Women who face more severe night sweats may not necessarily face an uninterrupted sleep but testimonials show that they are disturbed less frequently.
King-Wilson is 57 and knows what many women go through. She first came up with the idea of the nightgowns three years ago, although the material she found then was thicker and uglier than what she uses today.
The current material is a form of polyester but don't let the fabric name turn you off. CoolBest is structured with ridges that absorb moisture and immediately begin to evaporate it away. It dries quickly so women suffering from night sweats don't wake up cold and soaking.
"As soon as you say 'polyester,'" said King-Wilson, "women in their 40s and 50s say, 'Oh my God, polyester pantsuits.'"
The nightgowns currently come in three colours but in a variety of sizes, and can be custom made in larger size.
In the future, King-Wilson said she hopes to come out with more colours, patterns and even more provocative styles. A pillowcase and CoolCap (a toque-like cover for women suffering sweats affecting the face and head) will also be available soon. She hopes to even break into the men's market and has already had a t-shirt made of the same material for her husband.
Coolfemme is not a unique venture; there are a small handful of similar companies scattered around North America but Coolfemme is locally based made. The gowns are designed and manufactured in the PoCo area by women who run their own businesses and work on contract for King-Wilson.