An Ybor City business that specializes in making people comfortable before they “face plant” in bed at night is donating 3,000 pairs of slippers to Hillsborough County teachers as part of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-7.
Faceplant Dreams, which sells bamboo sleepwear direct to consumers and in 1,500 boutiques nationwide, is a supporter of educational endeavors and found this to be a great way to give back, said Brigitte Farrell, company founder.
Each pair of bamboo slippers has a theme of sorts, said Marketing Director Jen Smith. “They all have different messages, colors and designs. We have one with bees on it that says, ‘Queen Bee,’ and one that says ‘You’re Mermazing,’ and features mermaids. They are all fun and playful. There is a personality and style for everybody.”
The school district picked up the $50,000 worth of slippers to distribute them to teachers next week.
The local Faceplant Dreams team designs the footwear and sleepwear and the products are produced overseas, Farrell said. “We are very engaged with our production process. We are involved with our manufacturers. We have dinner with their families,” she said, which ensures the business practices include fair wages, good working conditions and no child labor.
Additionally, since the products are made from bamboo, they all come from a sustainable crop, Farrell said.
“We are super excited to do this,” she said of the donation. “It is consistent with our mission.”
