One of the best-selling shirt designs, and denim tote bag

Founded by De La Salle University Manila senior high students Melinda “Lei” Velayo and Justine “Tin” Esperanza, Bad Sleep Well Co. is a startup streetwear brand that draws its name and inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s 1960 noir film, “The Bad Sleep Well,” a critique on corporate corruption.

“That’s what we wanted to say on the surface level,” says Esperanza. “The bad sleep well.”

Bad Sleep Well’s first collection, Uno, featured statement tees, corduroy bucket hats sporting bright pops of color, and a navy denim tote called Edition.

Advocates for environment-friendly and sustainable fashion, Velayo and Esperanza ensure that their products are made from scratch and in limited pieces.

The brand also serves as a platform for action. Ten percent of the company’s income is used to distribute clothes to those in need, particularly street children. Streetwear comes full circle, as Velayo and Esperanza like to say.

“Get out of your comfort zone,” say the girls to those who dream of setting up their own businesses. “Surrender to possibilities, especially if you know you have a lot to offer this world.”

The bad may sleep well, but Velayo and Esperanza work hard so the good can sleep better. —CONTRIBUTED