Our story

Clothing that lets children be comfortable in their own skin

HappySkin is a UK company making base layers for babies and children with eczema and sensitive skin, from newborn to age 12. Every piece is soft TENCEL and cotton with the DreamSkin coating, worn next to the skin under normal clothes or as nightwear.

We started because we know what eczema does to a family: the scratching, the broken nights and the search for something that helps. Our aim is clothing that works with a child’s skin, not against it.

Shop the range Meet our founder
Four children in HappySkin base layers lying on pillowsNewborn to age 12
George Costa as a young boy, riding a tricycle in a garden
Meet the founder

George Costa

Textile scientist. Developed Dri‑FIT for Nike.

When his daughter was suffering with eczema and the family couldn’t find anything that worked, George turned to a different question:

Could a scientifically treated fabric help the skin it touches?

The answer was DreamSkin, a polymer coated silk garment prescribed on the NHS by dermatology consultants for the most difficult eczema cases.

The HappySkin range uses the same proprietary polymer coating on an even softer TENCEL and cotton fabric, so more families living with eczema can use it every day.

Why he knew where to look

Education
First class honours degree in textiles, economics and management science, University of Manchester
Early career
Performance fabrics for global brands including Nike, Adidas, Reebok and Umbro
First claim to fame
Developing Dri‑FIT for Nike, still popular today for the way it manages moisture

Fabrics George has developed

  • DreamSkinHis first skin fabric, prescribed on the NHS for severe eczema.
  • CliniweaveAn antibacterial fabric made for hospital environments.
  • MogoAn insect repelling fabric that releases its naturally derived coating as the wearer moves.
DreamSkin and HappySkin

The same coating, for everyday wear

Every HappySkin garment is soft cotton and TENCEL with a coating of the DreamSkin polymer. The same polymer, at a higher level, is used in DreamSkin silk garments available on NHS prescription.

DreamSkin

Silk garments with a higher level of the coating. A medical device, available on NHS prescription for moderate to severe eczema. About DreamSkin

HappySkin

TENCEL and cotton base layers with a lower level of the same coating, for babies and children, bought direct from us. No prescription needed.

In every piece

What goes into every garment

  • TENCEL and cotton

    A soft, breathable knit, gentle on sore skin.

  • DreamSkin coating

    Bonded to the fabric, so it does not wash out.

  • No dyes

    White only, so there is nothing extra against the skin.

  • Flat seams

    Nothing raised to rub or catch where skin is already sore.

Watch

Our journey to HappySkin

A short film on why we make HappySkin and the families we make it for.

Plays from YouTube, muted with subtitles, when it comes into view. Turn the sound on in the player. Watch on YouTube

Find the right place to start

Tell us their age, where their eczema is and how often it flares, and we’ll suggest a set. Or browse everything for babies and children.

Find their set Shop everything