From Corporate Life to Comfort: The Story of Karen Levine and PeachSkinSheets
- Dec 30, 2025
- 3 min read
At 48, Karen Levine left the corporate world to create The Original PeachSkinSheets—born out of her own search for affordable, breathable, and luxurious bedding that could help with night sweats. A decade later, the brand boasts over 55,000 five-star reviews and a loyal following built on comfort, color, and care.
Karen’s roots stretch from Richmond, Virginia, where her Dominican mother and Virginian father raised her with creativity and perseverance. After attending Mary Baldwin University, she launched her career at Kraft General Foods before discovering a passion for cosmetics and fragrance. She excelled at Mary Kay® Cosmetics, eventually earning her iconic pink car as a Sales Director, all while learning the power of relationship-driven sales.
When a corporate layoff interrupted her path, Karen pivoted toward her love for design, enrolling at SCAD for Interior Design. But before she began, a new idea – sheets – called her name. The textile business fit one of her guiding principles: focus on consumable products that people need to replace regularly. It was the perfect blend of her love for color, fabric, and smart business sense.
Karen’s entrepreneurial success didn’t come without hardship. During a painful divorce, she juggled motherhood, financial strain, and self-representation in court. She remembers driving a broken car with a boombox on the floor to play Christmas music for her kids, buying trees on Craigslist to resell for grocery money, and never filling the gas tank past halfway. When she and her children faced eviction, she kept going, believing that every setback was setting the stage for a comeback.
At 42, she met her husband, Steve, and found what she calls her “soulmate jackpot.” Together they built a life grounded in gratitude, resilience, and partnership. Six years later, PeachSkinSheets was born – run from Karen’s kitchen table and garage. She attended festivals and trade shows, selling sheets, listening to customers, and using every interaction as an informal focus group. That grassroots, consumer-first approach remains the foundation of PeachSkinSheets today.
Now headquartered in Atlanta, the company has grown into a beloved household name while maintaining its warm, family-style culture. The PeachSkinSheets team includes sisters, in-laws, cousins, and single moms who embody the brand’s spirit of support and inclusivity.
Even the office pets (Diesel, a German Shepherd, and Sugie, a Maltese) are part of the daily routine.
Giving back is also woven into the brand’s DNA. Every Christmas, PeachSkinSheets grants wishes for single mothers and partners with schools to support local families. Karen never forgets her own struggles and makes it a priority to help others rewrite their stories.
What truly distinguishes PeachSkinSheets is its vibrant range of 34 colors, far beyond the neutrals most bedding brands offer. Karen wanted customers to express personality and joy through color – because comfort should look as good as it feels. She also introduced the PeachSkinPresents free gift program, inspired by her retail background.
As Founder/CEO, Karen’s guiding force is to think like a customer. Affordability, luxury, and empathy sit at the heart of every decision. “Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep,” she says, “without paying a luxury price for it.”
Karen’s story is a testament to perseverance, reinvention, and faith in one’s vision. She often reminds entrepreneurs that it’s never too late to chase a dream: “People laughed when I said I’d build an empire out of sheets, but no one who steals your dreams deserves a place in your circle.”
For Karen, comfort is more than a product – it’s a philosophy built on resilience, generosity, and the belief that every night brings the promise of starting fresh.
Connect With Karen
IG: @peachskinsheets
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