babywearing: the magazine | april/may 2015

APRIL/MAY 2015 BABYWEARINGTHEMAG.COM

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also featuringVaquero Wovens, Wrapsody,5MR and Jan of Sleeping Baby ProductionsVaquero Wovens, Wrapsody,5MR and Jan of Sleeping Baby Productions

3 FROM THE PUBLISHER

4 EDITOR’S NOTE

4 TRENDING Fashion inspired style for the babywearing world. This issue: Hot Looks, Budget Prices!

6 RETAIL THERAPY Items that make babywearing easier. This issue: Dazzling DIY

7 CARRY ON Wrap carries to expand your repertoire. This issue: Infantino Sash Mei Tai

24 HIP, HIP, HOORAY! Seasonally inspired babywearing items. This issue: Spring has Sprung

26 #BWTHEMAG Pics from you, our readers. This issue: Budget Bliss

28 CARRIED AWAY Wrapscapes that inspire. This issue: A Very Hungry Caterpillar

30 WRAP UP Chat with inspiring industry insiders. This issue: Jan of Sleeping Baby Productions

in every issue

8 TEKHNI

12 VAQUERO

16 WRAPSODY

20 5MR

features

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table of contents

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COME SEE BWTHEMAG AT MOMMYCON ORLANDO!

MAY 23, 2015

convenience. connection. lifestyle.

You don’t need to fork over a small fortune to hold your baby close, so in this issue, we are exploring the budget side of the babywearing world. From DIY to budget lines and retailers, we have all the bases covered.

Before you buy, it’s always best to try with a local babywearing group to see what fits your lifestyle, but if there isn’t one near you, my recommendation is to take the plunge with a wrap in your base size. There are many options, from Tekhni to Vaquero Wovens, and even international brands such as Yaro Slings and Little Frog.

If name brands are still too much for your budget, you can always go the DIY route. Shop sales and use coupons at your local fabric store for the best cost savings. Add a little dye to truly make a carrier your own. There are fantastic resources online to help you through your DIY journey, and many babywearing mamas (and daddies!) are happy to share their expertise.

No matter where your babywearing journey takes you, or how many carriers are in your stash, the important thing is to snuggle your little one as much as you can.

XOXO,

Sarah

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publisherSARAH ZEENBERG

[email protected]

editorNOVIA CHANG

[email protected]

art directorSARAH ZEENBERG

[email protected]

business developmentDANNY ZEENBERG

[email protected]

All information provided by Babywear-ing: the magazine, LLC, is intended for entertainment purposes only. Those who are new to babywearing should seek out the help of a local babywearing group or professional babywearing consultant. The publisher, editors, contributors and adver-tisers are not responsible in the actions or misuse of any individual on the basis of reading information contained in Baby-wearing: the magazine, LLC. The informa-tion contained herein is not a replacement for hands on instruction.

Babywearing: the magazine, LLC as-sumes no responsibility for the advertisers. Babywearing: the magazine, LLC is not re-sponsible for typographical or production errors or accuracy of information provided by its advertisers. Babywearing: the mag-azine, LLC reserves the right to refuse any advertiser.

Unauthorized use or reproduction of ed-itorial content in any way whatsoever with-out the written consent of Babywearing: the magazine, LLC is strictly prohibited.

on the cover From Jillian: During our childbirth education class, we were told about ring slings. Before giving

birth I ordered one, and wore my little one for the first time when he was about a week old. For the first months that’s all I knew of babywearing until I was approached by another mom who enthusiastically shared about our local babywearing group. Joining the group really opened me up to the world of babywearing. I went through a slew of DIY wraps until attending a meeting and trying my first woven wrap. That day, I purchased my first wrap, and haven’t looked back since. As much as I love a good ring sling, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with wovens, especially shorties. Babywearing has been a huge part of my life, not only in my personal journey as a mother, but also in finding a community of amazing women I might have otherwise not known.

Jillian is wearing a Tekhni Aplos Blueberry.

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april/may 2015 3

Babies thrive on touch. These connections, touch and emotional engagement, are integral to their growth and development. Babywearing is a wonderful way for caregivers to meet this need. At least one ergonomic, comfortable carrier should be on every new parent’s list of essential baby gear, and it should not have to cost a fortune. This is one of the many reasons why budget carriers are so important and necessary to the babywearing industry. A smaller budget should never be a deterrent to babywearing. Whether is in a mei tai from a big box retailer, a woven wrap from on-line shop or a do-it-yourself ring sling, we want you to wear all the babies!

ENJOY!

Novia

NO BUDGET too small

Hot looks,

budget prices! We have taken the hottest spring 2015

fashion trends and found the carrier counterparts just for you. The best part?

They are all budget priced at $115 or less.

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1 The ‘70s This season, the 1970’s has taken over the runways. Channel your inner flower child with this mod inspired carrier from Infantino. Infantino

Sync Comfort Wrap Carrier, $36.99, buybuy Baby. buybuybaby.com/1/1/7304-baby-carriers-infantino-sync-comfort-wrap-carrier.html

2Blackout While white was very popular for winter, black is back for spring. Moby Go in Black, $79.95, Moby Wrap, mobywrap.com/

products/moby-go

3Khakhi There’s a lot of black on the runway, but khaki is making a comeback. BB-Tai in stone Fruit, $109, Babylonia, babyloniausa.com/

collections/all-baby-carriers/products/bb-tai

4Color Neutrals may be in but we as are waiting for winter to surrender its hold, we are dreaming of ocean blues and spring greens. A great way

to slip into spring is to wrap our babies up in a bit of it. Blue and green Little Frog Azure Echo, sz. 5, $105, Baby Adorables, babyadorables.com/product/little-frog-azure-echo/

5 CamoufLage This season, designers have taken the popular print used for military uniforms and adapted them for everyday. Baby carriers

have followed suit. Camo Mei Tai, $99, Babyhawk, babyhawk.com/camo-mei-tai/

6 Unusual animal prints While classic leopard print was a big trend on the fall 2014 runways, this season is all about the wildlife less ordinary.

Keppeke Laminos Bordeaux Cotton Wrap, sz. 6, $95, 5 Minute Recess, 5mr.com/products/keppeke-laminos-bordeaux-cotton-wrap

7 Make a statement with stripes Found on nearly every single spring runway, stripes are making a major statement in the fashion industry.

Stripes have been a woven wrap staple for decades, babywearers have always been ahead of the trend. Toto Kikoy Handwoven Wrap, sz. 6, $115, Marsupial Mamas. marsupial-mamas.com/collections/toto-wraps/products/toto-wraps-kikoy-4-6-meters-4

8 Spring safari Prepare for a wild adventure this spring as designers have safaris in mind with their khaki colors, plant and animal prints.

Elephants are just the thing we want to see on our safari. Elle – Regular size, $98, Action Baby Carriers. actionbabycarriers.com/product-p/abc_000010.htm

9 Quilts are cool Patchwork is everywhere and making your own quilt is now fashionable. Want to design your own quilt inspired carrier?

Sleeping Baby Productions will add tail accents to your sling. Linen slings start at $55 with tail accents starting at $12 and ribbon accents at $5 more. sleepingbaby.net/proddetail.php?prod=linen and sleepingbaby.net/accent.php *The next Sleeping Baby Productions stocking is May 4th, 2015, at 2 PM EST.

10 Seeing spots and dots Polkadots have a year round appeal but this spring, designers are blowing them up and giving

them a larger than life appeal. Wrapsody Bali Breeze Presley, 5.5 meters, $86, Zerberts. shopzerberts.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=presley&Submit=

trending

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retail therapy

Some things are just cheaper if you do them yourself, plus you get the benefit of personalization! There are many amazing resources, from Sleeping Baby Production’s instructions at crafts.sleepingbaby.net/sling.html to an entire groups dedicated to babywearing DIY on Facebook (facebook.com/groups/334070496681248/ and facebook.com/groups/247329292025830/). If you are crafty, why not make your own carrier?

1 Sew Toot Digital Designs THE LITTLE PICK-ME-UP CARRIER Create your own custom soft-structured carrier with this e-Book and pattern! The deluxe version includes

three different sizes to fit your little one. It includes 60+ pages of step-by-step instructions and full color pictures, along with a separate file with an easy to print pattern. Starting at $12, sewtootpatterns.com

2 Sling Rings Aluminum Rings Choose from 12 amazing colors! We prefer large rings for no-sew and ring sling conversions. $3.99/pair, slingrings.com

3 Mahogany Tree of Life Rectangle Jacquard Tablecloth, 60 by 120-Inch, This cotton tablecloth can be split down the middle for two ring slings or shorties! If you really

want to personalize it, add some dye and a fun pop of color on the rings! $47.55, amazon.com

4 Osnaburg, Osnaburg is a muslin fabric that is very popular for DIY carriers and ring slings. Remember to account for a lot of shrinkage, and the non-permanent press version

is preferred. If you buy in person also look over the yardage for flaws before taking it home. $3.98/yard, fabric.com

5 Dharma Trading Dharma Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes If you really want to make a DIY carrier your own, add a little color! You’ll also need some additional supplies, but

you can find them at local stores. There are endless possibilites! Starting at $2.95/2 oz., dharmatrading.com

dazzling

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carry on

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE MEI TAI TUTORIALS:(we’re having a major tutorial crush on WrappingRachel this issue)

USING A MEI TAI WITH A NEWBORN LEGS OUT AND NURSING IN A MEI TAI by WrappingRachelyoutube.com/watch?v=VbSczHe7zQI

MEI TAI FRONT CARRY by WrappingRachel youtube.com/watch?v=8jHVC6mCjUQ

HIP CARRY IN AN INFANTINO MEI TAI by WrappingRachel youtube.com/watch?v=1zAk351D1Iw

INFANTINO sash MEI TAI

The Infantino Sash Mei Tai is one of the top recommendations for budget wearers. They are readily available at big box stores and retail for around $35, though we got ours on sale for $26. There are a few different prints, but the damask is a classic. This is a

perfect baby shower gift and great for infants through toddlers!

april/may 2015 7

Tekhnialways an adventure

{BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing?{tekhni} I started babywearing with my first son, right after he was born. Babywearing fit my lifestyle and my desire to stay close to my child while keeping my hands free. I tried a number of carriers including slings, pouches, mei tais and soft structured carriers before finding woven wraps. My first was a GypsyMama (Wrapsody) Bali breeze- I loved it and so did my son. We loved wraps and never looked back.

{BWTM} What was the defining moment that led you to start Tekhni? {tekhni} There wasn’t one “aha!” moment, but really a series of events and ideas that led me down the path. I think the last push was when I had three children under the age of five and I had to go back to work full time after the birth of my daughter. The corporate culture of my 9-5 job, with endless red tape and the lack of understanding for mothers, combined with my need for growth and creative challenge, confirmed my choice to start on a new path. It is the scariest jump I ever made,

and I’ve never been more happy. My goal is to carve out a new wraparound carrier brand with color, flare and character. I also want to make it affordable, easy to use, attainable, available, beautiful and modern, with a diverse product line and unisex appeal.

{BWTM} How has the company grown since you started three years ago?{tekhni} We continue to grow our family! Tekhni started as a small, one woman operation and has grown to include a group of employees and wonderful individuals who are crucial to keeping it all running. Nearly every person on Team Tekhni is a woman, and most have children. We are flexible in how our days and operations run to reflect the needs of a working mother. We coordinate work days with school activities, bus drop offs, doctor’s appointments, etc.

{BWTM} How does your background as a designer and dye artist influence wrap designs and color choices?{tekhni} I love color! I also love

graphic and bold designs that are eye catching and engaging. I am drawn to simple and impactful elements, with bold strokes of color. I studied as a painter in college and my favorite artists were those of the abstract expressionism movement. I continue to infuse some of these characteristics in my textile designs, using abstract elements and symbols to carry emotion and identity through my designs.

{BWTM} Tekhni’s Repreve blend has great reviews. What are the benefits of Repreve?{tekhni} Repreve is a USA-made, eco-friendly synthetic fiber made from 100% post consumer recycled water bottles. It is used in hundreds of everyday applications, and by companies such as Ford, NorthFace and Patagonia. Apart from the benefit of using an environmentally-friendly and sustainable product, Repreve yarn in woven wraps brings breathability and temperature regulation; it is a perfect fiber for warm weather, keeping the wearer and baby cool. It gives the wrap wool-like bounce and cushiness without the added high maintenance care that frequently comes with wool. Repreve is water-resistant and stain-resistant; it dries quickly and cleans easy. Lastly, it becomes soft and feels broken-in after a single wash and dry. It is Oeko-Tex 100 certified and holds up to a day of hiking or an afternoon on the beach. It’s the best of beauty, comfort and sustainability, all in one wrap.

{BWTM} You recently released silk and tencel blend wraps. What other blends (if any) are you planning to offer?{tekhni} Yes, our tussah silk wraps have been well-received and I couldn’t be more pleased! They’re low-maintenance and extremely supportive, both uncommon characteristics for most silk wraps on the market today. We have also recently

Alisa Heytow DeMarco started Tekhni Wovens in 2013. Alisa, a painter, graphic designer, dye artist and textile designer, wanted to make fine quality

fabric at affordable prices while sharing her love of babywearing with others. Tekhni quickly became

known for its striking designs and ‘toddler worthy’ wraps, but also developed a huge following for using a new textile to the babywearing world, Repreve, and offering a line of budget wraps.


facebook.com/TekhniWovens

tekhniwovens.com

etsy.com/shop/TekhniWovens


released our Tencel-blend wraps. Tencel is another sustainable fiber, made from wood pulp. It is used in many products and known for its Eco care and safety. Tencel is not wholly unfamiliar in the world of woven wraps, it’s been a favorite of hand weavers for a few years now. Tencel brings supreme softness, comfort and ease of care you come to expect. I will be exploring other fiber options in the near future, never losing sight of our focus on affordability and simple, wash-and-wear maintenance.

{BWTM} Tell us about Tekhni’s budget line of wraps. What are the price points?{tekhni} Tekhni offers a budget line with two options: Arche and Aplos. They are both geared toward new wrappers as an affordable introduction into woven wraps. Arche is ideally suited for newborns - it is our woven alternative to a stretchy knit wrap. It requires no breaking in, is incredibly soft, light and easy to manipulate. Aplos is ideal for heavy babies and toddlers. It is extremely strong and supportive, and is fantastically comfortable. Aplos is a bit more robust and densely woven, and becomes floppy and moldable over time—like your favorite pair of jeans. Both options come in a variety of colorways and are priced at $99 for all sizes.

{BWTM} Tekhni wraps were popular and had a huge fan

base before budget wraps were introduced. Why did you decide to diversify and offer a budget line? {tekhni} I really believe that Babywearing, and wrapping in particular should be affordable, and attainable. Rather than being difficult to find and difficult to afford, there should be an option that is easy and available. Our budget wraps are perfect for a new mom to try without a large financial commitment. They are easy to use and wear and provide an ideal “introduction” into wrapping. A caregiver can then move to pieces in our main line with confidence when they are ready.

{BWTM} What is the difference (if any) between Tekhni’s standard line and the budget line?{tekhni} The pricing for our budget line is about half the cost of the standard line—all sizes, one price. In addition, the budget line is currently made up of plain-weave pieces and basic designs and color. Widths are more standard (25-26”) as compared to our more generous and toddler-worthy mainline pieces which vary between 27”-30” wide.

{BWTM} How has the budget line been received?{tekhni} The introductory line has been received very well, in fact, it has

spawned a number of budget lines from other companies. Previous to Tekhni, it was a sub-category of wrap companies that did not exist. It’s wonderful to see more affordable options out in the market place now.

{BWTM} Can you give us hints as to what your next designs will be for both your standard and budget lines?{tekhni} Designs are always evolving, with new pieces in the queue. A new design to represent mother and child is in the works and coming soon. I am very excited about it!

{BWTM} Do you have any other big plans up your sleeve?{tekhni} Lots ahead for Tekhni this year: new fibers, new collaborations, new designs and new products. A few sneak peeks are out there, keep your eyes peeled for more.

{BWTM} What does Tekhni have in store for 2015 and beyond?{tekhni} To continue making products that are beautiful, functional and attainable. We are expanding our retail network to include a more inclusive worldwide selection of stores. Finding the right home for our products in countries outside the U.S. is a main goal for 2015 and beyond.

april/may 2015 11

Vaquero WovensVaquero Wovens is a family business, owned and operated by Tessa Sverduk and her husband, Tupper, with a lot of help from her dear friend Jennedy. Vaquero’s goal is to

provide two different lines of wraps that are able to meet the needs of all babywearers: a Budget Line and a Signature Line. Vaquero’s Budget Line of wraps offers the quality

and beauty of the high end, highly sought after wraps at a budget price, and the Signature Line offers wraps in unique and beautiful designs, in very small quantities.

Shot on location at Frosting in Vero Beach, Florida, eatfrostingcupcakes.com


{BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing?{VQ} I started babywearing when my son was about a month old, out of necessity and for the closeness. At the time, I started with a pouch sling, the one that you see in parenting magazines, free for shipping. I just loved babywearing from the beginning, and had no idea that there was such a big, beautiful world of babywearing out there, with so many options. We quickly moved on to our Ergo and Moby before we were introduced to our local babywearing group. While at our first meeting my son and I fell hard, very hard, for woven wraps. I still remember bringing my first wrap home from our first local meeting. And so my addiction began.

{BWTM} Where did the name Vaquero come from?{VQ} Vaquero is a word of Spanish origin meaning “herdsman” or “buckaroo.” I grew up horseback riding both recreationally and professionally, and my husband is a farmer. When we had our son, we always referred to him as our little cowboy. When naming our business, we wanted something that represented our family and our son. I have also always been inspired by Southwestern design, and so Vaquero Wovens seemed like a perfect fit.

{BWTM} What was the defining moment that led you to start Vaquero? {VQ} Before Vaquero I ran a social marketing and advertising agency. I was starting to feel very uninspired with the business and wanted to do something that I was passionate about, but still allowed me to stay home with my son. Around that time, we were visiting my in-laws and a close family friend. Through conversation, the family friend was talking about his business and the woven fabric that they created. My husband literally looked at me and said “Honey, go grab one of your wraps!” I ran upstairs to the bedroom we were using and grabbed the five wraps I had brought along—five wraps for a short weekend trip—and showed our family friend the wraps. He said that his mill would love to try weaving woven wraps from me, and the next morning we were at his mill taking the full tour and meeting with his design team and the lovely people working on the jacquard machines. This was about a year before the official launch of Vaquero. And the rest was history.

{BWTM} The company is still in its first year, would you mind sharing some of the challenges you have had with launching a new wrap company? {VQ} Vaquero will be celebrating the anniversary of our first release this coming May. We cannot believe how fast this year went by, and it has been a learning process for sure. Our biggest challenge has definitely been in finishing our wraps, i.e. what happens after we pick up the woven fabric that transforms it from a just a roll of cloth into baby wraps. I still personally cut our wraps myself, alongside

my aunt, so that I can be right there examining the fabric for any flaws and making sure the fabric is cut exactly where it should be. With the growth that Vaquero has experienced, especially regarding our budget line, manufacturing the amount of wraps that we would like has been challenging. But a good challenge for sure! Another challenge has been managing our research and development while keeping current with new design releases and keeping up with current fashion trends. We take research and development and testing very seriously. We have some designs and wraps that have been in just the development phase for over a year, not including testing. We are very thorough in this department, because after all, these wraps are carrying the most precious things in our customers’ lives, their children.

{BWTM} How has the company grown since you started?{VQ} We spent so long dreaming Vaquero, creating a business plan, and bringing Vaquero to life, that when we actually launched the business and released our first wraps, it caught me off guard how fast things went from there. Our biggest growth came in launching our Budget Line, which has happily been well received.

{BWTM} What are some of your favorite moments from the past year?{VQ} My favorite moments have definitely been seeing our fans carry their little ones close in our wraps and seeing the joy our wraps bring to little ones and their care givers. It is truly why we are in this business and why I started Vaquero. The Budget Line means a lot to me as it has enabled us to put affordable wraps in the hands of so many babywearers. It has also been so much fun to see our inspiration and our rough sketches transformed into wraps. And of course, I have loved watching my two year old really have fun with taking a part in Vaquero. He has the title of “Lead Box Maker” for shipping.

facebook.com/vaquerowovens vaquerowovens.com etsy.com/shop/VaqueroWovens

{BWTM} Where do you draw design inspiration from?{VQ} Everywhere! I have a whole album on my phone of pictures from just everyday life that have inspired wrap designs. I love color, and I think that has shown through in many of our gradual color warps. Jennedy, helps a lot in this area, too; she has a great eye for design. I think that showed in her upcoming design, “Gatsby,” which we expect to release in a few weeks.

{BWTM} Tell us about your commitment to manufacturing in the US and employing work at home parents for finishing. {VQ} We are very committed to US manufacturing. The mill that weaves our wraps, is also very committed to US manufacturing, and we love that. In fact, they are reversing North America’s import trend, by exporting to various Western European nations. We have specialized in mostly natural fibers, especially cotton, and have branched out into wool and linen, as well as Tencel®. All of the cotton used for our wraps was grown right here in the United States, and the wool was ethically sourced and dyed in the Eastern United States. We take pride in hiring local seamstresses to finish our wraps. Most of which are work at home mothers and grandmothers. This takes more effort on my part, traveling to our numerous seamstresses, and it sometimes takes longer to get wraps finished than if we were using a large scale cut and sew manufacturer, but I believe it’s worth it. Their attention to detail has been unmatched, and we love supporting other work at home mothers and women business owners. As our Budget Line grows, we may need to consider using a US based sewing contractor to meet demand, but our Signature Line will continue to be sewn locally by our lovely team of seamstresses. We are committed to that.

{BWTM} Tell us about the grad design you use. Are you the first US woven wrap company to use this technique?{VQ} When I started Vaquero, my dream was to create beautiful gradual color warps and even wefts. In fact, we discussed the possibility at our very first meeting with our mill’s design team. I can’t say if we were the first company to release machine woven wraps with gradual color warps, but we were one of the firsts. I think these gradual warps and even gradual color wefts are

bringing something new to the machine woven wrap world, and it’s very exciting. Like I said, I love color, so getting to play with these warps has been a fun outlet for me. You can usually find my kitchen table covered in fiber samples of all colors laid out in different color patterns and combinations.

{BWTM} Tell us about Vaquero’s Budget Line of wraps. What are the price points?{VQ} We are so excited about our Budget Line, mostly because they are an affordable woven wrap option for many babywearers, without sacrificing quality or aesthetics. In fact, the same cotton is used in our Signature Line wraps is also used in our Budget Line. The main difference is that our Budget Line is a bit narrower in width than our Signature Line. This is what allows us to keep the prices of our Budget Line so low. Thus far, our Budget Line has been woven in a twill-style weave that makes for a wrap with wonderful wrapping properties that is still easy to care for and not prone to pulls. To be honest, my favorite Vaqueros in my personal wrap stash are from our Budget Line. Our Budget Line runs between $90.00 - $115.00 USD retail.

{BWTM} What is the difference between Vaquero’s Signature Line and the Budget Line?{VQ} Our goal is to provide two different lines of wraps that are able to meet the needs of many babywearers. Our Budget Line wraps are 100% cotton, average 24-25 inches in width post wash, and will typically be rewoven. Budget Line wraps do not come with a Signature Vaquero tote, bag or scarf. Our Signature Line of wraps are wider than our Budget Line and come with a Signature tote, bag or scarf. They are offered in a variety of fibers – cotton, linen, wool, Tencel®. They range in width between 27 and 30 inches post wash (depending on design). They are limited releases (of usually less than two dozen) and will not be rewoven in the same colorway once released.

{BWTM} How has the Budget Line been received?{VQ} I would say that our Budget Line has been one of Vaquero’s biggest successes. Our only problem so far has been manufacturing enough to meet our demand. Even though this may not be the worst problem to have, it is a struggle for us, because the goal of our Budget Line is

for it to be available to everyone. We are working toward the goal of having enough Budget Line wraps produced to offer them “in stock” for purchase on Etsy.

{BWTM} Can you give us hints as to what your next designs will be? {VQ} We tend to preview wraps a bit early for many reasons, one being that we just love sharing what we are working on. So I think that our fans have already seen some sneak peeks of what we have in the works on our Vaquero Wovens Junction fan page. We have Sweet Shop, our new Budget Line design, which is a fun, vibrant rainbow. While we have had so much fun with color in our Budget Line, both with Cabana and Sweet Shop, we are currently working on some more neutral and subtle designs and colorways for future releases. As for our Signature Line, we are excited to release Gatsby and bring into production some of our fun designs that have been in the works for quite some time, like our Pop Art prototype and Lisa Frank inspired designs. We are also working on a twill weave signature collection featuring gradual color warps with more subtle patterns

{BWTM} Do you have any other big plans up your sleeve?{VQ} Hmmm, big plans. Yes. I lay awake a lot of nights brainstorming ideas for Vaquero, and I know Jennedy does as well. We have many late night conversations and brain storming sessions. We are always exploring new weave structures and patterns and have a lot of fun bouncing ideas off of each other. We would eventually like to venture into other avenues of babywearing and accessories besides woven wraps. But right now, I’m focusing on our current growth, as well as my pregnancy and being a mommy and wife first. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have big plans for the future!

{BWTM} What does Vaquero have in store for the future?{VQ} We are so excited about our next two releases – Sweet Shop and Gatsby. We are also brainstorming ways to support babywearing groups and lending libraries through a discount or incentive program. We so value the hard work that these groups do to bring education and training to families; they really are the “front line” of babywearing! Finally, we are looking forward to ushering in our second year with a fun release that is near and dear to our hearts. Stay tuned!

wrapsody

{BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing?{WSDY} My eldest was born in 1999 in a hospital in Waterville, ME. On our way home from the hospital, we stopped at the grocery store and I wore her and even nursed her in the Maya Wrap during that trip.

{BWTM} What was the defining moment that led you to start Wrapsody? {WSDY} Tracy Dower founded an organization she called The MamaToto project. I was on a Yahoo messaging board with her on the topic of elimination communication (EC), and I was struggling because I only had two Maya Wrap slings and an awkward homemade wrap; if the baby peed on them both, I had no carrier.

She offered to send me some of her homemade crinkle gauze wraps – they were incredible. Easy to use, lightweight, perfect for ECing and carrying generally. The reason I hadn’t bought my own was because I simply couldn’t afford what was on the market, and cost-wise, I could produce them cheaply and sell a few a month at a really low price. I was in love. I wanted every mama to have such an easy-to-use wrap! Tracy was excited to help me start selling them.

What started as a kitchen table hobby-business grew quickly into a more serious business, however, when my ex-husband moved out just as my third baby turned one. I connected with my Balinese manufacturer and began working with retailers when the business was just shy of a year old.

{BWTM} Where did the name Wrapsody come from?{WSDY} In 2008, I changed the name of my products. I had first named the

business “Gypsy Mama,” after my great grandmother’s heritage. However, I needed a product name that really spoke to the experience of babywearing. It also had to work as a URL. Wrapsody encompassed the sense of dancing through life with your baby wrapped together in a loving partnership.

{BWTM} You started Wrapsody 11 years ago. What changes have you seen in the babywearing industry over the years? {WSDY} Wow. That’s a big question. The market saturation and innovation have been incredible. For instance, when Hotslings launched, pouches were sold in limited sizes. Kristen introduced a wide variety of sizes to ensure every parent had a well-fitting pouch. She revolutionized pouches. Darien started Zolowear, selling slings made from beautiful silk brocades and dupionis, introducing the idea of a baby carrier that doubled as a high-end fashion piece.

Mei tai style carriers were brand new in the US market in 2003/2004, and Ergo was really the only soft structured carrier game in town. However, the market exploded with TheBabywearer.com – I really think that forum had a lot to do with it. A lot of budding kitchen table entrepreneurs were able to find a welcoming market there.

In 2008, the passage of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) went unnoticed and even after I started the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) in 2010, the majority of small businesses were in denial about how it would affect their companies. There is STILL a huge amount of misconception about the way that law regulated our industry. However, the regulation will have some significant effects. For example, many small businesses have not taken the basic step

of creating instructions for their products, which is not considered best practice. The regulations will force businesses to sell products only after they’ve created instructions. There’s also been a consumer-regulation piece to our industry in the form of “Public Service Announcements (PSAs).” “PSA about corduroy straps.” “PSA about single-layer silks.” “PSA about how [this particular weave] holds a seam.” With the regulations, such PSAs will become recalls, removing unsafe products from the market, or prevent them altogether by requiring product testing for strength and durability.

{BWTM} How has your company grown since you started? {WSDY} I started on eBay, selling just a handful of products. I really think of myself as an innovator in those first years. I was a passionate problem-solver, creating a pouch from toweling for after showers; wraps from wool before it was popular to use in the spring, for EC, for cuddliness; wraps from hemp and silk and wraps from microfleece. At the time, there was not much market for those products – the only one I kept was the water wrap I created in 2005, which is still quite distinct from similar products on the market.

I started in the summer of 2005 with four retailers; now we have approximately 100 retailers all over the world. For the past 24 months, I’ve begun actively marketing my products for the first time. For nine years, I let them sell themselves by word of mouth. I wasn’t a very good businesswoman, actually, and I’ve learned a lot as I’ve gone.

{BWTM} Tell us about your products. What types of carriers do you produce?{WSDY} We have three main categories of baby wraps. The first is true to our roots – the cotton gauze wrap I call the Breeze.

Photos courtesy of Wrapsody

Wrapsody was founded in 2004 by Kristi Hayes-Devlin as a kitchen table business. Over the years, it has become an

international microbusiness. For Kristi, Wrapsody is about sharing peace and joy with your family — a literal and figurative shawl to wrap around the ones who need you most. That’s what is has been for her.

april/may 2015 17

When I began working with my Balinese artist, I opted for a bottomweight gauze, which is more durable than the crinkle cotton I had begun with. It’s strong, pliable, crisp, and light. The fabric has a lightly nubby texture and a gentle “give” along the diagonal.

The second line of carriers is our Hybrid wrap. I chose the fabric for its lightness, its softness, and its sturdiness. I really disliked the way the stretchy wraps on the market “popped” when I used my favorite carry, the rucksack. I wanted to make a stretchy wrap that was suitable for back carrying and front carrying in all positions. I called it the “Hybrid” because experienced babywearers kept referring to it as such, impressed and awed by the way it handles so differently than the popular stretchy wraps on the market.

Last of all, but invented before either Bali line, is our water wrap. In 2005, I stumbled upon an incredible fabric – I had been sampling fabrics to create a water wrap, but most were too stretchy or stiff. This one was perfect. For years, it was the only water wrap in town, but in 2010, another company started marketing a water wrap with the same name, so I renamed the product as WrapDuO, a play on H2O, because my customers were confused by the new product with the same name. Our water wrap wears like a traditional stretchy wrap but with excellent fabric memory,

built-in sun protection, moisture-wicking properties, and quick-dry properties. Best of all, it’s made in New England, USA, from fabric to finishing.

{BWTM} Please tell us about your design and batik process.{WSDY} Our Breeze wraps and Hybrid wraps are made by artisans in Bali, Indonesia. The company I work with is owned by a single mother whose children are now grown. I design the fabrics and she brings them to life using traditional wax-stamp batik techniques or hand-dyeing techniques. The process takes many steps and relies heavily on the weather, as the dyes are set by the warm sunshine in the open air.

First, the design color is applied. Next, wax resin is stamped or painted on in appropriate places. After that, the dye is stripped from all but the waxy areas, and more dye is applied to create the main coloring.

After the dyes are set, the fabric is boiled in large vats to remove the wax and the excess dye and hung on large racks to dry, covered, but outdoors.

From there, the fabric is cut and sewn before coming to me in the US for final packaging.

{BWTM} What are the price points for your carriers? Why is it

important to carry products with a certain budget?{WSDY} Our carriers range from $69-$93 USD. I work hard to keep our products affordable while remaining committed to paying a living wage.

The reason I got into this business in the first place was that our family was considered “working poor.” We had a budget to cover the basics but we were always a flat tire away from a crisis, and so spending money on a baby carrier was a luxury when I already had two carriers. I was lucky to purchase both near wholesale cost from a friend when my first was born, and they served me well for three newborns.

There are still too many families like mine who need a carrier for their children. Though my prices are not as low as they were when I was making only a few to sell each month, I keep my margins fairly low in spite of the huge increase in cotton prices in order to maintain an affordable price point.

There is an unnerving trend among babywearers to consistently recommend high-ticket carriers to families asking for recommendations about carriers. While there is certainly no problem with using, buying, and enjoying such carriers, it is like recommending a $300 pair of shoes every time someone asks how to protect their feet from a hot sidewalk. Most people are

Jandrea Hybrid


content with ordinary, entry-level shoes, and many can barely afford those – I want to be sure that Wrapsody can be akin to sturdy, comfortable, and affordable shoes for families needing a baby carrier.

{BWTM} What role do budget carriers play in the babywearing market?{WSDY} There have to be budget carriers available. Many mothers consider themselves lucky to be able to purchase a basic wardrobe and gear for their babies. There is certainly a lot of marketing done by manufacturers of high-end products, but in the state of Maine where I live, 29% of families live in the category of “working poor” and can barely afford the basics of life: heat, food, housing and reliable transportation. My own family often purchases secondhand tires, for instance, when one wears out, and this is common where I live. Most families simply can’t afford a lot of luxuries in this economy.

While I consider a baby carrier an essential item, I understand that even a budget-friendly carrier can represent a large expense for a family struggling to pay their basic bills. Without budget carriers, the bar to entry for babywearing would become too high for many families, and this would mean fewer babies being carried.

{BWTM} Tell us about your work

with the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance and why it is so important.{WSDY} In 2008, a complex law was passed: CPSIA, or Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. I founded the BCIA in 2010 because many industry leaders, including myself were working individually and expending tremendous resources to understand the many implications of the Act.

On the other hand, there were a few companies that were not at all interested in learning about it, and it was putting babywearing at risk during a tumultuous internal time at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). I watched some of our babywearing pioneers put out of business not only by the costs of the new legislation but also by threats of product recalls with no legal teeth or scientific basis. Our burgeoning little industry was at serious risk.

At 37.5 weeks pregnant, I flew from Maine to Idaho to call a meeting. Our industry needed to pool our resources and speak with one voice. With the help of one of the leading Product Safety attorneys in the US, we’ve been able to meet with the CPSC in person, with

consumer advocacy groups, and speak up at standards meetings to protect the many micro-businesses that make up our industry. We’ve connected tiny businesses with large companies like Bjorn as we all work toward a common goal of advancing the babywearing industry, and retailers, educators, and manufacturers are now connected to ensure more babies are being worn every single year.

{BWTM} Do you have any big plans up your sleeve?{WSDY} Right now, we’re working with Jan at Sleeping Baby Productions in developing a ring sling. It’s our second generation of testers – our first was sturdy but the hand of the fabric was not soft enough. So far, the feedback from our testers is fantastic, and it looks like we’ll take the sling to testing in the next few months! I’m excited, because I really believe that a wrap and a ring sling combine to make the perfect beginner babywearing companions, especially for nursing mothers.

Our prototype is soft, strong, lightweight, and of course it features our beautiful batik designs! I’ll keep you posted; we’re hoping to be in production by autumn.

facebook.com/wrapsody wrapsodybaby.com

Hope Breeze

WrapDuO water wrap in Lagoon

april/may 2015 19

5MRPhotos courtesy of 5MR

{BWTM} How and when did you start babywearing?{5mr} As the days were winding down in our first pregnancy I bought a Moby and an ancient ergo on a local mom swap for $10. I had no idea what I was doing, but hey, $10! That ergo was probably on its 5th family now.

Our daughter had colic and reflux so babywearing was a requirement. It was rare to be able to set her down to get anything done. Initially, wrapping was a complete disaster. I remember messaging a friend in the early hours of the morning to say I had missed the opportunity to wear my daughter, and that I wished I had started earlier. I was very frustrated. She suggested a number of alternative carries and after trying them, wearing clicked. After that, I used the Moby daily.

We often get emails from new wrappers who are discouraged. This situation is so close to my heart, and I will try to encourage them by responding: “Don’t give up, there’s still hope, I promise!” It’s one of the more rewarding parts of what we do.

I started attending our local Baby Wearing International (BWI) meet-ups and added a ring sling to our collection. It got a bit out of hand after that. There were just so many fun woven wraps available and I wanted to try them all. This had a positive side affect as I learned so much about woven wraps, I was able to eventually turn a fun hobby into a business.

{BWTM} What was the defining moment that led you to start 5 Minute Recess?{5mr} When our daughter was born, we made saving for her future a

priority. We started a blog to follow our progress, opened a 529 college savings plan, and started saving extra money. A couple months in (and after consulting a college savings calculator and knowing we wanted a second child), we faced the humbling truth that we weren’t going to be able to save as much as we wanted to. We needed a way to fill the gap. We tossed around many ideas, and thought that a small business could help us make up for the savings deficit. One night, I pitched the idea of a store that would buck the boutique image and focus on more affordable wraps. 5MR was born. The original 5MR website was very modest.

Fun backstory - When Rachel was in the Army she managed to save a couple thousand dollars and invested it in stocks she thought were going to change the world. When we started 5MR, we sold the handful of shares of Tesla she owned, and spent it all on our initial inventory: about 35 wraps and ring slings.

We both have a lot of respect for Elon Musk (as a business visionary at least). We always joke about when we hit it big, we’ll hang a picture of the great leader Musk in our wrap factory. 5MR is the babywearing story that Tesla built.

{BWTM} How has the company grown since you started almost two years ago?{5mr} First, we are still just two people and a couple of very generous friends who frequently lend a hand when things get a little too crazy. In our first month, we sold three wraps, and another eight in the second month. We were ecstatic! We would lay in bed with the computer

5 MINUTE RECESS (5MR) WAS FOUNDED IN 2013 BY MATT AND RACHEL AFTER THEIR DAUGHTER WAS BORN. AT FIRST, THE STORE ONLY CARRIED INDAJANI PRODUCTS AND THE RESPONSE FAR EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS. THEY HAVE SINCE ADDED ADDITIONAL BRANDS AND MUCH MORE INVENTORY.

5MRapril/may 2015 21

watching our website analytics, giddy that two people were browsing our site.While we now ship more carriers every day than we did in those first few months, we’ve never lost sight of our vision. One of the things we are proud of is that we have always done things our own way. We continue to focus on value, responsiveness, and customer satisfaction. Amazon has set a pretty high standard, and even small retailers need to be on the ball.

We haven’t lost our passion for what we’re doing one bit, and truly enjoy it. We did a huge stocking last week and worked from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. to get every package shipped. We went to bed exhausted, but it’s always well worth it when we see social media posts from customers who are thrilled that things have shipped quickly, and we start receiving customer action shots.

{BWTM} How did you choose Indajani as your first product?{5mr} Rachel was introduced to Indajani at a local BWI meeting and fell in love. We’re frugal, and budget conscious to a fault, which meant the brand was a perfect fit for us! Their handwoven wraps are soft and supportive, and they have been an awesome company to work with. We are excited to see their business grow and expand as they get more recognition worldwide. Erika and her team are an

absolute delight to work with.

{BWTM} How did you decide which subsequent brands to carry in your store?{5mr} One of the benefits of owning a babywearing store is you have the excuse to try new brands and materials! If we see a wrap or carrier that looks interesting, we purchase it from the vendor. We try it out and if we like it, we lend it to friends and local BWI members. We wouldn’t carry a brand that we haven’t tried with our own children. There have been a few that looked really great, but folks just didn’t enjoy the wrapping qualities. If we like the wrap, we approach the company and talk about carrying it in our store. We view the relationship with the company in the same way we do with the wrap itself, and there have been vendors we didn’t feel were a good fit for our store or our customers.

We have recently added Heartiness, Fidella, and Keppeke, which are a perfect fit for our store and our customer base. For the price, there is a lot to like about those wraps. Others, like Pellicano, are just super fun designs. We’ll never be their #1 retailer, but they’re too cool to pass up adding a few to our store.

{BWTM} 5MR has a budget section with a wide selection of carriers under $100. What

has the response been to this section of the store? Why is it important to stock budget carriers?{5mr} I want to sell you your beater wrap. Buy a wrap from 5MR that costs less than $100 and wear it every day. Wear in the rain and in the snow. Don’t worry about ruining your highly sought after or a wrap that has special meaning to you. If you’re new to babywearing, we have a ton of wraps in attractive colors and prints that are pretty darn durable. It’s a great place to start.

If you follow any of the big babywearing social media groups, you’ll see hundreds of posts asking what someone should buy for their first woven wrap. Like any new hobby or interest, it can be pretty daunting. For some, going to a buy/sell/trade group online or buying directly from a company outside the United States isn’t intimidating, but it’s just not for everyone. Our Under $100 section is an awesome entry point for new wrappers, or for experienced wrappers who want to try something new. Nearly all wraps come with a 14-day, no questions asked, return option and shipping a wrap back to California is a lot cheaper than sending it back overseas.

{BWTM} 5MR is now carrying its own line of budget wraps. Please tell us about this new venture.{5mr} Like 5MR, Smitten was born from a “wouldn’t it be cool…” dinner conversation. Rachel was enamored with a Kickstarter she backed called the Blue Lace Project. It focused on reinvigorating US manufacturing, and with the number she bought, will keep our shoes in blue laces for years to come. It took us about eight months to get everything lined up (having a baby in there didn’t help the timeline, but was a nice temporary distraction), but we found a US weaver, US finishing house, US label maker, US sticker and insert printer, US box manufacturer and the list goes on. Who knew so many folks would have a part in creating this product.

We found out it’s pretty hard to do it 100% in the US, but we’re off to an awesome start and as we ramp up production, we can afford to buy in quantities that lets us do it 100%. We’re pretty excited.

We think folks are going to love them.

{BWTM} When was the line launched and what are the price points?{5mr} Wearsmitten.com launched the week of March 16th and for right now, they

are being sold through the Smitten website and 5mr.com only. A size 5 is $120 shipped anywhere in the US, and slightly more for international.

{BWTM} How do your backgrounds in IT and video editing help or hinder your venture?{5mr} We’re both pretty technical, and Matt in a former life was a programmer, which has saved us a ton in website costs and has allowed us to scale using technology more easily.

Rachel still takes the vast majority of photos on the website. Stock photos from manufactures aren’t always color corrected, and can result in some pretty unhappy customers. It’s also hard to picture a wrap without action shots. We have a great group of friends who donate their time to help us with photos.

With all our back-end automation, we still personally answer all 300+ emails every week. You get my personal response, typos and all. When you order, we hand sign every invoice, and sometimes add a doodle.

{BWTM} Why is it important to give back to the babywearing community?{5mr} Matt and I met while working at a non-profit and believe that with any success, you have to give back. Initially we would donate to charities focused on carrier donation, but now limit ourselves to BWI chapters and other babywearing charities. We try to stick to those who are 501c3, but sometimes folks make such a compelling case, they win us over. We’re clearly pushovers and are easily swayed. I probably shouldn’t admit that.

We also offer a military discount, and on that front, word is out. Looking through just this week’s orders, we did over $450 in discounts for service members and their families. We offer it on everything we sell with the exception of Tulas, which can mean some pretty hefty discounts on the more expensive wraps.

{BWTM} Do you have any other big plans up your sleeve?{5mr} Always! That is the fun of this business; we have so many ideas in the pipeline. A size 5 for $120 is nice, but what if there was a different line, still woven and finished in the US, but less than $100? We’ve got prototypes.

Beyond that? Well, I feel like we should probably schedule a work trip to Poland to visit Lenny Lamb, go to Germany for Didymos, and we need to find a vendor in Hawaii.

facebook.com/5MinuteRecess 5mr.com

april/may 2015 23

hip, hip, hooray!

spring has Sprung

Wrap Scrap Hair Clips by LITTLEBUGFELT. $15-18, facebook.com/littlebugfelt

Birdie by WRAP SCRAP CREATIONS. Starting at $20, etsy.com/shop/wrapscrapcreations


Hair Blossom by SUGAR & DREAMS. $10 for clips and

$12 for adjustable headbands, facebook.com/sugaranddreams

It’s time to get outside and enjoy the warmth and beauty of spring. These wrap scrap accessories and lovies will match the blooming hues of the season.

Bunny by WRAP SCRAP CREATIONS. Custom personalizing available. Starting at $20, etsy.com/shop/wrapscrapcreations

Mini Wreath by LITTLEBUGFELT. $23 , facebook.com/littlebugfelt

Bow Tie by PRETTY BABY ACCESSORIES $20.00, www.prettybabyaccessories.com

april/may 2015 25

mrsdewees

#bwthemag

budget

bliss! You don’t need an expensive

carrier to hold your baby close.

Jennifer Labush Hernandez

Brianna Martin-

HanselmanNilufer Syed

Mankar

Adrienne Merritt

ashloveex3


follow us on instagram {BWTHEMAG} and tag your photos with #bwthemag for a chance to be featured in the next issue!

blair_v83

Anna Garrisonmrsdewees

derosa684

Michelle Bauer

Emily Bibby

april/may 2015 27

Scene created with: Storch Leo Marine and Rose and Gira Puesta del Sol sky, Indio Mocca and Nati Kangaroos tree branch, Zara Fresh leaf, and caterpillar made of Nati Bonsai, Gira Amitola, Nati Delin Sky, Nati Shells, and Warped and Wonderful Heartsong. A book full of wrapscapes and nursery rhymes is available for purchase at etsy.com/shop/CarriedAwayBook.

caterpillarA VERY HUNGRY

they don’t stay small for long,so enjoy it while it lasts

carried away

wrap up

a chat with

JANofSLEEPING BABY PRODUCTIONS

Jan Heirtzler is the owner of Sleeping Baby Productions (SBP) and one of the

foremost names in the babywearing industry. SBP is a proud member of the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance, and Jan is among the founding board members.

The BCIA is working hard to ensure that all baby carriers on the market

are safe, and that users are aware of how to use them properly. In addition

to offering readymade ring slings at budget-friendly prices, Jan also offers

patterns free of cost for those who would prefer to sew for themselves.

She believes strongly in making babywearing accessible to everyone.

Photos courtesy of Sleeping Baby Productions


{BWTM} How/when did you start your babywearing journey? {SBP} I had been interested in natural childbirth and more attached parenting styles before my first child was conceived, starting with reading “Our Bodies, Ourselves”. I picked up a copy of the Sears Baby Book at a used bookstore, and the drawings of parents “wearing” their babies really resonated with me. It was 1999, before the vast majority of babywearing businesses were online; the only slings I could find were the NoJo and the Over The Shoulder Baby Holder (OTSBH) padded slings, and MayaWrap ring slings and pouches. Our income was fairly limited at the time, so I bought the least expensive one I could, the Maya Wrap pouch, which felt small on me when I received it (it was actually the right size, of course). I remember squinting at the VHS video as Susan Gmeiner (Maya Wrap’s founder) demonstrated the ring sling, trying to figure out how the fabric was attached to the rings, and a few weeks later, picked up a set of rings from the craft store and some gauze (this was before SlingRings, and before anyone had sling sewing directions online) and made myself a ring sling.

{BWTM} How did babywearing evolve into sewing ring slings professionally for you?{SBP} When Stephen was born, I had the luxury of working alongside my husband in his office, doing educational outreach for the solar weather satellite he was working on. This lasted for about a year, at which point it was too confining having Stephen in the office with us, and the outreach money ran out, so I started doing web design from home. (The most productive work time was when Stephen would sleep in the sling – hence Sleeping Baby Productions.) At the same time, I was using my sling when I was out with Stephen, and would occasionally be asked where I’d gotten it. Like so many new parents with a sewing machine and a baby, I thought, “I should sell these!” I invested a few hundred dollars in (safe!) fabric and put the slings up as an add-on to my webpage, which was primarily for my web design services. It was years before I started earning more from sling sewing than from web design – I credit TheBabywearer.com entirely for my early success, because participating in the forum gave me far more exposure than I could ever have gotten with just my website.

{BWTM} Why did you choose to make ring slings as opposed to another type of carrier?{SBP} Because I like wearing them the

best! They are adjustable, so sizing isn’t as key when sewing them. For me, they’re easier to use than a wrap, and sewing them is more instant-gratification than mei tais, which take significantly longer. I like the put-on-and-go convenience of a ring sling, and its versatility of positions. I found it very easy to breastfeed in a sling, once I got the hang of it, and that made it more useful to me when I was out.

On an average, how many ring slings do you sew per week?{SBP} I aim for 18-20 per day, when I’m sewing them from scratch, and can do up to 25 wrap converted ring slings (WCRS) in a day, so that’s between 90-125 per week, depending on what I’m sewing. It’s funny, I look back at my earlier days, when doing five in a day seemed like *so much work* and if I got 10 orders, I didn’t know how I would manage. Of course, my kids aren’t babies anymore, so I have all day to sew while they’re at school. It was a lot more challenging when they were small!

{BWTM} How can a caregiver buy a ring sling from SBP?{SBP} Right now, because there is a lot of demand and just me doing the sewing, I’ve had to resort to limited openings. Every three weeks or so, I open the store for a few hours, and take as many orders as I feel I can sew in the next three weeks. I really wish I could make it easier to order – and I think that once the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) regulations become mandatory and customer-sent WCRS are more curtailed (only unused wraps from brands that I’ve used to tested my design will be allowed), I’ll be able to just stay open.

{BWTM} What is your favorite type of ring sling to recommend to a new wearer?{SBP} It really depends on what they’re looking for – budget, climate, and the age of their baby are all factors – but my personal favorite is a rainbow Easycare WCRS with pleats. They’re gorgeous to look at, and the stripes make it easy to adjust because you always know what section you’re pulling on. And I prefer pleats for new users because, at least for me, it’s the most grab-and-go shoulder style – you don’t need to do a lot of fiddling with it to get the rings in a good position. But every caregiver has different needs, so I couldn’t in good conscience recommend something I didn’t feel would work for them.

{BWTM} Why is babywearing education so important?

{SBP} For me, *babywearing* is important because it frees people to be the best caregivers they can be—it just makes daily life easier and more pleasant for everyone. They get the closeness of holding onto each other while still being able to go about their business, and allow the pair to share experiences, which is so key to early learning and development. Babywearing education helps caregivers do this in the safest way they can, and makes the learning curve a lot shorter than trying to figure everything out themselves. I learned from books and videos, but it’s so much quicker to have an experienced user there in person to help you out.

{BWTM} You offer several free patterns for caregivers wanting to sew their own ring slings. Instead of making money on these patterns, you are providing them at no charge. Why is important to you to do this? {SBP} I have always felt that babywearing is for “everyone,” regardless of their lifestyle or income level. I used to be able to sell slings really inexpensively, but I’ve had to raise my prices as the cost of supplies, insurance, educational materials, and a whole host of other factors increased. It’s been a necessary increase, but has had the unfortunate side effect that my slings can be too expensive for caregivers on a limited income. Offering free sewing directions has always felt right to me, because my main goal has always been to get babies into their caregivers’ arms, and making a living at that has just been a pleasant side effect. I remember feeling confused and a little sad when I didn’t know how to make my own, and not knowing what materials to use made my early attempts less comfortable and safe than they might otherwise have been. There will always be people who want to make their own carriers, and I want them to be able to make the best and safest ones they can.

{BWTM} You also provide free patterns for mei tais, podaegis and accessories that promote natural parenting. Why did you decide to offer these patterns free of charge?{SBP} At the time I added these things to my site, I was filling a niche. There were not a lot of sewing directions on the web in the early 2000s, and since I was making these things anyway, I might as well help other people do it, too. Philosophically, I do think that attachment parenting is as close as we can get to the way we evolved to parent. My degree is in biology, and when I was

april/may 2015 31

looking at becoming a parent, AP stood out as being the most natural way to raise a child. While our lifestyles are a lot different now than they were 200,000 years ago, our babies and ourselves have the same wiring we did then. Babies are wired to be in close contact, to be fed on demand, and to gradually separate from their parents. Natural parenting facilitates this. I don’t have a dogmatic view of this, of course; an individual’s circumstances may make breastfeeding impractical, or bed-sharing can be unsafe if there are underlying medical conditions in parent or child, so I would never say “You have to do A, B, and C to be a true attachment parent, and you’re a bad parent if you don’t!” That’s simply not true. But I do like to help make AP easier for other new parents when I can, because I feel strongly that attachment is very important for babies and their caregivers.

{BWTM} You have a section on your site dedicated to starting a baby carrier business, with information on the business requirements and regulations. Why is this important?{SBP} It goes back to my main goal: getting babies into carriers, and out of devices. I know I can’t sew for everyone. I know there are hundreds of new parents

who think the same thing I did: I have a baby and a sewing machine; I should make slings! I also know that many of these very well-intentioned parents also make a lot of mistakes when it comes to starting a business, and unlike sewing clothing or stuffed animals, an improperly-sewn carrier can be a danger. The regulations have come about because of mass-market slings that weren’t well-designed, but the same design concerns exist for home-made slings as well. I’m not afraid of good competition, but I want to make sure the competition is making safe carriers and doing so on a level legal playing field.

{BWTM} How will the new regulations regarding ring slings affect SBP and the ring sling industry in general?{SBP} For the better, I think. Yes, it will no longer be possible to have a ring sling made for you from a used wrap or other untested fabrics, but I think the ready-made WCRS market will pick up as retailers and sling makers form partnerships. Having the regulations will help caregivers have some peace of mind, knowing their sling is made from a tried and tested material, and that the person who sewed it was conscientious and following best practices. I am a little sad that it may have the side effect of weeding

out people who would have wanted to start out the way I did, but it will ensure that new businesses are really passionate and committed to the task.

{BWTM} What is your hope for the future of babywearing?{SBP} I’d love to see it become even more mainstream than it is now, so that new parents don’t think twice about adding a carrier to their registry, and it’s not a curiosity to walk around with a baby strapped to you. I’d like grandparents to see it as normal and healthy. If I had my druthers, I’d also like to see less emphasis on the liability aspects, especially when it comes to DIY. I’ve had people suggest to me that I shouldn’t have DIY directions on my site because it opens me to a lawsuit if something goes awry. That may be true, but I’d feel far worse if a caregiver tried to wing the sewing (the way I did!) and the carrier broke. I think it’s more important to take that small risk and be sure that a DIYer is doing it safely than to remove them and know it might be done unsafely.

{BWTM} Describe your perfect day.{SBP} A perfect weekday, or weekend? On a perfect weekday, I’d wake up refreshed after 8 hours of sleep, get the kids up with no complaining (this actually happens most days), make them a good breakfast, and send them off to school on their bikes (instead of having to drive them, as now, when it’s still well below freezing even though it’s spring). Then I have another cup of coffee while I answer customer emails for 10 minutes, and start sewing. My sewing machine cooperates, I don’t make any silly mistakes in sewing or have to rip out stitches, and I sew 10 slings before lunchtime. I meet my husband on campus for lunch (this actually happens most days, too), and we have a pleasant hour together before I walk back home. The afternoon is spent listening to music while I sew (this happens most days), and USPS.com gives me no issues when I print my shipping labels. I bike to the post office, drop off my packages, and help my husband with dinner when I get back (he does the main meal prep; I make the salad or other veggies). We have dinner together with the kids, then they do their homework while I practice (viola), and then I read to them before bedtime, which goes smoothly and without any fighting (I wish this happened!).

All in all, my days actually are as near perfect as I could wish – I don’t always get the flawless sewing or the cooperative USPS or the biking, but I really can’t complain. I never would have guessed I’d make my living sewing baby slings, but it’s been good to me.

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babywearing: the magazine | april/may 2015

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