modeco kids

Little Bodhi is “essentials for the enlightened baby”. Great tag line! This Canadian online baby boutique specializes in organic baby clothing, fair trade accessories and non toxic wooden toys. You’ll even find cool music for babies including lullaby renditions of Bob Marley. This CD caught my eye since my husband and I recently watched a documentary movie about him.

They also offer a pretty unique service: free customized birth announcements that you can email, blog or print to share the news of your baby’s arrival with your family and friends. To be eligible new parents need only sign up for a gift registry.

I love the colors and styling of these toddler shoes by Umi for children up to 24 months. Too bad I didn’t know of this brand when my boys were that young! Apparently this brand was recognized by Consumer Reports® as one of their top recommendations for baby’s first shoe. I don’t know if this brand is exclusive to Little Bodhi, but a quick search of Canadian retailers at Umi’s website suggests it’s hard to find these children’s shoes elsewhere in Canada.

(image via littlebodhi.com)

Technorati Tags: e-boutique, baby boutique, children’s boutique, Canada, organic baby

August 10th, 2008 Lisa posted in KIDS, RETAILERS, clothes, gear, playtime, retailer spotlights, shoes No Comments »

Here’s a great tip for online-only retailers: host a one-day shopping event in your local community! It’s a fantastic way to connect with your existing customers and hopefully meet some new ones.

Nancy DeHart of Toronto-based Kai Kids is going “on location” this coming week to showcase her online boutique’s collection of ethical, eco-friendly, natural, non-toxic, upcycled and organic products for babies, toddlers, new moms and moms-to-be. She says here that she’s hoping to make it a regular event with monthly (and eventually weekly) Kai Kids shopping days.

If you’re in the Toronto area and want to check out Kai Kids in person, drop by 1390 Danforth Avenue in Toronto between 10am and 6pm on Tuesday July 8th. Email Nancy at info@kaikids.com or call 416-318-1501 if you’d like more information. A change room and mirror will be set up in the space so you can try things on. Also you can expect special sales for this one-day shopping event, available only to walk-in customers!

All products sold at Kai Kids are fair trade or ethically manufactured. You’ll also find several Canadian brands and products made locally including some I’ve featured on this blog (Bare Organics, Little Soles, RiNGLY and Petit Flaneur).

While browsing Kai Kids to pick out a few products for the image above, I noticed how well Nancy has described where things are made. The product description for Little Soles, for example, clearly states that they are made in China, but they’re sweatshop-free: “The Calgary-based owners travel to China to oversee the production run to ensure fair labour practices and quality control.” These details are perfect (and reassuring) for label-checkers like me! (I’m not alone! See this article that predicts that a growing number of consumers will want to know about the origins of their purchases.)

Here are the links to the products in the image above:
Little Soles leather baby shoes
Cut4Cloth organic top
Bambu bamboo bowls
Jessica Scott maternity top
Fleurville diaper bag (made from recycled pop bottles)

(images via kaikids.com)

Technorati Tags: online children’s boutique, baby gear, organic, fair trade, Canadian, eco-friendly

July 6th, 2008 Lisa posted in KIDS, RETAILERS, clothes, gear, mealtime, retailer spotlights, shoes No Comments »

Today you have the chance to win a pair of IsaBooties™! These eco-friendly soft-soled baby shoes are perfect for giving to someone special or keeping for your own little one.

You’ve probably seen IsaBooties™ before. These stylish baby booties have been featured in magazines such as Parenting, Pregnancy & Newborn, American Baby, Pregnancy, Parents and Babytalk as well as on many design blogs.

Laura Mesko and Libby Gorsuch are the mompreneurs who founded IsaBooties™ in 2004. While browsing their website, I was impressed with how well they’ve thought out their venture. I can only imagine how competitive it is in the marketplace for soft-soled baby shoes and IsaBooties™ really seems to fill a niche.

So, how are they different than other soft-soled baby shoes on the market? IsaBooties™ are made in the USA with fair labor and manufactured with a unique combination of Ultrasuede® and Toughtek®. This means that they are 100% animal-product free and formaldehyde-free not to mention breathable, durable, skid-proof and fade-resistant. I was surprised to learn that Toughtek® is the same grip fabric used in the booties worn by search and rescue dogs!

Because of the fabric IsaBooties™ are made of, they won’t scuff, they’re color safe and stain-resistant and they hold their shape after machine-washing and drying. A friend gave my son a pair of leather soft-soled shoes a few years ago and I distinctively recall how scuffed they became with wear and how they never looked the same after the first time through the washing machine and dryer. So I can definitely see the appeal of IsaBooties™!

Want to win a pair of IsaBooties™?
Simply leave a comment on this blog post. We’d love you to tell us your favorite design. Click here to see all the styles. Good luck!

:: leave ONE comment on this post with your name
:: the contest closes 8pm EST on Sunday June 22, 2008
:: the winner will be picked via random draw
:: check back here Monday June 23 to see if you’ve won
:: winner must claim prize by Wednesday June 25

Psst! Want two chances to win? While you’re browsing the IsaBooties™ website, be sure to also enter their contest to win six pairs of booties!

Retailers, click here for wholesale information. You’ll be happy to know that you can choose whatever size and style combination is the best fit for your shop to meet the opening minimum of 24 pairs. IsaBooties™ are available in four sizes to fit babies and toddlers up to 24 months and they retail for $29 each. They come in display-ready packaging that is 100% recycled/100% recyclable and printed with soy ink.

A big thank you to Laura and Libby of IsaBooties™ for generously supporting this giveaway!

(images via isabooties.com)

Technorati Tags: soft-soled baby shoes, crib shoes, eco-friendly, toddler shoes, baby booties, baby slippers, made in USA, mompreneur

June 18th, 2008 Lisa posted in KIDS, giveaways, shoes 12 Comments »

This selection is for girls who refuse to wear pink! (Or, more likely, for parents who vowed to never buy pink.) It’s neat to find three different Etsy sellers using a similar yet uncommon color palette of brown, orange and yellow/green. I think it works well together and gives the pieces a retro feel.

Pluto’s cute birdies are printed on a 100% cotton sweatshop-free American Apparel onesie. You’ll also find a birdies t-shirt for toddlers as well as a pink and purple version if your little one prefers more girly colors. Chicago-based Pluto recently opened their Etsy shop, but they’re not newcomers to the children’s fashions industry. Select designs have been featured in Parents magazine.

These baby booties by Linda Lou would be so sweet with the birdie onesie. They are hand knit from soft Merino wool and the listing shows a coordinating knit hat that would be perfect for a newborn. Or perhaps the seller might make them in a bigger size to go with these Smiley Jones bib overalls featuring vintage birdie patches on the knees.

Technorati Tags: Etsy favorites, handmade, indie artists, onesie, baby booties, bib overalls

April 21st, 2008 Lisa posted in KIDS, clothes, shoes No Comments »

While browsing Planet Kid recently for Smicko’z cover ups, I discovered another gem. These adorable booties, shoes and shearling hats for young children are handmade in Canada by Shoe Babou.

I realize it may seem a bit ridiculous to be featuring winter hats as it is finally Spring here in Canada, but if you are a retailer no doubt you’re already looking for merchandise for the next cold season. The baby shoes feature delicious colors with contrasting cut out shapes and come in three styles (lace ups, mary janes with velcro straps and a closed sandal with velcro strap). While the shoes are just for little ones (up to 9 months), the booties are available in sizes for children up to 4 years old and make the perfect, cozy slipper. Each piece is handcrafted by Manon De Gagné in Toronto.

(images via shoebabou.com)

Technorati Tags: children, baby, booties, shoes, handmade, made in Canada

April 10th, 2008 Lisa posted in KIDS, shoes No Comments »

Wouldn’t this hand knit sweater and felt slippers make the perfect Spring outfit for a baby? I love how the “antique pink” cotton/merino wool yarn of the sweater brings out the hand embroidered lavender flowers on the baby slippers. The sweater is by Brooklyn-based Evagodeva and the slippers by Toronto-based Elefent.

I can picture kids having a lot of fun with this sleek rocking bench by Zach Bailey. I’m not sure if it was designed for children’s spaces but I can really see it fitting perfectly in a modern nursery. This Maine-based artisan has a background in graphic design and began making furniture after attending the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship. I first spotted this rocking bench at peppermags design blog where you’ll find a daily series called “Etsy Lunch Hour”.

Technorati Tags: handmade, Etsy, handcrafted, indie designers, baby slippers, baby sweater, rocking bench, modern nursery

March 24th, 2008 Lisa posted in KIDS, clothes, furniture, shoes No Comments »

I clearly remember when my son received his first pair of Robeez slippers shortly after he was born nearly six years ago. They are blue leather with an alphabet design and I still have them tucked away in his keepsake box! While I was pregnant, my friend had been raving about how these Canadian-made slippers are so great because babies cannot wriggle out of them.

A while back I had searched for locally-made shoes for my boys now that they are beyond the toddler stage, but I discovered that most shoes for older children are made overseas. So imagine my delight when I learned that Robeez is launching Tredz in early February! This collection of 20 styles features non-slip, water-resistant rubber soles that make them suitable for outdoor wear. Perfect except that the largest size fits toddlers up to 24 months, making them too small for my boys.

I hope that one day Robeez will move into the older children’s market. In the meantime, I’m loving the look of Tredz and am thrilled to read that they are still made in Canada. The launch of Tredz won’t be breaking news for retailers who already carry Robeez, but I thought it was worth a mention. Plus I wanted to let you know about the contest Robeez is holding including daily draws to win a pair of Tredz!

(images via robeez.com)

Technorati Tags: toddler shoes, made in Canada, Robeez, Treadz

January 29th, 2008 Lisa posted in KIDS, shoes No Comments »

Australian brand Chook Leaf was established in 2005 by Melbourne designer Rie Southwell. The collection offers a range of styles for boys and girls including sandals, loafers and ankle boots in sizes suitable for children 9 months to 7 years. The shoes feature fun colours and are handmade with leather uppers and inners and non-slip rubber soles.

(images via Chook Leaf)

Technorati Tags: shoes, footwear, children, Australia

November 23rd, 2007 Lisa posted in KIDS, shoes No Comments »

My last post reminded me that I’ve been wanting to read A Year Without ‘Made in China’ by Sara Bongiorni so I just reserved it from the library. Having just bought a pair of StrideRite shoes for my son at a neighbourhood “mom & pop” shoe shop and discovered that this brand is made in China, I thought I’d do some research to see what else is available for children around 3 to 5 years old. What I discovered is that nobody is bragging about where their shoes are manufactured unless they are made in Europe! However, I thought I’d highlight four companies offering stylish, leather shoes that caught my eye.

Gucio shoes are handmade in Poland and their signature yellow soles and laces gives them a distinctive look. A father in Poland applied his industrial design background to create these shoes originally for his son. They are available in US sizes 3-12 in a variety of fun colors. The dyes are non toxic and applied only to the leather exterior, and the wide sole is made of fexible, non-slip rubber. I’m Still Me became the US distributor in May 2007, and in July they presented Gucio at Bubble - The Kids Trade Show. Their retail price is $57.50 USD and you can visit their website for wholesale information.

Also new on the scene is Eleven, based in Portland, Oregon, and the sister company of family owned and operated See Kai Run. A collection of eleven unique styles in US sizes 9-11 will debut in Spring 2008. The shoes will retail from $48-$54 USD.

Being Canadian, I was pleased to find Little Soles, a shoe company based in Calgary, Canada and founded by a fellow mompreneur. Eleven styles in US sizes 9-12 are currently available through retailers across Canada. Retail prices range from $42-$50 CAD.

I also discovered Livie & Luca shoes created by three mompreneurs. Nine styles are available in US sizes 4-10 and retail prices range from $34.50-$37.50 USD. The shoes feature soft leather and a flexible, lightweight sole and markings under the strap to show that they are made by hand.

(images via mygucio.com, elevencollection.com, littlesoles.ca, livieandluca.com)

Technorati Tags: children’s shoes, children’s footwear

October 8th, 2007 Lisa posted in KIDS, shoes No Comments »