Buying Guide | Conscious Buys for your Baby
Welcoming a new arrival into the world is a special moment, and for many new mums and dads, adopting a more Earth-kind approach to parenting will be high on the agenda. From choosing reusable nappies to buying organically grown baby food, there are lots of relatively simple ways to minimise your footprint with a baby in tow. So, what about their wardrobe? It's inevitable that you'll need to buy items in multiples and in the next size up, so by investing in quality pieces that can be worn, washed on repeat and handed down when they outgrow them is a great place to start.
As you browse our conscious collections, you'll come across lots of phrases and words that highlight how each adorable piece is helping to look after Mother Nature — GOTS, recycled and eco-friendly to name just a few. And we know that life with a newborn is busy enough without having to decipher every care label, so we've done the hard work for you.
Whether you're looking for everyday essentials or something extra special, these beautiful pieces are helping to create a happier and more sustainable future for the planet your baby calls home.
Image by aden + anais
16 Aug 2023
Our Favourite (Care) Labels
From GOTS-certified to recycled, our conscious baby collections can be filtered by fabric. But what do they mean?
A Kinder Way of Life
Let’s start with organic cotton, a fabric that you'll find in abundance across our collections. The Textile Exchange describes organic cotton as being "grown in agricultural systems that work with nature, rather than against it," and that the organic way of farming "combines tradition, innovation, and science to benefit the environment, promoting fair relationships and improved quality of life for all." Choosing organic means less of the bad stuff, like chemical-rich pesticides which drain into soil and water causing contamination. What's even better is that this fibre is also naturally strong, soft against skin and breathable, making it a great choice for your baby's clothing, blankets and bibs.
Then we have GOTS certified. Think of this as a badge of honour when it comes to organic cotton. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS for short) looks at every step of the production process, even those beyond the farm. From harvesting and spinning the yarns right through to the finished product arriving in store, everything is monitored and checked. The association also takes into consideration any social impacts along the way to make sure employees are treated with the utmost respect. The result? A production line to be proud of.
Image by Molo
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Reuse, repurpose, regenerate is the name of the game when it comes to recycled fabrics. Here, innovation and technology work in harmony to transform would-be waste materials — we're talking plastic bottles, old textiles and even abandoned fishing nets — into new clothing for your little one. Brands like Molo, Mayoral, Soli Swim and The Bonnie Mob are advocates of this material and you'll find it used across many pieces in their collections, typically replacing the use of synthetics like polyester to create everything from raincoats and swimwear to mini outfit sets.
Our eco-friendly filter covers a wide range of fabrics that can be produced with minimal impact on the environment. Lyocell (or TENCEL™), bamboo and linen are at the top of the list, with each one showing that considered fashion is the way forward. Lyocell comes from wood and it’s very soft and strong; this fibre is also a real team player which is why you’ll often see it blended with natural yarns such as cotton and wool. Next up, the bamboo plant is an incredibly versatile and sustainable choice for baby clothing and accessories. It is extremely fast-growing (some species can grow up to a meter a day) and requires little maintenance. What's more, bamboo products are 100% biodegradable, leaving no long-term impact on the environment — now that's what we love to hear! Find adorable styles from our Bonpoint, Joha and Bam Bam Sustainable collections.
Similarly to bamboo, linen, which is made from flax plants, is a renewable resource and grows at an impressive rate without the need for nasty fertilizers and pesticides. This fabric also has lots of other properties that are just as kind to your baby's skin as it is to the environment. Linen is naturally breathable and hypoallergenic, plus its strength means that it’ll stand the test of time, wash after wash, wear after wear. In fact, the more you wash it, the softer it becomes, so you'll never have to worry about those inevitable spills ruining the fabric. The natural crumples and creases also add to the aesthetic which means one less thing to iron (yay).
Images by Carrement Beau (left) and Childrensalon Essentials (right)
