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Whether you are buying a gift for a baby shower, or looking for something for your little one, here are suggestions of Kelowna-based baby companies if you want to support local!
Tag Baby
Many babies love tags - whether they smell them or put them in their mouths - they can keep them busy. When Danielle Stedham noticed this with her Godson Rex, she made him a blanket with tags all around the border.
Her idea was such a huge hit that she started getting requests from others to make more blankets with tags!
Today Danielle and Cari (her best friend and Rex’s mom) also make other products such as burb cloths. The two started their business in 2018 and are currently working on their website. In the meantime, look for them at upcoming local craft fairs or find them on Instagram.
Anchors and Arrows
After the birth of her youngest son in 2014, Caroline Green realized she loved making clothes for him out of old shirts.
However she found that there was a limit to materials so she started looking at other varieties of fabrics. In her search, she located organic and bamboo products, and they encouraged her to create more items.
Green believes what makes her clothing collection unique is that she sells pieces that can’t be found in stores. This wonder woman runs this local business on her own - from sourcing the fabric and patterns, to cutting and sewing.
Oh Baby Naturals
All of the products from Oh Baby Naturals are made in West Kelowna. Karen Easterbrook founded this skin, bath and body care company, and she believes what she offers provide an excellent alternative to conventional beauty products.
She prides on using only high quality ingredients that are paraben, petroleum and sulphate free. Because her products are made by hand in small batches, the amount of waste is minimized.
Choose from a variety of baby products including baby lotion, baby shampoo, baby powder and a diaper laundry powder.
Brok Boys
As a mom of 4 boys, Jennie Brokman knows all about the clothing needs of a young child. She started her business five years ago, only sewing garments for boys. Today, Brokman along with two other seamstresses, have expanded their clothing line to include both girls and adult pieces with the large majority of her products made here in the Okanagan.
Brok Boys uses the softest fabrics with a lot of stretch, combined with stylish prints and colour to keep her customers looking fresh but also feeling comfortable.
Nooks Design
The Kelowna-based Penner family started selling their goods at local farmers’ and crafters’ markets in 2013. The idea came when the family realized their need for a warm, stylish and soft soled shoe for their daughter. That’s when mom Ruthy made her a pair of shoes from an upcycled wool sweater with leather from a purse.
Today, Nooks can be found in nearly 200 stores across Canada, the US and the UK. With the increase in production, the company now has a fair-trade certified team of 24 employees in Nepal who cuts and sews the footwear.
Got a baby story idea? Reach out if you have topic suggestions for this column on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook (my social media platforms are all under @weslawong), or email us at KelownaNow.
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