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Nowadays it’s not just about buying something because it’s cute. Our buying habits have evolved
—for the better. Thanks in great part to the surfeit of information propagated by the Internet and
the strained economic times, the wanton consumerism of yesteryear has been traded in for a new
and improved model, driven by our desire for oversight, disclosure, accountability and fact-finding
on all fronts, from vetting owner ethos to scrutinizing product quality.
THE FAMILY GROOVE shines the spotlight on rising entrepreneurs and their businesses to bring you the goods on the who, what, where, when, how and why behind the best and the brightest brands on the market today. It is our hope that these interviews will not only give you some insight into the passion, spirit and values that fuel these companies, but just might inspire you to follow your dreams,too.
The brave new world of parenting 2.0 is flooded with why-didn’t-I-think-of-that?! ideas. Yet every now and again, you see something done so well that you know that even if you had thought of it, you’d never have been able to pull it off so stylishly. Ergo, Baby Chaleco. The why-didn’t-I-think-of-that part: They’re yank-proof, soak-proof vests that have got Baby’s back—and front. The I-wouldn’t-have-been-able-to-do-it-so-dang-well part: They’re totally and completely fabulous. They’re not just bibs; they’re ultra-fashionable performance wear.
| This month’s Top Shop: |  |
Carol Schiller, Baby Chaleco owner and designer, nailed what every mom is looking for nowadays: design, durability, functionality and fashion. From the fabulous styles that mean Junior will always be ready for his close-up to the sparing of your little one (and your sanity) from more changes than Diana Ross in Central Park circa 1983 to the super-safe materials they’re made from (baby-safe fabric liner is free of phthalates, Bisphenol A, triclosan, lead and PVC), Baby Chaleco bibs protect and serve up style like nobody’s business—well, except for Carol’s business. That’s why she’s this month’s Top Shop profile.
Here, we powwow with the woman whose light bulb moment took bibs from boring and only slightly effective to the chic and uber-useful de rigueur essential for babies and toddlers.
THE FAMILY GROOVE: For you, necessity was the mother of invention and it led to you, a mother, inventing a necessity. A lot of moms have good ideas; what was the impetus for you to actually make something of yours?
CAROL SCHILLER: Look, bibs have been around forever because babies need them. I needed a bib for my son that did two things: 1) worked and 2) looked great. Go to any baby supply store and you’ll see big sections of bibs that come in packs of seven, 10 or more. Whenever you find yourself buying 10 or more of something and changing it repeatedly, it’s time to think about a better solution. And I don’t care how clever the saying on your baby’s bib is, or how stylish the fabric, it still looks awful in photos.
TFG: How is Baby Chaleco different from other bibs?
CS: Baby Chaleco bibs have many great features that make them work far better than ordinary bibs, and they are explained in detail on the website. But the main thing is that a Baby Chaleco IS waterproof clothing, not a waterproof cover for clothing. The result is less work for parents, more style for baby. So while I have many customers who care about all those great features, plenty just buy them because they look so great.
TFG: Children’s safety, environmental responsibility and supporting your community are high on your priority list. Tell us what you do to walk your talk.
CS: Safety is very important, and I did tons of research on fabrics before choosing a waterproof liner that was both soak-proof and baby-safe. No parent should have to second-guess the safety of products they buy. It’s just too much work. That’s also why I am an active supporter of the Washington Toxics Coalition, a Washington State organization that lobbies for product and environmental safety regulations in Olympia, Wash. I am also a huge believer in local production. The entire collection is designed, sampled and sewn right here in Washington. Of course, not everything can be made in the USA, but the more we do, the better. It not only saves fuel, it supports the local economy too.
TFG: Let’s talk style. What’s new for fall and where do you get your inspiration?
CS: Most designers will never admit this, but my color direction is driven by the market. Why? Because I want you to be able to buy a Baby Chaleco, throw it on with any outfit and say, “Wow, that totally matches!” So if red is a big color for fall, you can bet I’m gonna be using creams and blacks that will go with it. When it comes to prints, I get to have a little more fun. Like all designers, I go to fabric shows each season and try to find something unique and fresh. Finally, I get ideas from the kids. If everyone is loving dragons, you may very well see a dragon in the next collection. Why not?
TFG: The designs are really fabulous! Do you ever think about getting into kids’ clothes?
CS: Nope. There are more than enough people fighting for that business, and I don’t think there is any dearth of fine baby design out there.
TFG: What do your three kids think of their momtrepreneur mommy?
CS: The kids take it in stride. I’ve been doing it long enough now that they really don’t remember when I had a corporate job and left the house every day at 7:30, which is just fine by me.
TFG: Speaking of three kids and owning a business, how the heck are you doing it? What advice do you have for other working moms?
CS: Working while your kids are little is always tough. If you run your own business, especially manufacturing, the start-up phase is definitely the hardest. But now I’ve worked out a business model that suits my lifestyle and the hours are a little less hairy. I would never presume to give advice to other working moms, though. The rules change every day!
TFG: The Baby Chaleco bib is such a mommy life (and sanity and time) saver. What is the best thing anyone’s ever said about it?
CS: Certainly the e-mails and calls I get from moms have been very gratifying. One of the nicest compliments I got was from a mom of twins. She called to order some more after trying them and said, “…I tell everyone Chalecos are the only bibs worth buying. I have a friend who wanted to register for bibs at Babies ‘R’ Us, and I told her, ‘You’re wasting your money. These are the only bibs that work.’”
TFG: What’s next?
CS: Baby Chaleco is growing nicely now, which is very gratifying, but naturally there is still plenty of work to be done. Of course I would like every mom in the country to know about it, but you won’t see me chasing celebrity babies with tons of giveaways to get the word out. I figure, when celebrities need an awesome baby bib, they can buy one just like everyone else. In the meantime, it’s still summer here in Seattle and I am soaking up some sunshine with the kids and looking forward to fall.
Carol’s Four Faves for Fall
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1. Bubble Blocker in Antique Ribbon Print “I fell in love with this fabric as soon as I saw it. It’s such a great combination of old and new."
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2. Over Easy, Gator Pocket “This has been a best-seller since day one. Every designer loves a best-seller."
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3. Jock in Minky Blue “I only make this style in the cooler months because the minky is such a cool-weather fabric. The feel is so fabulous! My son lived in the Minky Jock. It truly goes with everything.”
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4. Bubble Blocker in Camo
“This is another big seller! Wear it over T-shirts, turtlenecks or even on its own. It’s high fashion minus the worry.”
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For more from Carol, go to www.babychaleco.com.
What the heck does "Special Section" mean? Well, it means that these businesses paid a small (like, pretty darn small) fee to be included. THE FAMILY GROOVE strives to support mom and pop businesses by giving them a venue for their super cool sites, ideas and products—and, quite honestly, we strive to pay our bills, too. So we've taken seven articles a month (out of 25+) and made them fun and exciting ways to promote the next best thing, much like in the way a publicist would. We believe in the companies we feature. We research, vet, scrutinize, analyze and obsess over every single solitary company that is included in this section to bring you the grooviest of the groovy. We're all in this brave new world together, right? And so we've got to support each other in any and every way we can. We hope you dig our finds as much as we do.
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