Locally made vs Overseas

I am encountering a conundrum about manufacturing here in Quebec. I love Quebec I support local as often as possible, have my organic food basket, I source my fabrics locally (cotton does not grow in Canada) whenever possible and listen to the CBC - ok well that is easy - they play darn good music and I won't be blind sided by some pop song that has been on heavy rotation. Don't get me wrong I like pop music too - but I don't need to hear the same song four times in one day.

My problem is this: I am a small led business who manufactures here in Quebec and I am starting to see why companies shift to overseas production. Here is something I sometimes hear from my retailers: "People love your line but they often say it is expensive- especially when compared to other things in the store made in China". Now I don't thumb my nose at all things made in China, I've been there and I LOVE China. Great food, friendly people and landscapes like no where else. Warning avoid monsoon season.

However, I can't compete with prices from China, nor do I want to. I know that the people I use (locally) are paid fair wages, my fabrics are designer cottons and organic bamboo and organic cotton's. Therefore those things cost a bit more but they do make a difference in the end product.

So my question is "should I stay or should I go?" All I can say is if I do go overseas I will do my research and make sure their business practices are one that I too can support, because the World is getting smaller everyday and I am very aware of the foot print I am leaving behind.

So let me put this question out there for you. How important is locally made and creating jobs here versus saving a buck or two and buying my favorite example "designed in Quebec/or Canada but on the flip of the tag "made in China" ? Something to think about and something I have been thinking a lot about.

Modeling can be a real pain

Had our photo shoot for our babyburrito summer hats up in the Laurentians at my folks place this past May, and if you know the Laurentians you know this is not the most pleasant time of year up there.

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Why you ask? Well out here we have these little nasty bugs called black flies, not only do they bite but they also leave with a little piece of you. Not cottage goodness at its best.

I knew my mission for this photo shoot. "Go in, take as many photo's as I can and GET OUT!!!!!". Especially when you consider I was using my five month old Phoenix as my unassuming and innocent little model. I think we did remarkably well considering all these photo's were taken in ooooh about five minutes (thank you Nikon D90 - money well spent), if you look closely enough you can see those nasty black flies circling his little head. My mom was standing by to swipe them away so do not fear for my child's safety, I had his back covered and would never unnecessarily put him in harms way - bug related or other.


So when looking at our new hats think of little Phoenix and what a trooper he is. I promised him the next photo shoot will be indoors and on a fur rug. He smiled.

Ethical Ocean - Earthy Web Goodness

Trying to do your part for the planet in some shape or form? Try visiting Ethical Ocean - this will be your one stop eco web shopping experience pretty soon. From shoes to beauty products to us, they carry an extensive inventory of eco friendly, socially conscious and/or organic goodness.



This is a new site so please let your environmentally aware and eco conscious friends about this site as well as letting other businesses out there that fit their environmentally friendly mission know about them. Based in Toronto, serving Worldwide. Realizing your purchasing power has a world wide effect is sometimes the first step to bigger and better things. Try window shopping at Ethical Ocean.

Baby on the Hip - our first Toronto store

Just wanted to announce our first store in Toronto this month: "Baby on the Hip". So all you babyburrito Torontonian lovers out there stop by "Baby on the Hip" to find some of our yummyous- is that a word? Well it describes precisely what you will find at this awesome store. Looking for something original for your little originals.
"Baby on the Hip"

Spring Cleaning Summer Hats

I was feeling inspired today, got my post pregnancy butt to the gym and did a little roller blade, sun is shining and I am feeling pretty darn good. Hmmm now with all these endorphins drumming through my body I thought I would take a gander at some of my to do list. I have a small selection of gimme shelter hats (bucket or cloche style) from my last collection that are XL (56cm and XXL 58cm) that I want to offer for 10$ of locally made goodness.

Don't let the sizes fool you as they fit 4 year old's to 7+ years old's sitting low on the forehead. Great shade makers!! So with all this sunshine I want to offer them at crazy low prices and start fresh with my new hats coming out next month at 24.99$ Grab one or some up and keep your cuties covered up.



Pictures here: from front to back is blue dot, acoustic, yellow dot and bunny. These fabrics are from the Denyse Schmidt and Michael Miller line no longer available, which is too bad as they are gorgeous fabrics.

Sale on babyburrito slings

Jump into Spring with one of our babyburrito slings!

To celebrate the warmer weather and no more baby's in snowsuits (for those of us living out East) we are having our first SALE ever on our babyburrito slings with 10$ off at Le Nid de la Cigogne AND Dans ta Bulle for the month of April!!!

If you are a fan of babywearing or have never done it I highly recommend trying what is out there to see what meets your needs, comforts and tastes . There are many styles available: wraps, mai tai's, or commercial snap em in type styles, and then there are our babyburrito pouch style slings. I tried them all before I realized slings were what I liked best especially for the toddler phase learning to walk. Easy, comfortable and fashionable and fits easily into your purse so you can have it on you all the time. Accessorizing how you wear your baby has never been easier with our vast choice colours and prints. So plunge in!

Know someone who travels a lot? Slings are a great way to leave the stroller at home and make it a stress free voyage, especially if you are traveling alone. Shopping, running errands and or doing things around the house make it a tad easier when you have your hands free again yet maintain a closeness that your baby needs.


Sling Features:

Leg padding (so it does not cut the circulation in baby's legs
Handy pocket
Narrow shoulder (for less bulk)
Quadruple reinforced seams
Woven fabric (giving babies spinal cords the support they need as they grow)
Newborn to 32 pounds
6 positions to carry your growing baby with the same sling.


Sizing is key when buying a sling as you want it to fall between your belly button and hip bone so the weight is centered on your core. You can get this measurement by taking a soft measuring tape and placing it on one shoulder bone and moving diagonally across to your hipbone. A good rule of thumb is to go by your fitted t-shirt size.


Le Nid de la Cigogne (St Viateur) Owners Ingrid and Nahani have high standards


They also carry a wide range of organic fashions both local and imported. So have a gander and then right across the street is St Viateur bagels so treat yourself to a Montreal staple.



A great selection for babywearing- ours are pictured far right.


Dans ta Bulle (Mont Royal) fragrance lover Tvine is the hip soap shop owner


Phoenix- my new burrito- came to work with me


Right now check out the gorgeous window featuring Mayukori's new pillow collection.

So happy trails...

cheers,
Lianne

babyburrito hats now on SALE at AppleCheeks!!

Now's your chance to walk away with our Gimme Shelter hats on sale at AppleCheeks


Well it has been a while, and I do have a good excuse. We welcomed our second son, Phoenix Hawthorne, this past January, and here he is in his comfy St Lucia Applecheeks cloth diapers on our black edo minkie blanket (double plug plug ;-):


We have listened to your comments about hats sizes- so this Spring in our new collection you will find newborn sizes as well. Now that I too have a newborn I want to make sure I find some hip choices for his noggin. I did peruse to see what was out there and I must say the choices are pretty dismal, even worse for the lil guys.

Match your babyburrito Gimme shelter hats with an Applecheek cloth diaper and spring into spring with some zing. Psst pass it on!!