Review: Baby Black & Supernatural Kids Clothing

Baby Black

A lovely local little company set up and run by Jenny. They specialise in black baby grows, black sleepsuits and black playsuits – all ethically produced from soft GOTS certified organic cotton jersey. Blackwear for baby's and toddlers.

Aware that black isn't for everyone, Jenny sent me a medium sized black baby grow for Séraphine to try.

My first reaction was that it looked super smart, very soft to touch and a rather fitted shape. Beautifully packaged with tissue paper and ribbon, a lovely little ethical magazine for Lydia to read and the tags telling you more about the product origins etc...

 

The crossover neckline reminds me of a ballerina, very cute. Also available in envelope neckline if preferred.

I managed to get it on my chunky baby, 9.5mths old at the time, however as soon as she moved the poppers came undone as she was just to chunky for the fit of it. She definitely needs a large!

So... I sent it to my diddy god son to review for us.

Teamed with the white cord from his dressing-gown and a TV remote, he was transformed into a ninja!

Both Silas and his mummy were very impressed with the quality, fit and feel of the suit. Silas always suits darker colours, so Baby Black it the brand for him!

 

I find the price to be rather expensive for just one suit, £18 each. I know you pay for what you get with the quality of excellent material that's ethically sourced. However baby's grow so quickly that i wonder how much value for money you'd get out of it? Definitely consider buying as a one off special gift.

At the moment you can get up to 20% off at the Sussex baby and toddler show, see the Baby Black website for more information.

 

 

Supernatural Kids Clothing

 

The sister company to Baby Black, offering older children the same ethical choice in quality clothing.

Aimed at 1-5yr olds the Organic Cotton and Modal fabrics are designed to last the rough and tumble lifestyle of active children.

 

With a cartoon superhero called Natty it really involves the kids, encouraging their interest and knowledge in nature and ethical clothing.

 

Jenny sent an age 2-3 raspberry pink/black hoodie dress, for Lydia to try.

Lydia was so excited about a dress with a hood that she instantly stripped off to put it on! Lydia is a tallish, fussy 2.5yr old that knows what she likes.

 

 

Again, it was really soft to touch. You can feel the quality.

Lydia found the wrist cuffs rather tight, she couldn't push the sleeves up her arm to 3/4 them. She also disliked how open the neckline was, she asked for a top to wear underneath so her "boobies" weren't showing.... Hahaha.

Another thing i noticed about it is that the crossover panel is visible and curls up underneath the top layer of fabric. This was slightly irritating Lydia's tummy before she put a top on underneath it.

Throughout the day of her wearing it she was constantly adjusting the neckline, as it kept slipping off alternate shoulders. I think it neckline could have a few extra stitches in it so its not as gaping wide, alternatively just go for the envelope neckline option.

The dress is fab to team with leggings, jeggings or jeans.

Co-ordinating leggings are also available to purchase from Supernatural Kids.

I got Lydia to try some of her leggings on with the dress...

 

 

A lovely versatile item for all seasons that's currently at a bargain price of £15, usually £29.

The mid-season sale at Supernatural Kids Clothing has made most items 1/2 price!!!

Snap yours up today, add some leggings in with it to and you've got your funky girl an outfit.

Boyswear is also available to buy.

 

 

 

 

Review: Bags of Change, re-usable bag

Faith from Bags of change sent me one of their gorgeous re-usable bags. The bag that was voted "Most Innovative Green Product" in the Green England Awards 2008. A fantastic step towards being more green, don't use plastic bags, use one of these instead!

Available in three new colours, brown, green or blue. I received the brown and cream version.

Not only is it re-usable its made from fair trade, ethical materials including organic cotton, hemp and fairly-traded rubber.

The bag was instantly impressive with its bold design and chunky coconut shell buttons on the sides that open out to expand the bag, allowing more room for shopping.

A must with my bags is that they have an inside pocket. Somewhere for my keys/phone or money if I'm just popping to the local shops, so i was very pleased to see that this bag has a roomy pocket for such things.

I would love to see the same bag made in a variety of size's, one that's extra big for the supermarket shop would be fab. Also a thinner lighter one that you can fit into the pocket of this one for emergency's.

And possibly two more colours? Red and purple please :)

These three new colour ways are on an introductory offer of £14.85 at the moment, soon to go upto £16.85. Get yours whilst the offer lasts :) I'd love to own the whole colour way set but at £16.85 its a rather expensive fancy. For what is essentially a cotton bag i feel a lower price tag of around the £10 mark would be more suitable, £9.85 and your on!

However this bag also works as part of a loyalty scheme amongst over 70 participating ethical retailers, you could save 10% on your purchase when using your bag, so i guess this is where you claim back the cash you spent to buy it. To find out more information and to view the listing of participating shops visit the Bags of Change website here.

Review & Competition: Eternal Creation - Summer outfit set

Eternal Creation - Ethical fashion from the Himalayas

Frances started the company in 1999 with the aim of producing quality women's sleepwear and accessories, after the birth of her two children she started designing and making children's clothing. All made under fair labour conditions with locally sourced materials to work with.

Frances won the magazine 'House&Garden' award for Woman with drive.

All items are made by local people and tailors. Each item is individually made to order.

My package arrived in a fabric envelope rather than paper, and inside my item was wrapped in a plastic bag to stop it getting dirty. I found the bag envelope quite hard to open, i had to use scissors and  and it had a funny smell about it. I feel if they used just one jiffy type of bag then they'd save more and be more ethical than using the fabric and plastic? I know this is something they're working on to improve.

The customer service was really friendly and helpful with all my enquiries, and the parcel arrived quickly considering where it has come from and had to go through customs etc...

The outfit we chose is the two piece set KD846 in the 'Desert Flower' print. An Embroidered cotton voile top with spaghetti straps, full back opening and matching knickers.

It is so pretty down to the very last detail. Beautiful flower buttons, embroidered flowers on the top, a dainty ribbon on the chest and knickers with tiny bead detailing and cute little ruffles at the cuff of the knickers.

Matching items are also available in this print. You could complete the outfit with a lovely matching headscarf.

Lydia is a 27.5lb 18mth old, we picked size 24mths. This was the perfect fit with room to grow. I was very pleased that the knickers were made baggy enough to allow room for a cloth nappy, and have enough fabric at the back not to give Lydia a builders bum.

The top is very floaty and cool to wear, perfect for a hot summers day and baggy enough to team up with something warmer underneath and some jeans for a pretty autumn look.

The outfit washes really well with no fabric discolouration, fading or shrinkage.

The elastic on the legs in un-covered and left marks on Lydia's legs after wearing, i found it had dug in/rubbed a little whilst she was in the buggy. Maybe a strip of fabric could just cover it over, or you could turn the hem up as its cuff instead? She wasn't in pain from it and it wasn't tight on her.

The knickers are long enough to wear as shorts and team up with other items, such as a plain coloured t-shirt/vest top. They do make me giggle a bit as they puff ball out slightly and remind me of Nora Batty's bloomers! But in a cute baby way, not like granny gear! lol

At £23.43 (today's conversion online) this outfit is amongst the higher price ranged of baby/toddler clothing. But if you think about the quality you get and how ethical it is to purchase then you know your doing a good thing, and a very stylish thing :)
If you type in NEXT20 at the checkout you will recieve a massive 20% off of your order, so forgot the high street designers of the same price, choose Eternal Creation.

Also at the moment they have a sale on, upto 30% off selected designs, so get shopping!



COMPETITION!!!

Want a chance to win 2x $50 gift vouchers to spend at Eternal Creation? Of course you do!!!

All you have to do is click this link for Eternal Creation's facebook page, click *like* and write on their wall ~ ''I must be mad'' sent me ~

This competition will start today on the 01/08/2011 and end on the 01/09/2011, Once finished Eternal Creation HQ will randomly select the two winners and notify them via their facebook username.

Please feel free to stop by my page and thank me if your a winner :)

Good luck!