The Biz

Did you know there is an estimated 5-6 billion pounds of pre-consumer cotton remnants being thrown into our landfills every year? Fortunately, as a nation, we are becoming more and more environmentally aware. Today we recycle our bottles and cans, plastic containers and cardboard — but isn’t there more we can do? Is it possible to recycle or re-use fashion? Yes there is, and yes you can! Here are some children’s wear companies that are making this change for the better, through passion and innovation.

When Carol Yenne’s grandson was born prematurely, weighing only 2 lbs 11 oz, this San Francisco granny realized it was time to make hard-to-find preemie outfits readily available for other families. At her store, Small Frys, she now offers a variety of sweet clothing collections, designed for babies weighing 2 pounds and up. The preemie collections are from Coccoli, Kissy Kissy Preemie, Petite Bateau and Le Top. At Small Frys, they know that when babies come early, having comforting little outfits can make a big difference.

Finding children’s products manufactured in the United States can be difficult. Luckily, the book Made Here, Baby!, by Bruce H. Wolk, does exactly that. The Giggle Guide^® found five companies featured in the book that have been operating in the United States for more than 100 years: Fexible Flyer, Amana Woolen Mill, The Original American Kazoo Company, Johnson Woolen Mills and Whitney Brothers.