sidesSustainably sourced, comfort-conscious, organic kids' clothing, but make it stylish. Can't be done? We beg to differ. Dinki Human Founder Ester Ford takes us behind the scenes at Dinki HQ to discover more.
With a pre-motherhood career in fashion and design at a few global brands, Ester took her wealth of experience, as well as her insight into the behind-the-scenes of the industry and built a sustainable and ethical clothing brand, just for the littlies.
“My time in the fashion industry opened my eyes to what goes into designing and making clothes, whilst allowing me to travel the world in search of inspiration. My main focus was on men’s and children’s wear, and there was just something about the freedom of design that came with the kid's lines that I just loved”, explains Ester.
But with her creative side itching to get out, it was time for a change, and with the motivation to create sustainable, organic, and stylish children’s wear, Dinki Human was born.
“I have a real passion for Graphic Design, and whilst it was amazing to be a part of a larger business, I found myself wanting to get more involved with the creative process, and to have more freedom with this. It all started with my Dinki Human romper, a firm favourite of mine to this day, and the designs and styles just grew from there! I create every design myself, and I find children themselves are the best form of inspiration. The stories they tell and read, the pictures they draw, it’s all beautifully playful, and that’s something I always want to get across with my pieces.”
And having made the move North from Dorset to Bristol a few years ago, Ester and her partner, Jack found a home that would allow the couple to not only expand their businesses but also their brood.
“Family life and designing children's clothes go hand in hand, my two are the perfect live-in models when I need to measure up fittings or try new styles! The home needed a little work, which was fine with us, but the kicker was this amazing garden studio, and right away we both knew it would allow us to pursue our careers, Jack has just opened a film processing lab, and have as minimal impact as possible on family life. Having this bright space down the bottom of our garden allows us to escape when we need to, and as any small business owner knows, there are no set working hours, it’s when you find a moment when the kids are asleep, busy with an iPad or eating, and that goes for Jack too!”
So, just how hard is it to create sustainable children's clothes?
“For me and my brand, sustainability is key. The nature of children's clothing, or at least a lot of people’s experience with it, is that pieces aren’t necessarily built to last, more to simply bin when they grow out of them, or there’s a poonami! All of my designs are made from organic, natural materials, meaning they are more durable, and gender-neutral, no baby pink or powder blue! I use suppliers both in the UK and in Portugal who are just amazing. Working with children's clothes comes with a lot more red tape than creating garments for adults, and so to work with suppliers who understand these rules and regulations installs trust from the get-go, which is something you need in a small business, there isn’t a budget for any trial runs for designs and prints! Any offcuts of fabric are sent back here for me to create hair bands, little blankies, and bibs, no scrap goes to waste.”
But with red tape, comes reward.
“One of the main reasons I created the business was the idea that my products could be a part of someone’s family, not just for a few months, but for future generations too. To see pictures of parents bringing their newborns home in a Dinki romper, or their kids ready for Christmas morning in my PJs is a true honour, to be a part of that journey, makes the hard work completely worth it.”
And now, what does the future hold for Ester and Dinki Human?
“We’ve travelled around a little, living in London and on the South Coast, but I can say with confidence that Bristol is unlike anywhere we’ve lived before. Being a small business owner in this city, there is a community amongst other designers and creators that’s entirely unique, and a real pleasure to be a part of. I’ve found it so inspiring how everyone wants to help and support one another through workshops, pop-ups and even just word of mouth! My dream is to one day have a flagship store in Bristol, I see my brand working perfectly in a little shop on North Street or something similar, with like-minded local businesses stocking their pieces in there with my clothes, like books, toys, shoes etc.”
