Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey while the manufacturing operations take place in India and Peru; Finn + Emma was founded in the year 2011 to provide sustainable, organic apparels for babies that are also snazzy and affordable. Mommy & Baby Times (MBT) had an interaction with Issy Piraino, Account Manager at Finn + Emma delving in about the brand in detail and its recent notable developments. Excerpts from the interview:
December 10, 2018
MBT: Kindly brief us up about Finn + Emma.
Issy Piraino: Finn + Emma is a baby fashion brand having organic cotton, eco-friendly dyes, and all-natural wood used in the manufacturing of its products in Fair Trade settings. Our brand was started by Anna Schwengle with the intent to provide 100% organic and sustainable apparels for babies. We have G.O.T.S. (Global Organic Textile Standard)-certified cotton textile used in the apparels and toys which means that we meet the stringent global standards thoroughly. Many of the prints are hand-done that we later transform into our beautiful organic apparels. The basics-collection that we offer is an assortment of amazingly soft and breathable apparels and accessories that includes bodysuits, zip footies, pants, hats, and bibs, all available in a gender-neutral color palette. It can work greatly to create outfit ensembles and these pieces are ideal for monochrome looks or for combining it with prints for a different style or look.
MBT: Would you please elaborate on the raw material procurement and the manufacturing procedures?
IP: All of our toys are hand-knit by women’s collaborative in Peru and our apparels are manufactured in India. We place special attention to the quality of our products, make sure it is double-stitched and keep the waistband really wide so that there’s no pressure on baby’s stomach. There aren’t any stickers or tags inside the clothes to ensure the comfort of the baby and in fact, the snaps are made from coconut shell inserts. We have just introduced ‘Macrame’ products to our range recently which are hand-knotted by artisans in India using organic cotton rope woven into beautiful textured patterns. The Macrame toys can be clipped onto strollers, highchairs or carseats and also to our bestselling Play Gyms.
We’re very innovative in our approach and our prints are not traditional or common. Also, we give special attention to the labourers who are involved in manufacturing of our products. The fact that we incorporate sustainably sourced materials in our product range gives us a sense of contentment and gratification.
“All of our toys are hand-knit by women’s collaborative in Peru and our apparels are manufactured in India. We place special attention to the quality of our products, make sure it is double-stitched… The fact that we incorporate sustainably sourced materials in our product range gives us a sense of contentment and gratification.”
MBT: What is the current market presence of the brand?
IP: Our brand is headquartered in New Jersey, USA; and through distribution, we have international market presence in different nations across the world. At present, our brand has market reach in nine countries including Canada, Australia and France amongst a few others. We are looking and trying to expand our reach by partnering with distributors for a particular country.
MBT: What are the recent developments at Finn + Emma that you would like to highlight?
IP: We are getting to partner and associate with a lot of brands and public figures recently and it has been quite an eventful period of time. We have recently partnered with Disney for Mickey & Minnie, Bambi and Dumbo. The foundation of our brand is in the specialty boutiques, as that is where we had started from. I would like to underline that we are humbled by the appreciation and recognition that we have been receiving for the quality of our products.
