mimiTENS has been fortunate enough to received complements from many excellent blogs. Most recently, we have gotten high fives from Planet Awesome Kid, Small for Big and Momtastic.
Take a peek, if you have a moment.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Sunday, February 28, 2010
SOURCES - the government, yes, the government
If you are interested in designing/manufacturing and you have no idea of where to start, here are some tips.
Once you have come up with some drawings or even made a prototype yourself, you need a professional pattern or design.
Finding people who can do this for you is kind of intimidating. You can ask people you know or even venture into a local designer and ask them if they can recommend a manufacturer or pattern-maker.
But here are some tricks:
-look at the label of something that you like - a piece of clothing for instance and look at the "made in...' label. There has to be a CA number. The CA number often lets you know what factory something is manufactured in. Sometimes the factory belongs to the brand like the Gap or Old Navy. You best believe that huge companies like that have their own factories. But sometimes, you will luck out and find out some golden info. How do you match a CA number to a factory? Google, seriously.
-In your CA number research, you will notice that most things are made off-shore. Maybe this is the course you want to take, but if you want to manufacture locally, what do you do? Where do you start?
-The Government of Canada. I am not joking. You go to www.canadabusiness.ca and start looking for names of manufacturers in your area. Or you can call them and they will give you a list of manufacturers. There is a toll-free number too: 1-888-576-4444.
-The other tip that I have is the Canadian Apparel Federation which is www.apparel.ca. The list sources for manufacturers, pattern-makers and suppliers (fabrics, notions, etc). Poke around and see what you find.
-Finally, see if there are any business incubators in your area. Introduce yourself and ask them if they know any local and independent pattern-makers and manufacturers. There might be someone in your neighborhood looking for the kind of work you are offering.
Fun research, good ideas, your ideas
If not, it is because you are the father of invention - let's be inclusive shall we?
Everyday, you think of things to eat, think of activities to do with your loved ones, you think of things you'd like to try. Invention. You are doing it all the time.
So, how do you get from idea to thing-a-ma-bob?
In my case, when I started to toss around the idea of mimiTENS, I did direct and indirect research. First, I asked my friends and family. What do you think of kids mittens?
They all had the same complaint - most mittens fall off and it is so annoying to have to stop a million times to put them back on your equally annoyed child. Then they suggested other qualities that would make good mittens. I heard that mittens should repel water, be warm, be safe, be cute and many people added ethically-made and eco-friendly to their wish-list.
So, I started to get a sense of was required. Next, I needed a sense of what existed, so I Googled.
I used obvious search words and found that the kids mittens problem is apparently an international one. Parents and designers had seized on it. Knowing what was out there on offer, I was able to refine my idea so that I did not replicate other people's ideas. It also gave me a chance to find ways to differentiate my product and build unique qualities.
Then, your next step, is to GO!
I went to Marina's house and borrowed her sewing machine. Then I went to Designer Fabrics and stood there overwhelmed. I chose some fabrics and ran home giddy. I started cutting and sewing.
As you can see from the posted picture, the first mimiTENS prototypes where made of denim - hardly water-repellent. Also, I cut out some shapes out of felt rather than the embroidery we do now.
It doesn't matter. You just have to get going and the ideas will come to you in the process. I still love looking at these very first attempts at mimiTENS. They make me pretty proud.
The next steps are about editing and refining. This is when you need to nail down your design, your materials and your company's principles.
When you have come up with a product or approach that is a bit special, you will feel like you have a bomb full of sparkly gold in your pocket.
Nice Word Deposit
Happy to say that we have had two really nice posts about mimiTENS. The first is from the very influential CoolMomPicks. I must admit that when I was asked to send a pair of mittens to the reviewer in Georgia, I had a hard time computing. But the lovely D had need of mittens: here is her verdict.
We also had Taryn at Little Whirl give mimiTENS a go. Here is the super result = littlewhirlreview. This was also a sweet experience. HE daughter V wanted to try the Robot mittens. Right on, I thought. That little V is cuter than two buttons, from what I can tell.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
mimiTENS on sale & the Sartorialist needs gloves...
Like 600,000 other people, I visit the Sartorialist every day. I even bought his book which I love looking at with my daughters.
All this to say that Scott Schulman's blog is the best in people watching and yesterday, he asked a pretty decent question. With snow swirling during NYC Fashion Week, the dear Sartorialist can not find gloves! Why not? Hundreds of people comment and agreed.
Too bad your hands are too big Scott, because I know where you can get the best mittens for kids. In NYC, at Bundle on Thompson Street in Soho or at mimiTENS.com and they are on sale -- 20% off. From the pictures I am seeing of the USA, your kids will get some good use out of them.
PS: I am happily addicted to Garance and Tommy Ton's blogs too. Happy, happy, happy...
Look at her/him! Look at those shoes! Ooohhh!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
the incredible Clara Hughes
What would you do, if your biggest dream came true?
Clara Hughes is a Canadian Olympic hero. She is one of the few athletes in the world who has won medals in both the winter and the summer game (for speed skating and cycling). One of her greatest moments was when she won Gold in Torino in the 5000 m skate. She skated her heart out, even came from behind. And then, the look on her face after she crossed the line and realized that she had won! JOY! A dream come true.
In her well-deserved Olympic moment, Clara made a pledge that we are all still talking about four years later. She donated $10,000 of her own savings to Right To Play (RTP), a humanitarian organization that builds the self-esteem of children in developing countries through play. Clara challenged individuals and businesses to learn more about RTP and we have. It is estimated that Clara's initial donation inspired more than half a million dollars worth of good will to that great organization.
It was a fateful moment for me. I stood there, tears streaming, humbled and moved that someone would share their Olympic moment that way. In that exact moment, she built up her nation. She lit us up.
It was in and around winter 2006 that I starting thinking about mimiTENS. As I went about creating my little business, Clara and her generosity were also on my mind. But it was last year, when Marina and I were talking about new designs for 09/10, I threw out the idea of making Clara mittens and told her how badly I wanted to support RTP. My kind and talented partner was on board immediately and came up with the excellent images of Clara on her bike and on her skates. Marina also made boy-friendly designs starring triathlete Simon Whitfield and free-style skier Steve Omischl. Our intention was to produce mittens, hats and scarves with these excellent designs and we would give 50% of profits to Right To Play.
When I approached Right To Play drawings in hand, they were so kind and open to our fundraising idea. They sent the designs to Clara who sent an enthusiastic message back. It was a dream come true for me - a thumbs up from one of my heroes.
On Friday night, our Clara led the Canadian Olympic team into BC place for the Opening Ceremonies. She looked so proud and self-possessed.
Today, Clara is competing in the 3000m speed skate in Richmond, BC. I am so nervous for her. I want it so bad for her. I prayed to all the sporting Gods and any deity available. I prayed my best prayer, the one I reserve for very special occasions: "please give me command of the gifts that you have given me. "
And I guess that that is the point of this post, if we make the best use of the gifts that have been given to us, we too, mere mortals, can light people up. Gold medals, mittens, games and fun for children who have had difficult lives.
Thank you forever, Clara Hughes.
Light it up: www.righttoplay.com
Thursday, February 11, 2010
the inspiration - les chocolats de Chloé
In 2004, I was visiting Montreal with my husband. I was pregnant with my first girl and feeling happy to be with my friends in a city that I love. We were walking through our old neighbourhood and made the luckiest discovery; the perfect chocolate shop.
Les chocolats de Chloe was very small, modest but so very stylish. The whole store was maybe the size of two Volvo's parked next to each other. On offer were ganache truffles, caramel, drinking cocoa, and a few other things. I was breathing it all in and drooling at the same time. Behind a glass, you could see the simple kitchen. The kitchen consisted of a plain looking stove, some counter space, a tempering machine, and some storage racks. Most importantly, in the kitchen I saw perfect peace and it moved me.
There was this woman, Chloe, mixing chocolate in a bowl. Her face was glowing and calm at the same time. Love and wisdom I guess. She looked so, so pleased and it was a touching.
Chloe's is an example of doing everything right. Her product is exquisite, the presentation is enchanting, but most impressive was the scale. This was not a giant and ostentatious chocolate shop. Rather a tiny box of efficiency and excellence. Each truffle is cut by hand to fit perfectly into the whimsical boxes. There is precision in what they do to -- from carefully placing fleur de sel flakes on the ganache to filling the chocolate moulds.
You could see that they were sold out of several flavours. Chloe and her team make as much as they can and as much as they need. No more, no less and no waste. Just enough and everyone is fine.
So I stood there and admired her. I admired her courage for starting a business and being excellent at it. I think of her perfect jewel of a shop often, particularly when I get overwhelmed in the day to day of doing. I try to concentrate on scale, excellence and joy.
I thanked her before I left and I could tell that she appreciated it. I like to think that she remembers me when I stop by.
Be enchanted and visit:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
