FK chats to Eve about her handmade kids label, Bibolo bringing a new spin and adventure to babies bibs! Find these unique and playful creations at our upcoming Sydney SS14 market.
Tell us about your label Bibolo and what the concept is behind it?
Unique, original and hand made, Bibolo is more than just a baby bib. It’s a license to play, explore and get messy! Bibolo Bibs are perfect for the baby who is an expressive eater, a muddy explorer, a gooey dribbler or a reflex burper.
Like all good ideas, the Bibolo was created out of a personal need. As a mother with a baby daughter that suffered from reflux, I found that there were no vest bibs on the market. I needed a bib that a newborn could wear all day long without any danger. So I designed and made my own.
What is your creative background and how did it lead you to where you are today?
You could say I’m a ‘work-a-frolic’ – I’m only happy when I am working on a creative project.
I’m trained as Interior Designer and I currently design museums and exhibitions in Australia as well as overseas. At night I have dabbled in other creative fields such as various mediums of jewellery design, website design as well as graphic design.
I started sewing from a young age and I had a particular passion for textiles. However it was only recently when my daughter was born that my sewing machine came out of hibernation.
Which other kids labels do you love? What inspires you?
I’m not much of a fashionista but I love items that are designed well, are practical and have multiple uses. I’m inspired by kids labels/products which re-think traditional toys (such as sustainable paper toys) and ones that challenge cultural stereotypes, such as engineering toys for girls and cooking toys for boys.
Children are fascinating and as a parent I’m curious to see who my child will grow up to be. Therefore I seek out unique prints for Bibolo Bibs that have personality and appeal to both the child and parents.
I’m inspired by mothers who have created their own start-up business from home in order to achieve a perfect work/life balance.
What is your workspace like and what is your creative process?
Unfortunately inner city apartment living doesn’t leave much room for a creative studio space. Currently Bibolo’s workshop is limited to a 1m square area on our dining room table encircled by a child proof playpen fence. This allows me to look after my daughter while I sew the bibs.
The design of the Bibolo has evolved over time. I continually refine the pattern, sizing, manufacturing process and fabrics while thinking of new ideas to extend the product range. I’m lucky my husband is also a creative and a perfect sounding board for my ideas and designs.
What challenges have you faced starting your own label, and what are some things you love about it?
Like so many other designer/crafters, time is the most precious commodity. There is just not enough of it! Ideas come and go and I might not be able to explore them for weeks due to other work and life commitments. Other challenges include sourcing wholesale fabric within Australia. The range of fabric and prints here is very limited. Managing and planning for growth has also been a challenge.
However it is not only the Bibolo product I get excited about. I really enjoy running my small business with complete autonomy (I’m a total Mircosoft Excel spreadsheet Queen!). The future of Bibolo depends on the decisions that I make and at the moment that future has endless possibilities.
What aspirations do you have for your label in the future
I have so many ideas for Bibolo – from designing fabric prints, to paper toys, children’s books, smart phone and iPad apps – you name it! All my ideas have the focus on producing exciting products that encourage children’s curiosity and learning.
