Frugi Autumn Winter '11

 You’re sad to see the summer go? 

Look forward with a fervent glow

to Frugi’s Autumn Winter range -

your face will then to smiling change.

Some new friends there us await, 

they’ll have us stand at Frugi’s gate

to get our hands on these new goodies,

tops, dresses, dungarees and hoodies.

First, please let me introduce,

Mother and her Baby Goose

Meet Tiny Tortoise, Harry Hippo, 

Lovely Ladybird and Dino!

Froggy Monster and a Yeti,

Doodle dog and Raglan Zeddy,

Juggling Penguin, Molly Mouse, 

please all come into our house!

The cutest ears are Elephant Ellie’s!

And did you know? We now get wellies!

With Croc Camos for muddy play,

and Puddle Goose for puddles – yay!- 

kids’ faces never will turn sour

and feet stay dry if there’s a shower.

We know with Frugi there’s no catch,

so get them ready for dispatch!

Dizzy Daisy, Patchwork Twirly,

or Patchwork Rainbow for our girly,

Vintage Ditsy, Multistripe -

we know, they'll be our daughters’ type. 

Stripey or Dalmation tights

for our girls are pure delights. 

You may ask what else is up?

A Kitty in a striped Tea cup!

Rhino, Bear, and Hungry Monkey,

For all our cuties, slim or chunky.

There’s Fishing Penguin, Leaping Lemur, 

and for our lovely little dreamer 

Yeti, Monkey, Sleepy Kitty,

Night Owl PJs are so pretty,

and keep kids snuggly warm at night -

they might go down without a fight! 

A feath’ry friend in Patchwork Owl, 

sweet Doodle Dog would never growl.

Dresses, Big Spot, Pretty Patch,

with stripey tights, a true love match!

Of Vintage Ditsy, pants and vest,

or smock top may be loved the best.

But wait till your wee girly sees

the tiny Mouse in Dungarees!

B’s for Bike and T’s for Tractor

make for a definite boy factor.

A smart and stripy Rugby Top,

even a Hooded Sailor’s Smock. 

And to ensure he’ll stay afloat,

his Pirate Ship and his Tug Boat! 

Or dare he fly at Rocket Speed?

All of those your boy will need! (and those wellies on his feet!)

In our basket the first pieces 

are the lovely Snuggle Fleeces! 

Viola Stripe, Big Spot, and Breton- 

you’ll love them all, that you can bet on!

Buy at least one every season!

To miss out, really, there's no reason!

Happy Garden’s oh so charming,

its bees and bugs sweetly disarming.

So lovely, too, is Flower power!

Oh I’m counting till the hour

that I will hear my doorbell ring,

see Mr. Postman Frugi bring!

Another few days to be waited,

with twiddling thumbs and our breaths bated -

then August 15th, it's so near,

the Autumn Winter range is here!!!

Check out 
Frugi's New Autumn Winter '11 range 
and some incredible bargains from the 
Summer '11 collection 
HERE

It's World Breastfeeding Week, 

which is celebrated from August 1-7 in more than 170 countries worldwide!! So we thought we'd share some advice with all the new breastfeeding mums out there. It can be a bit daunting when you start breastfeeding for the first time, and it’s not necessarily the easiest thing in the world to get right straight away. We crusaders are all for breastfeeding, so we collaborated with team Frugi and put together a few little tips for all new breast feeding mums that may make breastfeeding a bit more hassle-free and relaxing:

Learn to do a lot with one hand…eat, type, read, phone, that sort of thing! (You may even want to try that before the baby comes ;) 

Get someone to show you/help you feed lying down. A lazy afternoon feeding session in bed is very therapeutic and you may well find yourself choosing to feed that way as often as possible. 
Having your baby sleep in a cot up next to your bed with the side down makes night time feeds much easier, and you have the added bonus of being close to your baby.
Do as many possible for yourself that have always been relaxing for you: from a warm bath/shower, to putting on your favourite relaxing tunes, some herbal tea, or even a certain light setting. Anything that makes you feel comfortable and helps you reenergize.
At some point you will want to leave the house with your baby, which you should! And for those very important, yet potentially slightly stressful outings, do yourself a favour: Treat yourself to at least one really nice, well designed breastfeeding top or dress (with good tummy coverage!) for when you are meeting friends, going to a restaurant, shopping, etc. Such a top/ dress can make you feel a million times more comfortable, both by being cut to suit post-baby bodies, and also making feeding a bit more discreet.

Before you sit / lie down to breastfeed ...
* Go to the loo! There is nothing quite as frustrating as having a great latch and then being completely uncomfortable from your yet to be re-trained bladder. Otherwise, you will often feel the need to go to the loo, right after settling down for a feed with your baby.

** Drink a glass of water and keep a drink next to the seat/bed where you will be feeding your baby. You will be surprised by how thirsty you can suddenly get the moment you start breastfeeding. Be sure to choose a cup or glass you will be able to handle with just one hand. If you prefer to have a hot drink, get a thermos mug to keep it warm.
*** Additional things you may want to place within easy reach before you begin: snacks, TV remote, phone, a book. It is very frustrating to realise they are on the other side of the room when you have cushion in place, are perfectly comfy and positioned and baby has started feeding!

Support for Nursing Mummy
Don’t get too overwhelmed by all the different opinions on what’s “normal” or “right” from the millions of books that you may read and other advice (e.g. from pediatricians etc.) …. Do rely on your natural instincts! But if you do feel like a bit of information or advice from other mums, there are loads of support groups, online forums (we recommend kellymom.com), and Facebook groups where there are hundreds of mums who have already “been there, done that”, and who are there to support you! But now comes the most important bit:

ENJOY this time of closeness with your baby – it goes so, so quickly, and - though you may not believe this in the time of frustration - there may very likely be a time when you wish yourself back to this wonderful shared time of closeness and bonding with your new baby! We wish you and your baby a wonderful breastfeeding experience! With love,

Frugi Crusaders

**********

 If you want to treat yourself to one of Frugi's super-soft organic cotton breastfeeding tops or dresses (which btw are gorgeous clothes, be it during or post-breastfeeding!), go to 

http://www.welovefrugi.com/mother/nursing-wear/ 

and use the code WBFW for 20% OFF 

until Sunday, August 7!

Happy Shopping!

***********
Many of us crusaders have one of these tops/ dresses at the very least and can wholeheartedly recommend them!

"The Frugi breastfeeding clothes are absolutely gorgeous! You don't feel like you're wearing maternity clothes, and they look really stylish and are beautifully soft. Definitely Yummy Mummy clothing! Brilliant for when you're going out and about and want to look nice but still want something practical to feed in. They're all incredibly discrete and easy to use (very important with a baby requiring food NOW!). My favourite is the dress - I've bought one in every colour!" 
Roamy H., mother of two lovely little boys

A few months in the life of a Frugi Crusader........

Who would have thought that a simple click on the 'like' button on Frugi Organic Cotton clothes page would have led me to this, a review of my time as a Frugi Crusader.

It all started in January this year after religiously keeping up to date with everyone's every move on Facebook (it's amazing what you can learn) the announcement came 'come be a crusader' Out of curiosity and the promise of free stuff, I sent my 'pick me pick me' email along with the other 300+ applicants without having a clue as to what I was trying to get picked for. I have to say Mr Charley asked me what I knew about 'these people' and whether they were trying to lure me into a cult. Luckily it turns out it isn't a cult, phew.

After what seemed like an eternity and a trillion checks, the results and emails were finally sent out from HQ, yay I was successful and so happy even though I still had no idea what I was going to be asked to do. Severe sleep deprivation with a 6 month old is the only excuse I have for thinking about the difficulty of getting everyone around 'the Frugi round table'- a virtual table never crossed my mind.

I won't spoil the surprise on all that it means to be a Frugi crusader as that's all part of the fun, all I will say is you get to feel very spoilt and special, virtually meet many like minded people and the lovely talented Frugi peeps, learn so much (there are many crusaders with hairy toes out there) increase your Facebook friends list and get to know secret squirrel business on things in Planet Frugi. I did set myself a challenge to come up with an idea/ post every week for as long as I could, apologies to those who had to endure it all but it needed to come out to allow room for other stuff. I think I lasted for 18 weeks before the pressure got too much and I had to stand down. Whilst my ideas in themselves probably weren't earth shattering, I hope they some have at least triggered thoughts and ideas in others to make sure Frugi continues to grow and grow.

I have learnt so much about Frugi over the last few months , the main one comes from borrowing words from Jessie J......

'it's not about the money money money, I just want to make the world dance......'

and I think this is where Frugi stands out from most other brands. I believe that through their generosity to all involved, be it a customer, a crusader, provider of materials, employees here and abroad, charities here and abroad, it is obvious they are not in it for the highest profit margin but want a better world for their own and all other children. I also have to say that when they say they want to get feedback they really mean it, Its great to see some ideas from all of us making their way through to the drawing board and who knows maybe being the next big thing?

Overall, it's been a great experience and a good distraction from life with all it's rich tapestry. I am sure we have lost a few stitches on the way but I think overall the picture still look good. I have learnt loads and I can now do a few more things to reduce my wear on the world. I will never be an 'Eco warrior' but aim to be as good as I can and train my long suffering partner in the process.

Vote Frugi in every possible way - they need your continued support to provide great organic clothing for your children through fairly traded means. Tell anyone that will listen and apply to be a crusader next time around, you will kick yourself if you don't.   :)


Thank you Frugi for picking me!
Charley X

A FRUGI RIDDLE

Let us play a little game to guess a new Frugi pattern’s name!

The first one is in HERB GARDEN but not in TRAFFIC WARDEN
The next one is in HAPPY DAYS and also twice in NAPPY WAYS
The third is in HARRY POTTER but not at all in GLOBE TROTTER
And then there’s one in PATTY CAKE that’s not in at all in GARDEN RAKE
Another is in TRULY SCRUMPTIOUS but not in SUPER SUMPTUOUS
The sixth one is in DUNGAREES but not in PLUM or APPLE TREES
The following in HOOLA HOOP but not at all in WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!
The next one is in DRUMMER BOY but not in WOODEN BABY TOY
Now one in BRAD CAMPERVAN but not in MR. TAMBOURINE MAN
In BLOOMIN’ LOVELY TEE, are as many as in HUMMING BUMBLE BEE
The last letter is in HONEY COMB but not at all in MUMMY’S WOMB!

And here’s a little tip from me:
when solved the riddle, you will see,
More than one word, fewer than three!

Why we love Frugi!

As a Frugi Crusader coming to the end of her term in office, I thought it was about time that I jotted down how I came across Frugi and why, 2 years later, I still love them!

Before having Harry (now 3 and a half), I knew that I felt very strongly about using cloth nappies. For me it was all about his comfort, then the environment, then the cost. I just couldn't bear the thought of him having his soft little bottom wrapped in plastic all day. I also didn't think I would sleep at night knowing how many disposable nappies I would have sent to the land fill sites. So an easy decision.

Harry was a big 'un, weighing in at 9lbs 8 ozs and coupled with his lovely, big, cloth nappied bottom, we had a bit of a nightmare getting clothes to fit. Baby gowns were always a couple of sizes too big with the sleeves rolled up, trousers never fitted. He ended up in tracksuit bottoms the whole time (which was fine by me as they were comfy), but they weren't exactly very funky! There are also surprisingly few soft baby trousers on the high street.

It wasn't until he had just turned 1 that I found Frugi online. Finally someone who catered for big bums! We started off with their Eco denim trousers which were gorgeously soft and had oodles of room for him to toddle about in...in fact we ordered a second pair and lived in them day in, day out. Despite all this wear (from a very active boy!) they stayed in great condition and I actually got quite a lot of money back when I sold them online.

So we were hooked! I love the quality (we have still not managed to wear any of their clothes out!) and to this day I love the fact that Frugi know they are making clothes for babies and children...not mini adults! The ranges are fun and bright, but most importantly to me, they are completely age appropriate. We have had snuggle fleeces the last 2 years and they are in constant use from September to Easter and I am yet to see a 'coat' that invites more muddy play in the wild. Now I know how good the quality is, I tend to buy a core wardrobe that Harry can get lots of wear from, rather than having lots of cheaper items that might sit in his drawers not getting used.

And as for being a Crusader? Great fun! It is been fantastic to be a little part of the team and get to know Frugi and their ethics even more. Frugi really care about the big things in life, such as the planet, their producers, and their customers. They work extremely hard to keep clothing our youngsters fun and fair. I am certainly going to miss our little missions and all the talk of cake, but at least the Autumn/Winter range will be out soon, and I have no doubt that it will be a fab as ever! We love you Frugi!

Amy & Harry xx

Frugi Summer '11 - A little bit of Heaven

Oh how we love the Frugi summer,

this season’s range is quite a stunner!

The appliques and fabrics rock:

Frugi’s is the softest frock!

Jersey, toweling, interlock -

they gave us all the sweetest shock.

So cozy, breathable, and scrummy,

To cover bottom, legs, and tummy!



Funky Stripe and Cotton Candy-

these fleeces are so fun and dandy.

Sea Shanty, Cornish Blue, Rose Stripe,

towelling caused quite a hype!

To Brad & Betty Campervan:

I am your very biggest fan!

You were sold out before we knew
If only we had had a clue!

 The surf is up, this much is clear,
and lend us now a feeeaarful ear:
Shiver me timbers and Captain Kurt
make a toughy of every squirt!
Boys’ favorites Crane and Tractor top
make their little hearts go hop!
Wobbly Waves and Flying High
score high with every little guy!

Froggy’s fun and Sheepy’s sleepy,

these lovely creatures, tame or leapy,

make their little faces beam

and promise them the sweetest dream!

Under the Sea or on the Farm?

Having both can do no harm.

Of furry friends your kids want more?

Take Munching Moo and Little Roar!


The berry tops, so sweet and ripe

are every little girlie’s type.
And Candy Apple looks so juicy-
How sweet a dress is little Lucy’s!

If Delicate or Crazy Daisy,

on these our eyes like to rest lazy.

If dungies, smock top, pull-ups, dress,
please send them all to my address!

The Henny top is back again,

so happy, I bought almost ten!

No feathery friend really tops her -

but what a hoot is Larry Lobster!

And all his friends of the Seafari

How charmed by these sea creatures are we?

Colin Crab and Mark the Shark,

With those you really hit the mark!


Peepo Bear and Funny Bunny

delight our cutest little hunny.

Your little one may walk or crawl

Bloomin’ Beautiful says it all!

Leggings, navy, pink, and green

are so happily now seen.

And it’s best not to forget

a lavender pair, to save regret!

 

The leggings match our favorite dresses,

Truly Scrumptious our hearts possesses.

Meadow Tunic makes us think:

nautical stripe or candy pink?

It’s best, indeed, to get them both,

different sizes, too, for growth.

So comfy, they will do for all,

for dancing or for playing ball.

 

 

Now read the words for which you may

have wished these last few months away:

On http://www.welovefrugi.com/ today,

the sale is on! Hooray! Hooray!

The Importance of Eco-Friendly Nappies and What Frugi Means to Kids, Parents, and the Planet

Once upon a time, Lucy and Kurt Jewson had a little baby boy named Tom. The young parents decided to put their little one in cloth nappies to avoid adding incredible amounts of plastic waste to landfills. Now, that turned out to be easy enough, but when it came to finding clothing to fit over his lovely but big clothy bum, they could not find any. So they decided to fill this gap and founded Cut4Cloth - now known as Frugi. And what did we end up with? The world’s softest, most durable, wearable, clothbumfitting, and fairly traded fun organic clothing for kids and mummies. Thanks to Lucy and Kurt and their determination to help save the planet, we are now very, very happy Mummies – and have very happy little ones. But before we tell you more about Frugi, let’s take a quick look at the start of it all: cloth nappies.

There are undeniable advantages to using cloth nappies, for our children as well as our eco-system, which in turn helps us all, the most important factor being, of course, the strikingly smaller amount of waste that piles up on landfills. Most cloth nappies consist of natural fibers – while some are also made from micro-fibres - and are produced without added (nasty!)chemicals, which helps protect the planet and our children’s delicate skin. Moreover, cloth nappies are incredibly durable and can thus be used by multiple children before showing any serious wear. Contrary to the popular received stereotype, cloth nappies, when used with appropriate nappy covers, often have fewer leaks than disposables and thus save some laundry from piling up, balancing the time and energy it takes to wash the nappies themselves. As if those advantages weren’t enough in themselves, the use of cloth nappies also saves quite a lot of money, compared to the daily use of disposable diapers.

When Charley, one of Frugi’s current crusaders, found out she was pregnant, she was horrified about the amount of nappies she would have to throw away. “It was the thought of continuously adding to the land fill! And cloth nappies are sooo soft, so they must feel nicer on the skin and be less abrasive without all the chemicals! They are made from renewable sources, and I love that my wraps are very bright and colourful, and a yellow bum can brighten up my day!”So you thought cloth nappies were long rectangular pieces of cloth wrapped around baby’s bums, possibly even held in place by two safety pins? Well, think again!

Helen W. with her children Abigail and Oscar in their lovely cloth nappies

 

Compared to a couple of decades ago, there is now quite a competitive market for cloth nappies: they are offered in different materials and designs for different uses. One of the most recent innovations is the bamboo nappy, made from that wonderfully renewable material, but there are also nappies made from cotton, hemp, and many other materials! In terms of technical design, there are all-in-one nappies that have been described by our crusaders as ideal for being out and about – as well as two-part nappies that are often assigned a certain added reliability. If you’re looking for a way to use cloth but cut a few corners, there are also new kinds of hybrid nappies: a cloth shell with a disposable, biodegradable inlay. This system provides some of the advantages of cloth nappies - no plastic, chemicals, less waste, better for delicate skin - while still providing some of the convenience of a disposable, as you can throw away the messy part with less guilt and less washing. If you want to give cloth nappies a try – and please do! - we would be more than happy to help you find the right kind of cloth nappies for your specific needs and the store that sells them.

 




However, it is plain to see that disposables are here to stay and, for many, are the only option for nappies they will consider. Much as breast vs. bottles, the matter of cloth vs. disposable nappies is a huge debate. Making the commitment to using cloth is a much a lifestyle choice as is breastfeeding. For some, cloth nappies can seem a bit daunting, but it seems that this weary attitude is based more on false expectations than on actual reality, as, once you’re in a routine, using cloth really is no problem whatsoever. On the contrary, it actually is a good feeling, every time you put a cloth nappy on your child, to know that you are protecting both your child and the planet.

However, if you are not comfortable with the thought of using cloth, if you are convinced it wouldn’t fit your lifestyle, just know that this does not mean you have to go for the chemically bleached, fragranced, plastic disposable. In fact, you can still contribute to protecting the planet without any added effort whatsoever. How? The answer is: eco-disposables! They are a brilliant medium that make a great difference, if you consider that, instead of producing a ton of plastic in waste (seriously, every disposable-wearing baby creates an average of one ton of waste to add to landfills just in nappies alone!), that ton would be made from un-bleached, biodegradable components. Even if your waste is incinerated, it is still important to use eco-disposables as their manufacturing process doesn't involve the terrible chemical gels that are used to produce regular disposables. Even for some of us using cloth nappies, eco-disposables do admittedly add a degree of convenience in exceptional times when one is away from the washing machine for extended periods of time, such as during travels. Many have no choice but to use them in their children’s nurseries. While some of us have mixed feelings about having to use disposables at all, the important thing is: if it has to be a disposable nappy, it should ALWAYS be an eco-friendly one!  Eco-disposables provide the same handling and convenience, but the result is future-changing! Just think about the difference you can make without any effort! Couldn’t be easier to help the planet, now could it? If you need any information on where to find great eco-disposables, we’d be more than happy to point you in the right direction, wherever you may live! The more people buy eco, the more commonly available they will become and, in turn, the more people will buy them. In fact, as Libby Ray, one of our crusaders, is wondering: “Why aren’t all disposables eco-friendly ones? It would be so easy, as they give new parents the convenience they're looking for without the huge environmental impact!”

The wish to reduce the environmental impact of modern parenthood was the spark that started Frugi and has remained at the core of Frugi’s mission: to provide all-natural, non-toxic, fairly-traded children’s clothing to fit over any kind of nappy. Some of our favorite items made by Frugi over the years are the vests, leggings, cords (with turn-ups), and the already legendary snuggle fleeces. They are hard-wearing, trendy, and comfortable to wear, so cosy, and flexible for play-time, brilliantly washable, and the colours are - and stay - lovely. Their fit has been generous: especially the bottoms fit for what feels like forever, and some of the clothing that is cut for cloth-nappies can even make a comeback after the child is out of nappies. But Frugi doesn’t just make children’s clothing: Their breastfeeding range is amazing!

Will in his beloved snuggle fleece

While some of us crusaders knew Frugi in their early Cut4Cloth days, others have only known their matured Frugi line. Motivations may differ, but, once discovered, Frugi gets mummies hooked for so many reasons. Frugi crusader Helen, who stumbled across Frugi years ago, first thought: “Finally a company that appreciates the needs of cloth users - and that looks bloomin' nice too! Our children can wear organic clothes and be comfortable and fashionable at the same time. Frugi clothes last, we've done several children with some vests and the abuse they can take is brilliant, wash after wash and no pilling or going out of shape :-)”

Similarly, internet searching for 'trousers to fit cloth nappies' led Charley to Frugi and the rest is history. She was and still is “so pleased, as I now have a lovely selection of good quality clothes that look great and have a moral tag to them too. I have to say initially, I did think they were a bit expensive, and I focused on the trousers to start with and trial. My opinion has totally changed and we now have all sorts of Frugi wear. You get what you pay for, and I would rather buy fewer of these clothes than more of the cheaper ones that do not last and do not feel the same against the skin.” 

Crusader Libby was so relieved when a friend had pointed her toward Frugi because she had been looking for clothes to fit over a cloth nappy. “And not only would they go over a big cloth bum but they are gorgeous, organic and fairly traded at the same time - quadruple bonus!”

All of us are now in the same boat: Once you’ve received a Frugi pack, you never go back! It feels good to know you are doing something wonderful for your own child as well as the planet, and you can be 100% sure that no child labor was involved in the production of the clothing. The fair working standards are – to many of us – the most important part of the mission. “If more companies did this, then child labour would be a thing of the past! I hope one day all children get to be children for as long as possible - I know we have a long way to go, but Frugi is a good start.”

Libby adds that she can't even describe how much Frugi has helped her eco-conscious lifestyle. “I wanted to use cloth nappies because I couldn't stand the idea of all those disposables on a landfill. When I discovered Frugi and their gorgeous organic and fairly traded clothes it opened my eyes and my mind as to how much I could actually be doing! I now avoid buying food, hygiene products, and clothing that isn't fairly traded and organic if I can manage it.”


These are a few things you can to do help the planet and yourself: Buy local organic, and fair trade foods, hygiene products, and clothing where available, use eco-cleaning products, and try to find toys that are made from wood and non-toxic paints, ideally manufactured in your own country, and that are sturdy enough to be reused by several children and possibly passed on to other families.
We hope you will consider some of our suggestions as they were intended to show you how easy it really is to protect your children’s planet. Cloth nappies are a wonderful, modern, practical product, so try to free yourself from any misconceptions you may have and give them a try. If, however, you can’t see yourself using cloth nappies, please do give eco-disposables a shot! Your children will thank you!

And, if you have not yet experienced the amazing Frugi Organic Cotton Clothes, please do read more about Planet Frugi and their mission and see their gorgeous and fairly trade clothing at www.welovefrugi.com

WE LOVE FRUGI because it’s beautiful, organic, eco-conscious, well-designed, durable and versatile clothing, that looks amazing and lasts forever - and will fit over a clothy bum! It is so wonderful that there is a company now that combines what we love, for the sake of our children, with what our children love, which is colorful clothing with fun designs. We don’t have to choose anymore – when you buy Frugi, you get it all!

 

Frugi Crusaders Charley S., Helen W., Libby R. and Sandra J.