Responsibility
I started Tutti Frutti to prove that children's clothes can be made to last, and that idea shapes every decision I make about how they're made, who makes them and what happens to them afterwards. This page sets out what I do now and what I'm still working on.
How the clothes are made
Everything is designed by me and made in small batches in the UK, by me and a small team of makers I trust. Working in small batches means I only make what I need, so there's no warehouse of unsold stock at the end of a season.
Most of my fabric is organic cotton with a little elastane for stretch and comfort. It's printed with Oeko-Tex certified inks on GOTS certified fabric, and some pieces use deadstock, good fabric left over from larger producers that would otherwise go unused.
I cut carefully to keep waste low. Offcuts are made into undies, reusable wipes and the occasional scrunchie, and the tiny scraps go to local schools and nurseries for crafting.
Designed to be worn for longer
The clothes are designed for all children, with no "for boys" or "for girls". Grow With Me leggings and trousers cover two sizes, the free repair service mends split seams and loose hems, and RE:LOVED gives outgrown pieces a second home in exchange for store credit.
People
Everyone who works for Tutti Frutti is paid a fair, living wage, and family comes first for all of us. Now and then that means the shop opens late or an order takes an extra day, and I think that's a fair trade.
Packaging
Orders go out in plastic-free, recyclable paper envelopes or reused boxes, and any bubble wrap is reused from deliveries I've received. Our printed materials use recycled card and paper.
The gifts I stock
Alongside my own clothes, I stock a small number of gifts from other makers and brands. I choose them because they're made from natural, organic or recycled materials, and I don't stock single-use plastic products.
What I'm still working on
I know my fabric is GOTS certified and printed with Oeko-Tex inks, but I can't yet trace where the cotton itself is grown. As a very small business, getting that information from suppliers is slow, and I'll keep asking. I'm also looking for a better alternative to the polyester thread I use now.
