We have had such a positive response to our first limited range of children's knitwear - thank you to everyone who has supported us and shopped with us so far. I believe we have produced a really special collection of small batch knitwear for kids, and I wanted to share a bit about the design process and how the product came to be.

A CIRCULAR STORY

The concept for Talou was born from a desire to create a fully circular business model for childrenswear. Constantly clearing out piles and piles of clothing for our little explorers at home, I became convinced there was a better way to clothe children that doesn't harm the planet, allows clothing to be recirculated after use, and helps parents with the never-ending clear outs.

I decided that all product made by Talou would be made to be made again. All products would be of a high quality and would be made to be recirculated, by Talou, before their end of life.

WHY WOOL? 

In comes the glorious yarn that is wool. Wool has so many benefits as a natural, sustainable and renewable fibre. It is, in fact, inherently circular, as not only does it naturally renew (when sheep grow back their fuzzy coats), it can also be recycled through an age old process of shredding down the yarn back to its fibres and re-spinning them to create a new one. 

Crucially, it's warm and durable; the perfect material to keep your little explorers warm on every adventure. 

DEADSTOCK YARNS

Along with our wonderful partner studio Interlock, we were able to find deadstock yarns sourced from UK factories, meaning all our products are made from leftovers. We never know what colours we might come across next, which keeps our collections small and unpredictable… not unlike your little explorers themselves!

THE DESIGN PROCESS - THE FIT

The product has been designed with our little end users at the forefront of the whole process. A wide, straight bodice allows room for growth, as it can be worn oversized on smaller bodies and cropped, layered over a shirt or t-shirt for taller kids. Fold back cuffs allow the sleeves to be extended as little arms grow, but also provides some extra hand warmth when gloves have been forgotten (as tested by my little ones on numerous occasions).

THE CUT AND STICK MOTIF

I wanted Talou to reflect the joy and creativity I see in my little explorers and their friends every day, and I wanted a bright, graphic jacquard that would explode onto the knits in the way only a child can explode into a room. The Talou core shapes are exactly that. Realised by the talented people at The Yard Creative (more on that later), they emerged from many discussions about kid’s creativity and how we can celebrate it. Representing cutout paper shapes made by tiny hands, the motif imagines a child busy making their art through creativity and imagination. Blow it up and boom! The Cut and Stick collection is born.

TREASURE IT WHILE ITS THEIRS. SELL IT BACK TO US WHEN THEY'RE DONE.

Once they’ve grown out of it, simply sell it back to us. We’ll make sure it’s sold on to the next little explorer, continually adding chapters to its ever evolving story as it journey’s from child to child.

I hope your little explorers will love them as much as I do. Have a fab day and thanks for reading.

Ellie xxx