This week we introduce you to Hannah Holmes, founder and creative behind children's label Bam Loves Boo.
TVM: How did your journey into running your own business begin?
BLB: Prior to starting Bam Loves Boo, I was a ladies and children's wear designer in the surf-wear industry on the Gold Coast and had been a clothing designer for over 10 years.
When I started a family and went on maternity leave I felt I needed that creative outlet, so I turned my focus to starting my own babies-wear brand.
The flexibility and lifestyle that has come along with it has meant that instead of returning to work I have been fortunate enough to stay at home with my daughter and work from home.
When did you take the plunge and start your own business?
I started my business in January 2017 but it wasn't until November that year that I launched my website and clothing. It was when sister came to visit that it really started, until then it had just all been in my head but then it was once I started saying it out loud and had someone to bounce-off and ask questions, that it started to put the wheels in motion.
What does your brand consist of?
Bam Loves Boo is a babies and children's clothing range with clean and neutral colour palettes, coordinating prints and unisex pieces.
All Bam Loves Boo clothing is made from a unique fabrication, a perfect blend of bamboo and certified organic cottons, which means they are beautifully soft, stretchy and breathable for comfortable wear and play. It also means that they are environmentally friendly and sustainable.
We are all about making beautiful clothing that you love, for the little people you love, in an eco-friendly and socially responsible way.
Where is the label designed and made?
Bam Loves Boo is designed by myself at my home in Brisbane, I design all the prints, garments and colours myself and then the fabric is woven specifically for us to our required blend and weight instead of off the roll. This is then dyed using eco-friendly dyes, to my chosen colours.
Bam Loves Boo is made in southern China with my fantastic manufacturer that I have known for over ten years, visited and built an amazing friendship with. This year I will be going over to stay with her family and see our pieces made first hand – and she just told me she is pregnant, so now I am even more excited to go and meet her own mini muse.
What inspires you?
It is very cliche by ultimately my daughter inspires a lot of my designs, as I learn as a mother from her what I look for in babies clothing. For example, we didn't find out her gender during pregnancy, which really helped to shape my brand to be entirely gender neutral. Then when she arrived, the priority was that it had to first be soft and comfortable but stretchy and easy to wear and put on and off.
I decided early on that my formula would be one colour repeat-patterns as well as each one being unisex and timeless. Although it can be limiting, I find having a formula really helps to keep me focused and make it cohesive.
What are your plans for the brand and where do you hope it takes you?
Ultimately I hope it means I can stay at home working on Bam Loves Boo to allow me to be around my family in the early years. I have really enjoyed doing some fantastic collaborations with other local brands, where we have worked together on new products. I would really like to continue with this path.
What were the biggest challenges when launching your brand?
Definitely the ethical and eco-friendly side was most challenging and still is really. Sadly, its not an easy area to navigate, it’s cheaper and easier not to be environmentally conscious, so I felt like I was really having to go against the grain in all areas to tick all the boxes I was after.
It was very challenging to ensure my ethical standards and needs were met and also to ensure these claims were backed with certifications.
What is the best thing about having your own business?
The freedom to work from home around my daughter and the friendships I made this past year through Instagram - it’s a pretty great community to be a part of.
Find Hannah at TVM Stones Corner this Sunday 31 March and if you cannot make it to TVM, you can connect with Bam Loves Boo online:
Website
Instagram
