My favorite aspects of writing pearls on a string are connecting with other mamas out there and also connecting with awesome small businesses. I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to get to know shop owners and learn behind-the-scenes details to some of my favorite stores. Today I am really excited to share the backstory of a wonderful online kids’ boutique that has quickly become my favorite go-to destination for Waverley’s clothing and new baby gifts. Have you ever shopped at Noble Carriage? It is an adorable boutique filled with clothes, accessories, and toys for little ones. The best part about Noble Carriage is all of the items they sell are organic and created using fair business practices and eco-friendly methods. I love that! As a mama, it can be overwhelming to sift through all of the many, many shops so I really appreciate the convenience of Noble Carriage. They do all of the sifting for you! I know when I order from them I’ll receive quality pieces that fit well, are cute yet totally wearable, and are good for both Waverley’s skin and the environment.

Waverley has been wearing a lot of Noble Carriage’s pieces lately and always receives tons of compliments when she does. She practically lived in this tank top all summer and if you missed her busting a move in it, I highly recommend a quick viewing. Now that the weather is getting colder she is really into this sweatshirt. I am actually quite jealous of the sweatshirt and wish it came in my size! It is so soft on the inside and don’t you think the stripes are trés chic? A few of my other favorites for her are these amazing salopettes in the perfect shade of soft pink, the Hazel Village pals, and these cozy sweatpants (we call them Sunday Sweats). I am saving this sweet shirt for school pictures because there is just nothing lovelier than the collar + school pictures! Oh and these adorable bowties for my nephews. And this would be in constant rotation if I had a newborn again. Also, everything arrives packaged with genuine care and attention to detail– including a handwritten note!– as if your best friend just shipped you a gift.

Anyway! Enough about my obsession and more about Noble Carriage. I just love learning business’ stories and about their journey. I think it is the occupational therapist in me, always asking questions to form a person’s life narrative! I was lucky enough to chat with Jen Hartford, the founder, and Meghan Raab, head of marketing, and asked them all sorts of things about the business. Their answers are interesting, inspiring, and educational, so keep reading! The last answer will really warm your heart and make you want to shop there for ever and ever.

What made you decide to start Noble Carriage?
We started Noble Carriage as a way to address the growing concerns of sustainability in fashion and the harmful effects that this industry has on farmers, the environment, and ultimately the end consumer. This challenge is far greater than just one company can tackle, so we focused our efforts where we could have the most profound effect: babies.

The name Noble Carriage is so sweet and memorable. What does the name represent to you?
We wanted the name to exemplify our mission: to make it easy for busy parents to find the best 100% certified organic baby clothes, eco-friendly toys + accessories. We think the word “Noble” helps tell our story–that we care a lot about doing something to help make our planet a better place. The “Carriage” is our means of delivering our noble mission from one “Noble” baby to the next.

Oh I just love that! So who makes the clothes and toys you sell?
We exclusively carry 100% certified organic baby clothing, eco-friendly toys + accessories. All of the brands we sell are certified and meet at least 3 of our sustainability standards:
1. 100% Certified Organic
2. Fair Trade
3. Made in the USA
4. Locally Made
5.Handmade

When you come to our site, you can trust that every product has been hand selected and will be safe for your baby and the environment. Here’s a list of current brands that we carry:

• Aden+Anais
• Billie Blooms
• Goat-Milk
• Gray Label
• Hazel Village
• LexyPexy
• Mini Rodini
• Oeuf
• Petit Collage
• Winter Water Factory
• Tasty Ties

Those are all fabulous brands. There are so many children’s clothing lines out there, why should parents care about dressing their children in organic clothing?
Truth is, most non-organic cotton is not good for babies or the environment. The use of toxic chemicals to treat cotton and dye the clothing makes even the cutest clothing harmful for a baby’s skin. In the first few years of life, your skin will be the most susceptible to whatever it comes in contact with. Therefore, wearing organic clothing, using eco-friendly cleaning products, and eating healthy food are invaluable to a baby’s long-term health. If you want to learn more, check out our blog post Eight Reasons to Choose Organic Cotton Baby Clothing.

You have curated such an amazing collection. How do you decide which items to sell?
Aside from meeting our sustainability standards listed above, we rely on our customers to tell us what they are looking for. We launched with the basics: onesies, organic dolls, organic swaddles, organic baby booties, and unisex apparel. Lastly, having clothing that is gender-neutral and not seasonal is in-line with our mission to help people live more sustainably.

I have had a few struggles navigating the business world so would love to pick your brain about that. What is most important to you as a business owner?
Education. I might be an optimist, but I truly do believe that if people were educated on where their clothing came from, they would choose to buy baby clothing that is better for them and the planet.

What has been the biggest hurdle with starting a children’s online shop?
Online retail, like normal brick-and-mortar retail, requires that potential customers walk into your door, or onto our website in this case. That said, driving website traffic was a big challenge. However, getting those first time visitors to understand what Noble Carriage is and why we’re different is probably our biggest hurdle. Customers have many choices, especially when shopping online, so being unique and special is a must when asking for their attention and support.

Your job sounds like it’d be a blast. What is the best part of it?
It may sound corny, but I still get giddy reading the sweet notes people include with the baby gifts they send. I believe if people are going to go the extra mile to buy organic, then each package should feel like a special gift that customers are excited to receive.

Noble Carriage is offering a 15% off discount today through Friday for all of you! Isn’t that amazing/exciting/wonderful! Just enter pearlsonastring15 at checkout and make sure to tag away on Instagram with your goodies so we can see! Thanks so much for reading!