contact:
leanne@bonnetfriend.com
3579 E Foothill Blvd #288
Pasadena, CA 91107
626.625.1175

Bio + contact 
 
Family life is busy, right? Ours too! Regardless of the season or the hustle bustle of a particular day, we notice something comes over our young daughter when we spend time outside – nothing short of wondrous, calming. It is outside that she seems…well, free. Each day, we ask ourselves, ‘Can we do this outside?’ If the answer is ‘yes’, out of doors we go. As she climbs a rock wall, she dreamily pauses to experience a sudden gust of blowing leaves. Back to climbing. Then, she stops to watch a ladybug’s slow journey across a solitary leaf. More climbing. In these moments alone, she is celebrating her abilities, feeling the seasons, and appreciating earth’s creatures. I catch her smiling to herself. A lot.

My own love for nature surely blossomed from hours of unstructured exploring (aka play) in a forest at the bottom of my backyard as a little girl. For hours, I would sit on the mossy dirt telling stories to the deer, rabbits and squirrels that I KNEW were gathered around me listening just behind the trees and bushes. Now, I am witnessing the healing aspects of nature at work with my own daughter.

So began my quest for a practical yet aesthetically-pleasing sunhat for the hours upon hours that our daughter was spending outside. Something about buying from a big box store didn’t sit well with me. I noticed that most hats were made overseas (by families under who knows what conditions?) A dear friend reminded me recently that ‘we vote with our dollar every day’. Even this small decision is a step toward a big difference. Besides, chances are, three of our daughter’s little schoolmates’ cubbies hold the same hat. Teachers have enough to organize as it is.

I was drawn to the bonnet, as a throwback to simpler times, but I wanted organic and beautiful – not chunky or frilly. I have fond memories of sewing my first bonnet for my Holly Hobbie in my grandmother’s sewing room when I was eight years old. Listening to the sewing machine hum was relaxing, and the possibilities were exciting. I had made many more bonnets over the years for friends’ children, and my style kept evolving. I then decided to handmake my daughter’s bonnet with her by my side (and lap, feet…) Soon, not just friends but other mothers at parks and the grocery store were asking me to make bonnets for their own children. Organic cotton bonnets just feel good, and so, bonnetfriend was born.

From the smallest stitch, to our artesian low impact-dyed prints, we are committed to sustainability. Only bonnets. Only organic. Our expertise.
 
As bonnetfriend continues to grow, we would love to hear from you. leanne@bonnetfriend.com

For wholesale inquiries, please contact leanne@bonnetfriend.com