Satchels and Clip Bracelets Are Born. . . Four Years, Seven Months in the Making
I am sitting here, feeling pretty emotional. This is not normal for me. I am very far on the Thinking vs. Feeling (side note, for an interesting watch, check out the documentary Persona – The Dark Truth Behind Personality Tests). But I have good reason to be emotional. Today I had my second babies. And by babies I don’t mean human babies, but product babies. See, I have been open for business as Riggbee for some time now, but thus far, I have only offered leather journal covers. I conceived Riggbee the same night I became an actual mom. I was handed a dentures case to hold the nipple shield I would need to successfully breastfeed, and decided we could do better (see the whole origin story here). And I set out to create necklace satchels that could hold my essentials in a practical, but stylish way.
It took me four years and seven months to get to this point—today, launching necklace satchels and pacifier clip bracelets. Yes, you can be the first ever to get these lovelies!
How could it have taken so long? Firstly, I was a new mom at the time. Give me a break! Also, I knew nothing about entering the baby products and fashion industry. After my own research and a full course on all that, I was fortunate to find an incredible product designer who had worked for the likes of Boppy and other fashion brands, who was able to help me create the necklace satchel and clip bracelet. It took a few prototypes to get it right. Let’s add a belt loop. Let’s adjust the pleats. And then, there were the materials. I knew we needed a high quality linen-cotton blend, that would feature just the right texture and softness, and hold its shape. And all things had to be completely durable and completely safe. I had a few false starts but things didn’t feel quite right until, finally, they did. That was probably the biggest delay. But I wanted to do it right. So, no, the delay was not caused by the pandemic. . . although that was just entering our consciousness at this time, and didn’t help things along.
Once we got the right mix of materials, I was again fortunate to find an economic development organization which offered cut and sew manufacturing in small runs, giving much-needed work to skilled textile labor in North Carolina. Then it was on to testing, with a nationally certified laboratory, to make sure what I had put together for the design, materials, and manufacturing were worthy of meeting the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards. And I added California Proposition 65 testing too, for additional safety reassurance. With a green light from the lab, it was then just a waiting game as my sewing partner worked their magic on this first small batch. The goods are now in stock and ready for shipping to you!
I am so grateful to everyone who has helped me along this journey. Already, the spirit of this brand has driven me to strive to do good things for my fellow parents and caregivers out there. I created a list of more than forty things you may find useful to use, to reconnect to your identity and vitality (get it by signing up here). And Riggbee has already helped fund worthy causes, such as the Napkin Network (which helps parents in need, with a website coming soon) and Lactation Unlocked (a day-long conference for doulas and lactation professionals through Winthrop University). And through our social channels, Riggbee has promoted maternal mental health.
I’m hoping our products are successful. I hope they help you on your caregiving journey. So, I humbly ask you to consider Riggbee products for your baby rearing essentials, and I commit that I will consider this trust with the greatest respect. And even if Riggbee is not for you, I hope together we can do good things, while enjoying life. Thank you so much for being here.