Designer Tiffe Fermaint and her fiancé Keith Walker hope that their kids' clothing line will provide a cool alternative to the countless children's brands that promote harmful gender stereotypes.
Inspired by the birth of their daughter Violet, Fermaint and Walker launched Baby Teith in 2013. Fermaint told The Huffington Post that she searched in vain for clothing that was gender neutral and eco-friendly, made from organic cotton. "I was tired of seeing nothing but pink body suits with the word 'princess' blinged out in rhinestones in the girls' department," she said, adding, "There's nothing wrong with that, it's just not my style."
Seeking options for her daughter, the mom used her experience in fashion as a designer and visual stylist to create her own clothing line. Baby Teith was a hit with Fermaint's friends, and after many requests, she opened an Etsy shop to sell her designs to other parents. The designer and her fiancé eventually both quit their jobs to focus on Baby Teith full time.
The mom describes her children's clothes as "fun, comfortable and memorable" and says she hopes her vivid, futuristic prints inspire their little wearers' imaginations. From moon and nebula images to a design inspired by VHS tape glitches, each print is truly unique.
"Our newest collection for fall available through our Kickstarter Project is called Medieval Time Traveler," Fermaints said. "It is inspired by the courage of Joan of Arc is meant to empower children."
Last month, Fermaint and Walker launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the brand's production through an ethical manufacturer and bring Baby Teith to a major trade show.
The couple hopes the message behind their designs reaches the mainstream kids' clothing world. "We genuinely believe that in this day and age, gender stereotypes are outdated," Fermaint told HuffPost. "We want our daughter to form her own opinions on the subject and feel that she can dress any way she wishes."
"Instilling this notion before she forms opinions like 'Pink is just for girls and I have to wear pink because I am a girl' can be an important step," she continued. "We are extremely happy to see more clothing in the market that are gender neutral. The market is changing and we hope that bigger brands take notice. This is a huge step for gender equality."
The Baby Teith Kickstarter campaign ends on June 6, and so far, they've raised almost 70 percent of their $10,000 goal. The brand also won the Phoenix New Times newspaper's 2014 award for "Best Kids Clothing."
As for their very first customer, Fermaint says her daughter really enjoys Baby Teith clothes. "She may not be able to articulate how much she loves the garments yet, but we like to assume they are her favorite."
Keep scrolling and follow Baby Teith on Facebook and Instagram for a sample of what the brand has to offer.
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