Little Koko - South Australia

When our first son was born, I began my search for a comforter that I soon realised did not exist. I wanted a comforter my child would cherish for security and companionship. But in my heart I was seeking something more beautiful; a purposeful product with earthy tones and dreamy sounds. A comforter handmade with a beautiful story.

Whilst on maternity leave, we were residing as a family in Sri Lanka. I am energised by this tiny island; living in both simplicity and abundance…forever drawn to the sweeping palms, the wildlife beneath and the endless castaway beaches of the deep south.

Needless to say, our island life inspired me to pursue the creation of my comforters in characters that everyone can love; made in colours and materials reflecting the natural world around us. Drawing upon my social work education with many years working with children of diverse cultural backgrounds, I have carefully curated matching accessories with a focus on nurturing attachment to enhance parent-child bonding, but with a touch of village life in honour of our family traditions.

The accessories include bath-time coconut shells, swaddles, organic oils, sleepy rollers, natural play mats and organic cotton washers. My range of Little Koko products has been designed to not only help babies settle for sleep but also highlight important foundational aspects of building secure attachment, such as gentle touch, delight, security and engagement. I strive to promote the significance of those beautiful moments scattered throughout the day that help babies feel calm and safe. Sensory-rich interactions allow baby to reach bedtime with their love cup filled up, which means easier settling and improved sleep outcomes.

My hope is to offer a business that is ever heart-warming, authentic to my values, with a beautiful ethos that shines through on every level. As such, I have chosen to only engage with manufacturing partners who uphold ethical standards of practice; those with mutual ideals for social and environmental responsibility and those who nurture healthy workplace culture. I have also committed to only using recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging. And for every comforter sold, I donate $1 to regenerative tree planting through Greening Australia.

A very special part of my business has been the development of Little Koko’s very own Women’s Circle, a social enterprise project for the creation of my vibrant Gift Bags. The beautiful women involved in this self-directed project are living in rural areas of the Southern Province. They are marginalised, isolated and vulnerable as a result of low socio-economic status or family relationship breakdown.

As the project grows through my bulk orders, my hopes are to see the women experience ever-growing:

• Empowerment through building independence and autonomy • Confidence building • Contributing to household costs • Developing new skills • Creating a savings account • Connecting with others • Nurturing their self-esteem and a sense of purpose • Improving self-care • Lowering stress

Wherever possible, every aspect of my business has been carefully considered to ensure that Little Koko has been kind to the earth and fair to her people (the makers)- what better sentiment can we teach our children to carry in their hearts?