With a pre-Halloween Nor’easter having pummeled the East Coast and extreme weather becoming quite the norm across the country, winter’s come early once again this year leaving a chill in the air. And if you have any young kids, you’re going to want to keep them snug as a bug in their stroller with SnugglePie – a natural shearling sack sewn to fit any stroller. Created by two moms, Dana Moyal Kolevzon and Karolin Falk (one from the desert heat and the other the chilly snows of Northern Europe) who together designed this must-have winter’s comfy, cozy baby stroller essential.
A few years ago, a quick friendship developed when a mutual friend introduced Dana to Karolin. They had lived only a few blocks apart, both transplants from other countries and both married to American men. Karolin hailed from Germany and spent considerable time in the fashion scene modeling for major brands including Calvin Klein, Giambattista Valli, and Louis Vuitton. Currently, Karolin works for the Richemont Luxury Group where she helped open the first store in North America for Vacheron Constantin. She knows a thing or two about luxury design!
Dana (left) & Karolin (right)
Dana was born in the Philippines, went to to High School in Nepal and graduated college in Israel. She considers Nepal her second home and has opened a successful production services company there with her long-time friend Kiran Shrestha. Together they coordinate, research and facilitate shoots for National Geographic’s “Taboo Series”, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and A&E but that’s fodder for another column. Apparently, working with friends has been a successful business model for Dana.
SnugglePie, a self-described “mother’s project”, came about when Karolin, freezing her hoo-ha off on the streets of New York City thought, “How can I find something warm for my baby?” and expressed that thought to Dana who suffers terribly from even the thought of New York’s winter chill.
Cold streets, warm stores, cold streets, warm daycare, then back to cold streets again. Pushing against the wind and the chill only to, within a few blocks, enter someplace warm again is a common challenge for the women who walk the streets of this town with their kids. While in other parts of the country people go from warm house to warm car to warm wherever their next destination may be, it’s here in NYC where mothers and strollers are exposed to some of the greatest temperature swings. And when it snows? Women still push strollers through the snow and slush. Quick errands can become arctic quests worthy of dogsled expeditions.
SnugglePie began when Karolin decided to start research on “how to create the warmest possible stroller blanket for her daughter,” explains Dana. And their research and mommy-gut-instinct pointed in one direction. Since the first shepherd, Shearling (sheep pelt) has been a go-to item for both insulation and durability. It’s a natural fiber where the wool while trimmed and cleaned is left on the leather pelt and it is shearling that both Dana and Karolin thought to be their best stroller option.
Having both grown up outside the United States, they recognized shearling’s strong presence in the baby markets in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. “However in the States mostly synthetic material is used for stroller sacks,” Dana says while explaining the pitfalls of cheap synthetics. “We love the idea that shearling is breathable and absorbs moisture unlike synthetic fibers. Wool fibers absorb up to 33% of their own weight in moisture and are the best insulators,” Dana passionately promotes her love of wool.
The Australian sheepskin association warns consumers to make sure they are actually getting real sheepskin. “Sheepskin is a natural product which breathes, absorbs moisture and provides a warmth and comfort superior to any synthetics” notes the Association’s site. It continues to caution practically pointing out in the most accusing tones, “most synthetics” become “very smelly with wear” further noting “fake sheepskin can easily be recognized – if you part the fibers with your fingers and there is a woven or knitted backing under the fibers it is not real sheepskin.” Their site goes on to note that an inexpensive price should scream fake. And that’s straight from the sheepherder’s mouth.
Dana explains, “We would love nothing more for SnugglePie to retail in the $100 range but it’s simply not possible. Today shearling prices are at their highest forcing up manufacturing costs.” However her greatest challenge also works towards tremendous advantage – as this well-crafted luxury item is surely a designer piece that gets passed along generationally. In a world of disposable everything, heirloom pieces are just that more precious.
SnugglePie comes in caramel or chocolate brown, is made with a five-point harness to fit any American stroller and is easily dry-cleaned. On warmer days the front can be detached or you can take it out and use it as a baby blanket. And for this week – if you show us all some “like” – Dana and Karolin are offering all MoxieQ readers a 20% discount. Use the code: MoxieQ
–Jono
Follow MoxieQ Tastemaker Jono Waks @ProductNPress and if you know a smart woman with a smart idea reach out to us at: [email protected]
