It's Been 21 Years of Babu!
A Message from Ali:
From the humble beginnings to the celebratory 21st birthday of Babu, we extend heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of our supportive customers. Your unwavering encouragement and belief in us have been the driving force behind our journey so far. We are immensely grateful for the motivation and strength you've provided, enabling us to reach where we stand today. Our mission remains steadfast – to keep crafting quality pieces that you and your loved ones will cherish for years to come. Your continued support is what makes our journey truly fulfilling, and we look forward to the future with excitement and dedication. Thank you for being a part of our Babu family.
- Love, Ali XX
The Original Babu Baby!
(Left: Ali and Jack in 2004. Right: Ali and Jack in 2021)
The thought of wanting to put my son Jack in sheets that were thick, soft and stretchy was the catalyst of what has been a wonderful journey. Jack, whose nickname was Babu (later changed to Mouse when Babu got a life of its own) came everywhere with me. From contract sewers to stores, he would “help” me fold and pack in the early days and insist on helping to carry heavy bags of “fagric” around.
Reflecting on 21 Years
I am not sure where the last 21 years have gone. Making sheets for friends out of thick and long lasting interlock led me on a journey that is still rewarding and exposing me to many adventures and learnings every day. Babies who grew up in our cot sheets have gone off to university with their King Single sets in tow. My own children, grown and flown the coup.
Baby Rubie came to the office at just two days old. It was all set up as an extension of home and that small first area saw them and Babu grow. Family was critical. Without the help and support of my husband, parents and sister, Babu would not have kept evolving.
Jack and Rubie tagged along to trade shows in Europe and selling trips around NZ, Australia, America and Europe. Their life has been enriched by the wonderful people we have met along the way from our manufacturing teams, distributors and stores, to staff and individual customers. They understand the possibilities of running their own businesses and what it takes to keep going through the hard times. There has been plenty of those.
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(Left: Jack and Rubie travelling with Ali to an overseas trade show. Right: Ali picking Organic Cotton in India)
Going Organic at a time when purchasing and working with organic cotton was new, tricky and expensive, was a challenge I am so glad I took.
The team in India who are now my family, have continued to improve with us, pushing the boundaries for certification, fair trade and GOTS registration, doing all of this while installing water recycling plants, solar power and staff wellness programs along with the organic farm that supplies milk to everyone weekly. We are very proud of what we’ve achieved together.
Babu now faces a new time, where marketing, products, choices, and integrity are much different from when we first started out. What will never change is the offering of quality basics that stand the test of time, can be handed down and on through families and friends and see wee ones from their little to big years alongside all of the wonderful memories created during these precious years.
(Ali with the Organic Cotton team in India, 2016)
(Ali with team members Vish and Vishal on recent visit to India in 2022)
