About Merle Kids
What kind of clothes do kids want to wear? Most importantly, they want clothes that allow for freedom of movement—clothes they can kick around, roll, run, and jump in! Many children also love bright, vibrant colours and want their outfits to showcase their interests!
When it comes to baby and toddler clothing, it’s crucial to remember that kids don’t care about traditional norms surrounding “boy clothes” and “girl clothes.” Boys love pink, and girls can’t get enough of dinosaurs—until they’re told otherwise for some inexplicable reason.
Merle creates the clothes that kids truly want to wear! Our collection features fun, colourful organic baby and children's clothes that tell engaging stories and cater to all children, regardless of gender.
Beyond the clothes, our kids deserve a healthy planet! They need fresh air and thriving communities. That’s why I strive to make eco-friendly kids' clothing that is as sustainable as possible. For more information about Merle’s commitment to the environment, visit the Sustainability Page.
All our manufactured products are crafted from 100% organic cotton, and while we’re a young and small company still working towards certification, I'm proud that our Portuguese manufacturer holds organic and fair certifications.
Our handmade pieces are sewn in beautiful Leipzig, Germany, using organic cotton fabric (95% cotton, 5% elastane) that is produced under fair conditions. I also prioritize avoiding plastic whenever possible and take pride in running an ethical kids' fully vegan clothing company.
About the Founder and Designer, Gaëlle Lalonde
Flashback to 2014, my son is two years old, and he knows what he wants to wear: bright colours, especially purple and pink, and clothes with fun patterns on them!
Well, I already know I can’t look in the boys’ section of any department store for that, and the girls’ section, full of frills and uncomfortable designs, doesn’t match his or my taste either.
When my daughter is born a year later, questions keep popping up in my mind: “Why do children have to bear those stereotypes? Why are dinosaurs, tractors and sports just for boys, while horses, mice and flowers are only for girls?”
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At that time, a new mom of two fresh out of illustration school with a passion for textiles, I was wondering what my future would be made of until it dawned on me: I would create the clothes my kids would love to wear, clothing that let kids be kids!
In 2018, after a lot of research and a couple of false starts, I launched my small business Merle Kids. For the first four years, I sewed all my products myself, a few thousand of them! First in a corner of my bedroom, before eventually moving into a lovely studio, I developed the initial four different designs and three sizes to over 30 different products and five sizes, from 0 to 7 years old!
The next big chapter started in the spring of 2022 when the first collection entirely made in a factory was launched, with even more sizes! It’s a wonderful and exciting adventure to slowly see Merle morph into what I dreamed it could be and to be part of a movement that encourages kids to be themselves, free of gender norms!