Are you a parent looking to buy ethical and sustainable clothing for your baby? Look no further than Wee Seedling, a children’s clothing company based right here in Melrose.
Owned by 25-year-old lifelong Melrosian Danielle Botto, Wee Seedling offers organic and transparently sourced clothing for babies that are ethically manufactured by a small team of women at ThreadTech in East Boston.
“I’ve always loved babies and being creative,” Botto said. “I wanted to provide families with an option to buy clothing with intention, and clothing that is in-tune with how children move and grow.”
Wee Seedling specializes in simple and unique clothing for babies that is meant to be “durable for play and easy to take on and off.” With the foldable cuffs and generous cut on the clothing, they will grow with the babies for longer wear.
They currently offer sizes up to 12/18 months, but hope to expand sizes through elementary school as the business grows.
“Our style consists of clothing that reflects the practical side of caring for babies,” Botto said. “All of our styles are designed for easy dressing with natural and organic fibers, right here in the U.S.”
Only launched this past fall, Botto ships worldwide, and has shipped clothing as far as the Netherlands. All clothing is hand sewn in East Boston, but Botto packages and ships her orders right out of her home in Melrose.
Also available on her website are Studio Escargot Dolls and American Rock Maple Baby Rattles. Each doll is cotton on the outside and wool on the inside, and are handmade in the Netherlands by Sophia of Studio Escargot, while the rattles are made from a single piece of American rock maple and the only product of its kind in the world.
Botto created Wee Seedling after finding that many clothing lines aren’t both ethical and well fitting to babies, and found the inspiration from European clothing brands and her experience attending a Waldorf school.
Waldorf schools strive to develop one’s intellectual, artistic, and practical skills in an integrated and holistic manner. Botto’s first job was at Lilah Rose on Main Street in Melrose, and she has worked for and run women and family-owned local children’s stores over the last few years.
Along with owning and operating Wee Seedling, Botto is a full-time nanny for a family in Somerville and is an international board certified lactation consultant. She also holds a Bachelor’s in maternal child health and human lactation from Union Institute and University.
“Wee Seedling strives to promote the slow clothing movement by orchestrating intention at every step of the process,” Botto said. “Our clothing promotes natural fibers, durability, practicality, and freedom of movement.”
Botto came up with the name “Wee Seedling” from a new mom support group called “Seedling play group” that she ran when she worked at Pinecones and Needles, a specialty toys and craft store in Belmont.
As Wee Seedling grows, Botto hopes to donate a percentage of her earnings to support non-profit organizations. One of her main focuses is working with Beacon High School in Watertown, a school that offers educational programs designed for students with emotional or psychiatric problems, and mild to moderate learning disabilities.
“I went to Beacon High School while overcoming childhood adversity. They quite literally saved my life,” Botto said. “I haven’t quite figured out how to give back to them with Wee Seedling, but I’m hoping to find a way through peer mentoring and giving current students hope for their future.”
Wee Seedling’s second collection called “Cluck Crumpet Layette” was launched earlier this month and is available on weeseedling.com. Botto will also be at Homespun at the Lexington Waldorf School from April 5-10 for anyone interested in seeing the clothing in person.
“I love working with babies, and getting to make sustainable clothing for them,” Botto said. “I hope everyone loves our clothing as much as I love designing it.”