Quality, Quality, Quality
There’s nothing worse than spending a bit more on higher-end children’s clothing, only for it to shrink in the wash or rip after a few rough tumbles at the play park. If the prices are the only thing keeping you from hitting that “check out” button, let me assure you that these clothes are worth every penny. With Dotty Dungarees, you’re paying that bit extra for high quality, and you’re actually getting it.
My daughter took her dungaree dress out for its first rodeo at the Kazanlak Rose Festival in Bulgaria, of all places. It survived a 12-hour day of dancing, oil making, and thorny rose petal harvesting in rocky, muddy fields. Had I known what the day would entail, I’d probably have dressed my child in something less special. To my delight, the fabric didn’t have a single snag or tear in it. All of the stains of the day washed right out. It came out of the machine looking as good as new…unlike the various “treasures” that my child had secreted away into the pockets that I should know by now to check.
Effortlessly Clean
Most of my child’s clothes are patterned with the faded remnants of her grand adventures - grass stains, the occasional blot of “washable marker”, torn and ragged tulle from various roller blade/bike ride/tree climbing incidents. She’s also very particular about what she wears, and right now at the grand old age of 6, she’s going through a “bridal” phase. Don’t ask.
Anyway, everything has to be white, which is not a good colour for a child described as “especially active” by her harried-looking teacher. She insisted on the “Tie Dye Rainbow Dress”, which is a gorgeous colour combo of very light pink, baby blue, and white. Predictably, within 5 minutes of it being on her body, it was covered in chocolate ice cream. I did not have high hopes when I pulled it out of the washing machine, as I didn’t have a stain remover on hand and used regular detergent. I don’t know what kind of magic organic cotton those geniuses at Dotty Dungarees use on their products, but there wasn’t a single chocolatey splotch to be found.
Soft. So Very, Very Soft
Looking at the pictures online, I expected the textiles to be somewhat like denim. The description on the website does say that the softness of the fabric has to be felt to be believed. Let me tell you, they are buttery soft!
It’s quite incredible that they have manufactured such a durable textile that still feels so velvety smooth. The tags are also carefully stitched flush against the clothing and are made out of a similar soft material, so there are no scratchy spots that might irritate sensitive skin.
The thoughtful designs have adjustable straps that fit comfortably to accommodate bodies with longer or shorter torsos. Presumably, this means the clothes can also grow slightly along with your child, extending their lifespans in your closet. And if the softness of the fabric hasn’t got you hooked, let’s discuss the thoughtful designs. The first time my daughter put on her dungaree dress, she yelled with completely relatable enthusiasm: “Look! It even has pockets!”. Each dungaree dress also comes with a matching pair of cotton panties with elasticated leg holes to prevent any potential wardrobe malfunctions.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
While we’re talking about the tags, Dotty Dungarees manufactures clothes designed to be handed down. There are three lines on the tags for parents to write the name of the next child to inherit the item. I adore this idea, not only because it gives me major Toy Story flashbacks thinking about Woody’s boots, but also because it demonstrates the sheer quality of the product and the environmental responsibility of the company.
Fast fashion companies make a quick buck out of cute products that aren’t designed to last. There’s currently enough clothing on the planet to clothe the next 6 or 7 generations. Dotty Dungarees bucks the ultra-consumerist trend of disposable fashions to create gorgeous items, sustainably designed to be utilised by more than one child. It
might only be a small step toward safeguarding the future of the world for our children, but it’s a really important one.
Environmentalism Never Looked So Good
On the topic of environmental responsibility, did you know that clothing manufacturing accounts for between 8-10% of global carbon emissions? I also recently learned about the fashion graveyard in the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile. It’s horrifying to think that some of the fabrics in those clothes will outlast even our children’s children. Admittedly, in the past, I’ve been part of the problem, sourcing cheaper clothing from fast fashion sites and stores.
Since having my daughter, I have committed to reducing the carbon footprint I leave behind, and part of that involves thrifting clothes or shopping from environmentally conscious companies. All of Dotty Dungarees' cotton is organic, so no nasty pollinator-killing pesticides are used from the very start of their production line. They also limit production runs, meaning they don’t have a huge amount of stock at any given time. So, not only is your child wearing a more unique product, but also the company isn’t adding to the potential problem of unsold fabrics wasting away in a far-flung desert.
Dyes to Die For…
And let us just hop a little further down this environmentalism rabbit hole together…just think about your precious baby’s soft, delicate skin while I tell you this: landfills won’t accept most unsold fast fashion fabrics because the dyes used during manufacturing are so toxic. The chemicals used for inexpensive or synthetic clothing can leach into the soil and groundwater, contaminating ecosystems, polluting drinking water, and potentially entering the food chain.
Dotty Dungarees only uses GOTS-certified, non-toxic fabric dyes. That means your child won’t be putting anything on their body containing lead or phthalates linked to various serious health conditions, including kidney damage and hormonal disruption.
Style Wise
That got heavy! But since I became a Dotty Dungarees customer, I’ve found the load to be a little lighter. While I appreciate that plasticky, sparkly princess dresses are en vogue in the 6-year-old fashion circuit, I want to teach my daughter to make smart, sustainable choices when shopping for her clothes. Luckily, Dotty Dungarees has such a wonderful variety of styles to capture the interests of even the pickiest little fashion mogul. And the company makes matching dungarees for mamas too! Encouraged by customer feedback, they branched out their line to include a small range for the grown-ups in the family to enjoy.
As new seasonal designs are added throughout the year, the styles range from soft denim to fully lined corduroy, ensuring you’re dressed to impress whatever the weather. My daughter can’t wait for the next spotty Dotty package to arrive on our doorstep.
We absolutely love hearing how you and your little ones are dotty for our Dotty Dungarees! So remember to tag us on Instagram @dottydungarees for a chance to be featured on our Grid or in our Stories.
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Review written by our lovely customer, Hannah
