Parenthood Through Community and Trust: Minky
We love celebrating parenthood and the way parents support each other through the ups and downs of raising little ones. That’s why we were so excited to connect with Leonora, the founder of Minky.
Minky was created to build a trusted community for parents, and Leonora has carefully shaped a space where families can share parent-to-parent marketplace listings, personal referrals, recommended service providers, and more.
We’re honoured to partner with Minky, and we had the chance to sit down with Leonora to talk about parenthood, connection, and the power of community.
As a new parent, you’ve created your wonderful community during your maternity leave. Can you tell us about your journey in creating your community and what wonderful experiences/surprises you’ve gained along the way?
What struck me most in the early months of motherhood was the kindness and generosity of other parents. Almost without fail, parents want to help other parents! Equally, as a new mother, time is not on your side. The brilliant recommendations which were shared across multiple WhatsApp groups got lost in the overwhelming stream of endless messages. This was the catalyst for Minky. I wanted to bring together a community of like-minded parents with trust built in. An organised, efficient space where everything you need to make parenting possible is all in one place.
Which recommendations/advice from fellow parents and from you would be most useful for new parents navigating the early months?
Don’t be drawn in by what everyone else is doing, as there’s definitely no right or wrong way! Do what works for you and your baby. You will get your sleep back, even if it doesn’t feel like it now! And really just enjoy it, the time does go so quickly.
How did becoming a parent change the way you think about community, and what felt missing from existing/other parenting platforms that you wanted Minky to do differently?
Trust. Becoming a parent made me realise how much you have to rely on other people. You’re constantly asking for recommendations, and you need to be able to trust those implicitly. I felt there wasn’t one clear, dependable space where everything had been personally recommended. With Minky, everything and everyone has been put forward by a member, which creates a very different feeling.
How would you describe the feeling you want members to experience when joining the community, and how would you hope to see Minky evolve in the next few years?
I want members to feel safe and like they’re speaking the same language as everyone else in the community. A community that’s rooted in trust, decency and kindness. Minky members offer advice generously, and that spirit is so important to protect. We want to have a positive impact on as many parents as possible. As we evolve, we’ll keep listening to our members and building what they actually need.
What stood out to you about Dotty Dungarees when it was put forward by a member?
Everything! Dotty Dungarees is all about practical pieces built to withstand the rigours and the joy of real life. Minky was founded to create a community that supports parents across every aspect of the parenting journey, so I immediately saw the overlap in our ethos. Both brands are down-to-earth, supportive and have community at their heart. I couldn’t be more excited to offer this partnership to our members.
Do you have beautiful and magical parenthood stories of your own? Join in on the conversation and let us know on our Instagram @dottydungarees, use the #DottyAdventures for a chance to be featured on our Grid or in our stories!
Want to join our Dotty family? Sign up for our mailing list to receive a little bit of Dotty love each week, including giveaways, competitions, offers, our latest blogs, and newest collections.
