• No Metal Complex dyes are used

• No Chrome Mordant dyes are used

• No carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction chemicals are used

• No flame proofing products are used

• No formaldehyde products are used

• Only detergents with greater than 90% Biodegradability are used

• Insect resist chemical are only applied to carpet and upholstery yarns

• Using of bore water rather than chemically treated town water supply

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Press

May 2011  
Old is new again – the love affair with vintage designs continues.

They say fashion is cyclical, and right now there’s a definite trend towards vintage designs, especially in winter collections. Designers and consumers love the familiarity and warmth of vintage techniques like hand-woven patterns, which when combined with modern manufacturing techniques achieve a perfect balance between form and function. 
 
Luxury children’s brand Lou & Olly has just released a 1950’s Vintage Baby Blanket, the latest in a line of high-end merino and cotton comforters. The blanket is available in generous cot size and is based on a 1950’s baby bonnet that designer and owner Jane Blakey came across in an op shop. “The bonnet had those lovely hand-knitted details you just don’t see anymore. I was immediately inspired and saw the potential to use eco-dyed merino wool in a similar way,” says Jane.
 
Vintage design is nothing new to Lou & Olly – their current Vintage Blanket is their biggest selling item – and Jane Blakey saw the potential for further growth in the category. The company continues their focus on beautiful, tactile blankets that are irritant-free through the use of merino and combed cotton. This latest Vintage Blanket is eco-dyed using dyes that conform to the notoriously stringent Oeko Tex 100 standard, which restricts the use of harmful chemicals. The company understands that impurities have no place next to a child’s skin.    
 
This commitment to beautiful design and innovative products sums Lou & Olly up well as a company.
 
“It is our ultimate goal to design a vintage blanket that gives that lovely familiar impression of being a hand-me-down, while having all the benefits of a new product. We pay so much attention to the weave quality that mothers can easily keep the blankets for many years so their child’s younger brothers and sisters can enjoy them too.”
 

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October 2010

Eco-dyes and combed cotton the way forward for childrenswear

Auckland, NZ –Boutique childrenswear producer Lou & Olly has introduced a new range of combed cotton baby blankets designed to minimise irritation on the extremely sensitive skin of infants.
 
Combed cotton is a strong, smooth variant of cotton that virtually eliminates skin irritation by removing the short threads that can prickle infants’ skin. To even further reduce irritation, Lou & Olly uses skin-friendly eco-dyes to colour the blankets, which means they conform to the stringent textile standard Oeko Tex 100. Oeko Tex 100 limits the use of harmful chemicals that can cause dermatological problems, many of which are found to varying degrees in everyday childrenswear.
 
Lou & Olly founder Jane Blakey regards eco-dyes as the logical step forward for a New Zealand producer of fine children’s blankets and clothing. “Eco-dyes fit well with our New Zealand image: clean, green and forward-thinking. Lou & Olly strives to make each garment as good as it possibly can be, and attention to the little details is the secret,” she says.   
 
Lou & Olly made its name with luxury merino children’s blankets, and eco-dyed combed cotton marks a new segment in its portfolio. The blankets are available in two sizes in either of Lou & Olly’s distinctive classic or vintage weaves. They are particularly suitable for the warmer months and work well in the pram, the cot or as a throw rug as the child grows.  
 

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June 2010
New Eco Dye Vintage Baby Blankets ease skin irritation in toddlers

 
Auckland NZ - New Zealand-owned childrenswear brand Lou & Olly has just released a new vintage-style Eco Dyed merino wool blanket. What makes the blanket special is that the dyeing process adheres to the stringent global textile standard, Oeko-Tex Standard 100.
 
The Eco Dyed blankets are aimed at parents who want to wrap and dress their kids in all-natural fibres, free from the chemicals used to colour and treat most modern kids wear. 
 
Lou & Olly founder Jane Blakey says using an Eco Dye process that conforms to Oeko Tex 100 is a major step forward for the company and the intricate vintage blankets add a traditional flavour to their product offering.
 
“Merino wool has always been linked to low incidence of skin allergies in children. But now that we’ve gone further and reduced the hazardous substances used in the dyeing process, which can cause skin irritations, even children with the most sensitive skin are catered for. Plus the detailing on the vintage blankets makes them look like something grandma might have knitted,” she says.
 
To attain the Oeko-Tex standard, Lou & Olly vintage blankets steer clear of harmful chemicals during the dyeing process. This reduction of chemicals means less energy is consumed at the treatment plants and fewer chemicals end up in our waterways. Even the water Lou & Olly use for treatment is natural bore water, rather than chemically treated urban tap water. Blakey says that purity is the beauty of buying New Zealand made.
 
“At Lou & Olly, we’re very proud of New Zealand’s clean, green image and we want to deliver a product that reflects that purity to our customers. Fewer chemicals in the finished product not only mean a healthier experience for the wearer, but also makes perfect sense a product that’s delicate yet durable like merino,” she says.
 
About Lou & Olly
 
Jane Blakey founded Lou & Olly in July 2008, in Auckland, New Zealand.  She named the company after her affectionate nicknames for her two small daughters, Brooke Lucy and Olivia (Lou & Olly).
 
Jane has designed every item in the Lou & Olly range with Brooke and Olivia in mind (and usually on hand too).  The finished products are testament to her meticulous research and testing as well as the flexibility and purity of 100% merino wool.
 
For further information on Lou & Olly Eco Dyed vintage blankets, contact Jane Blakey on +64 9 525 3231 or  info@louandolly.com.