On our festive gifting checklist is Snugkins, a brand of organic cloth diapers suited for new-borns to toddlers, that are thoughtfully designed for convenience and comfort of the child and the mother alike. Since its launch in 2019, the promising start up has roped in renowned names in the field of design such as Archana Kochhar and international floral curator Tomas De Bruyne to deliver a dollop of style and panache to this wonderful product that is created with a keen focus on sustainability.
A Brand Founded By Two Mothers : A Teacher and a CA
They say necessity is the mother of invention, and Sungkins was born when Komal Lalpuria, a teacher by profession, rose to the challenge of finding an organic solution for her little one’s well-being and protect him from being exposed to a barrage of rashes, toxic chemicals and disposable diapers, that surround every new mother. Joining hands with sister-in-law Sonal Lalpuria, a chartered accountant by profession, she launched Snugkins, with the goal of creating the world’s snuggest cloth diaper, one that was both eco-friendly and economical.
“As a new mum, I was alarmed by the pile of diapers going into the garbage and imagining the overwhelming impact of this on the environment,” says Komal, whose journey as an entrepreneur began with her swinging into motherhood, and giving form to her personal quest to balance what was best for her baby and the earth. “I felt this need for a solution that would provide superior care for my child without compromising on the environment. So that when I chose what was in his best interest I also chose what was protecting the world and environment that his generation would inherit,” says Komal.
Co-founder Sonal Lalpuria echoes Komal’s concern while underscoring the economic benefit of using organic cloth diapers. “Disposable diapers take approximately 500 years to decompose and contribute significantly to landfills and pollution. They are also very expensive. On an average a baby uses 6000 disposable diapers that cost around Rs. 50,000. These could be replaced by just 16 cloth diapers for the entire baby diapering phase making it 74% cost effective!”
An Eco-Friendly and Cost Effective Option
View this post on Instagram
Their research showed that Indian mothers found that cloth diapers available from countries like the US were often expensive and didn’t suit the body type of Indian babies. They began testing cloth langots available in the market, but these proved to be bulky and complicated to use. “It was clear that organic diapers wouldn’t be a popular solution unless it was lightweight, and easy to snap and secure. We saw a great need for a product like this – something with the wholesome goodness of being organic, yet excellently designed for comfort and ergonomics. That is how Snugkins was born,” says Komal.
The duo has worked hard to develop a high quality product with international certification and quality assurances. Snugkins products are tested and certified by the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, that aims to regulate the safety of products made for children under the age of 12 years and certifies that products do not contain toxins like lead or phthalates. Additional quality assurance is offered by the product’s GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification.
Going Strong! Brand Expansion and Popularity:
One year down the line, the brand has completed more than 7000 deliveries and has built a loyal base of repeat customers. “With the pandemic now over, and life returning to its usual rhythm, we are looking at Snugkins retailing at key outlets across the country and have tied up with 25+ retailers across the country,” says Sonal.
The brand has also added a host of additional products to its portfolio, ensuring mothers can take care of these essential needs of babies for longer. The designer line now includes langots, potty training pants, tops and shorts and also towels.
For further information, click here to visit their website or check out @snugkins on Instagram/FB.
