Not Her Own Story, But Every Mother’s: Mary’s Sweatshirt That’s Changing Motherhood
Usually when I first meet with an Innovator to discuss their business their innovation comes from a problem or frustration they themselves have had that requires a solution. However, with Mary it’s a bit different…
Why? Because she is here to provide an incredible (and albeit fashionable) solution to a problem faced by mothers on a daily basis, particularly new mothers. How to continue life safely with a newborn. Yes, there are all kinds of products out there to solve this issue but Mary’s flagship product where she is giving the most focus is an innovative baby carrying sweatshirt. Essentially, the best and safest replacement of the traditional sling.
She saw a problem, solved it with style
I’m the same as Mary – although we are not mothers or have had babies of our own, we see the issues faced by friends, family, colleagues which are always the same: being able to get on with everyday life is almost impossible when there is a newborn to contend with. They naturally take a lot of time away from us once they come into the world. Without a team around us to support, life must go on. Cleaning, walking, exercising…anything we need to do becomes almost impossible when you become a mum for the first time. Mary recognises this and knew she needed to be the one to come up with a solution.
Coming from a fashion-heavy background with a very interesting story, this incredible 26-year old is ready to launch her maternity wear, namely the sweatshirt product. She has designed it to look incredible but function exactly as it should, giving new mums peace of mind that their newborn can be comfortably but more importantly safely kept close whilst continuing to get on with life.
Traditional baby slings can be fickle – the material comes in a long, heavy fabric that can be really tricky to tie around yourself, especially if you are a single mother doing everything alone. Also, if you haven’t tied it correctly there’s a huge safety issue with the risk of the baby falling out. Not only that, they aren’t very practical apart from holding the baby close to your body. Mary has ensured her products offer more with handy extra pockets located where you would naturally reach. That way you can take things like formula in bottles, or other items around with you and have them ready at a moments notice.
Let’s be honest, we all love pockets!
Mary’s brand First Kid London is strong in more ways than one. Thinking of a business name is never easy, and in fact Mary was otherwise occupied when the name suddenly came to her. I like it because it doesn’t keep you guessing, you know straight off the bat that this brand caters to new mothers and their first child. But of course the maternity wear will also continue being integral each time they have children.
Being a dedicated Auntie, Mary finds her time is well spent with her family but also dedicates time to other things such as getting some time in the gym every morning without fail. She also puts aside time each evening for both meditation and yoga as a way to wind down after a busy day. Another passion for Mary is painting – she will grab a blank canvas and within just a matter of hours it will be a completed artwork. And if you thought that was enough she also dabbles in a bit of tennis when it’s warm enough and Skiing throughout the winter.
Mary has many attributes and stories about things to be super proud of at such a young age – in fact she admitted that her journey leading her here involved being successfully headhunted to work with a large company even before she had graduated from her university course. She couldn’t turn down such a wonderful opportunity and spent time working in a factory. But it wasn’t as she had hoped – long old hours and working in such a confined place meant her creativity dropped massively and she knew it couldn’t carry on.
After a long, hard shift at the factory she FaceTimed her brother for some advice – he knew she was wasted in the factory and so encouraged her to start her very own brand. So she did! A brand featuring lots of incredible, luxury streetwear options – KAHSHAN.STUDIO.
Following this, Mary has manifested her very own life in London. She’s so drawn to the city and this came into play when naming her current brand First Kid London:
‘I am eager to immerse myself in London’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, renowned for its dynamic business environment, multicultural landscape, and thriving fashion industry. As a global financial hub, London offers unparalleled access to capital, professional services, and a diverse talent pool, providing fertile ground for business growth and innovation.
The city’s multiculturalism fosters a rich blend of ideas and perspectives, enabling entrepreneurs to connect with global networks and cater to diverse markets. Additionally, London’s deep-rooted fashion heritage and dynamic creative scene present exciting opportunities to connect with industry professionals, showcase innovative designs, and draw inspiration from a wide range of cultural influences through various events and fairs.
Experiencing these facets of the UK will not only enrich my personal and professional journey but also play a vital role in shaping First Kid London as a brand that blends fashion, functionality, and sustainability.’
Well London will certainly be lucky to have you Mary, as are we in our very own Innovator International community.
Please make sure you connect with Mary over on LinkedIn as well as following along on her social media channels as the business continues to go on it’s own journey and grow.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-zamani-0427b7348
https://www.instagram.com/firstkidlondon
