Made with love, made with purpose: the story behind our winter collection
Made with love, made with purpose: the story behind our winter collection
By Acorn Kids · Our story · Ethical production
When you pop a cute beanie on your little one's head on a winter morning, we want you to know the full story of how it got there. At Acorn Kids, ethical production is something we've been committed to since the very beginning.
Here's the story behind how our winter range is made, and why it matters to us.
Ethics in business — our founding belief
From the day we started Acorn Kids, we have championed ethical business practices and ensured fairness in every aspect of our supply chain. That means fair trade, transparency, and making sure that every product we sell has benefited the people who made it.
We are a family-owned and run business, and I believe the business and the products we create are an extension of our family values. I wouldn't put my child in a product I knew came from a supplier with poor working conditions for its staff, and I wouldn't sell it to your family. In an industry where it's easy to just chase the lowest price, we've always chosen a different path. It takes more time, more visits, and more conversations, but we know it makes for a better product and a better business we can be proud of.
"We believe in selling products that have brought benefit along the whole supply chain, from the hands that made them to the little ones who wear them."
The women's collective — handknitting our winter range since we began
At the heart of our winter collection is our Women's Collective. We have worked with the same women's collective in rural China, who hand-knit much of our winter range since we began in 2009. They make the beanies, scarves, and mittens that have become our signature winter style, and woven into every piece is the skill and care of these incredible women.
Hand knitting is a beautiful artisan skill. The finish, the details, the quality ~ these are the result of years of experience and genuine care for the work. The collective also means that these women are able to work within their own community, earn fair wages, and practice a craft passed down through generations. We are incredibly proud to support these women and their community, and to share their skills through our designs.
Our factory partners — small, family-run, and visited in person
For the rest of our range, we work with small, family-run factories, and we've visited every single one of them. This isn't something we say lightly. We've been to these places, met the people who work there, and seen firsthand how they operate.
What we've found has only strengthened our confidence. These are businesses run by people who genuinely care about their employees, their communities, and the environment. They're not faceless factories — they're family businesses, not unlike our own, doing their best work with genuine pride.
Our non-negotiables are:
- Fair Wages
- Good working conditions (Yes, we visit personally, and we also ask for the audit reports on each factory we use)
Parents are thoughtful buyers. You think about what goes on your child's skin, who made it, and whether the people behind it were treated well. We think that instinct is exactly right, and we want to make it easy for you to buy with confidence.
When you choose Acorn Kids, you're not just choosing a beautifully made beanie or a gorgeous winter bundle. You're choosing to support a women's collective that has been perfecting its craft for years. You're supporting village communities preserving traditional skills. You're supporting our small family businesses and we are eternally grateful for each and every Acorn customer.
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