Bella Mama's Beginnings in Breastfeeding Clothing

I've had so many people ask recently about why I set up Bella Mama. What was my inspiration? What led me here. How did I go from working in Publishing to here? How did I start a business with a baby? How did I find the courage to set up something new?

To be honest, it was a perfect storm of circumstances that led me to set up...

Five years ago in March 2007 my second baby was due, and my sister's wedding was planned for June. GAH! This pitched me into a real panic about what was I going to wear?

How would I breastfeed my new baby and not have to disappear to another room whilst doing so? I didn't want to flash maternity tummy at elderly relatives or my sister's trendy friends! Was I going to have to wear my maternity clothes and hoik them up to feed? How would I look on the photos? I needed to look like a pretty, stylish older sister and avoid looking like the sleep-deprived new mummy that previous experience told me I knew I would feel like!

I honestly had such a dilemma about this, that during my (increasing) periods of wakefulness in the middle of the night whilst the baby kicked and woke me, and I wandered the house looking for distractions, I increasingly found myself drawn to the internet to seek out fantastic nursing clothes that would be suitable to wear for the special occasion.

Whenever I found gorgeous breastfeeding dresses, they were from websites/stores based in the USA, Singapore or Australia. So frustrating! Would they fit? How much was shipping? What were the customs charges? What were the sizes? How did the nursing access work? Would the dresses suit me? How would I return them if they did not?? Why, why, why were the clothes I found in the UK so frumpy?

Something had to be done. I began to collect all the gorgeous dresses and clothing I had found online, and this went into my business plan for Bella Mama.

Bella Mama was launched when Orla was 2.5 months old. Luckily, she was the most placid, easy-going baby and was very content to feed, play and nap, leaving me with lots of time whilst she rested to set up the website, stock the store and test the best breastfeeding clothing available.

When Orla was 4 months old, we travelled around the world to stay with friends in Australia. My husband was working for himself, and I was on Mat Leave, and a number of our friends had emigrated to Australia and issued open invitations for us to come stay with them. We decided to take them up on the offer, and booked our trip. Many of our friends though we were bonkers to travel with such young children, but that has never phased me and Dan. What's the worst that happen?? We could cope!

We travelled smoothly from Manchester to Heathrow, despite the airline forgetting to offload the Bugaboo at Heathrow (it got booked straight on through to San Francisco). Dan strapped on the Baby Bjorn and we were off. The flight from Heathrow to San Francisco was fabulous. I breastfed Orla just before takeoff, which really helped to settle her.  We spent a long weekend in San Francisco, then straight on to our amazing friends in Brisbane for amazing holiday and lots of time spent out on their boat! Finn especially enjoyed time spent with his mate, Noah.

We spent 2 weeks relaxing on Bribie Island, then on to friends in Sydney and a quick meeting with newly set up gorgeous baby bag designers Isoki.

From there we went to friends in Perth, then onto Singapore where I met with gorgeous breastfeeding clothing designers Annie from Annee Matthew and Karen from Maternalove.

I had great fun trying on loads of Annie's designs - who knew being a business woman meant a totally unstuffy, very feminine way of meeting and forging business links! Such a great time and Annie's love of beautiful fabrics and stylish designs ensured her clothing formed a real backbone of  Bella Mama's first collection.  Maternalove was a very new company too at the time, and Karen was fabulously informative and very understanding of my new business. Dan had taken the kiddos out for a walk around Sentosa on the day, whilst I met Karen in our hotel room. I vividly remember him having to extend and extend his walk with the children as we chatted about nursing clothes, kids and new businesses!

These gorgeous breastfeeding clothing designers formed our first collection at Bella Mama, and since then we have endeavoured to introduce the best in breastfeeding and nursingwear fashion to the UK.

Not long after I returned to work, the company I was working for decided they needed to downsize and I took voluntary redundancy, which enabled me to build Bella Mama as a business.
 
I am really proud to say that Bella Mama have been the first to bring many new nursingwear clothing designers to the UK. I am delighted to support small fledgling brands, usually run by new mamas themselves, and to offer their clothing range to nursing mamas in the UK and to help build their brands over here. Five years on from our launch, I am so proud that we are offering the very best range of breastfeeding clothing available worldwide right here in the UK!

Hurrah!

Here's to the next five years of Bella Mama! We have so many exciting things to offer, and many new directions in which we are expanding. I'm so happy to have had so many wonderful experiences through Bella Mama, and really look forward to the experiences the coming years bring!

Kirsten
xx

Reese Witherspoon shows busy mums-to-be how it’s done

Reese Witherspoon juggles pregnancy and work

Your unborn baby might be the centre of your world, but the fact is, even though you’re expecting a child, the universe does not stop on your accord. Like a lot of mums-to-be, you might find you have lots of commitments to meet and barely seem to have a moment to yourself.

For example, you might be planning to carry on working virtually until you drop so that you get to spend as much time with your little one as possible once he or she is born. Meanwhile, there are no doubt lots of other responsibilities for you to cope with. Perhaps you already have other kids to look after and then there are domestic chores, social obligations and other responsibilities to keep on top of.

With all this in mind, it’s important you have the perfect maternity clothing. Thankfully, getting the ideal garments, including nursing tops, is now easier than ever.

Reese Witherspoon shows busy mums-to-be how it’s done

Actress Reese Witherspoon has been showing busy pregnant ladies how it’s done. Despite being in her third trimester, the blonde bombshell has been on set filming her upcoming movie The Devil’s Knot, the Daily Mail reports.

Complete with her sizable bump, the 36-year-old looked in good form. No doubt the Hollywood A-lister has been stocking up on breastfeeding tops and other garments in preparation for when she gives birth. The celebrity is no stranger to labour. She has a 12-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son from her previous marriage to fellow actor Ryan Phillippe.

Looking radiant

It’s often said that expectant mothers look radiant and Reese was no exception. She looked glowing as she performed for the cameras.

Commenting on her appearance, the news source stated: “She donned the same matching navy and white polka-dot short-sleeved shirt and skirt as she has previously been seen in while she shoots the flick, with her hair styled in waves around her face.”

A spot of retail therapy

You might look to role models like Reese when you’re seeking new maternity outfits. Although you may not quite have the celebrity budget she has, as long as you know where to look, you can get your hands on gorgeous nursing tops and so on without breaking the bank in the process.

Here at Bella Mama, we offer an impressive range of some of the most stylish garments around and regardless of the type of products you’re after, we should be able to help. Perusing our online boutique is the perfect form of retail therapy. It’s quick and simple, and you can end up with products that really help to boost your confidence.

Dressing for the office

For example, if you’re keen to stock up on items for the office, you might be interested in a chic sleeveless diagonal colour blocked dress created by US designers Japanese Weekend. This is great if you want to feel elegant and professional in your working environment and, crucially, it’s also comfy.

Meanwhile, once you’ve given birth, you can nurse in the dress by simply pulling down the neckline and pulling up the built-in shelf panel that covers the bust.

To see this and the rest of our breastfeeding tops and so on, just take a look around our online boutique.

Sources: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2173167/Pregnant-Reese-Witherspoon-looks-refreshed-returns-work-new-movie.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
http://www.bellamama.co.uk/726-diagonal-blocked-da-dress-japanese-weekend--innercami.html

Bella Mama shortlisted for EVA Awards

Some very exciting news this morning for Bella Mama - we have been shortlisted for the finals of the Awards Finals for the Enterprise Vision Awards.

The Enterprise Vision Awards have been created in association with the women's business network Pink Link Ladies Ltd who operate female business networks throughout the North West and will be hosted at the stunning Ribby Hall Hotel

.... We are absolutely thrilled to make the Finalist shortlist!

But most of all I am thankful for all my customers, as this nomination was only possible due to the loyal customer base we have at BellaMama and the great support we receive in your positive feedback and comments we get about the site, service and range.

I don't know what I will wear but I do love some of the new special occasion dresses we have in stock.

Finally, part of the process is a public vote so I welcome your support one more time!!

Kirsten
x

Bella Mama's Trip to Playtime Paris

We have dropped Kirsten off at Manchester Airport bright and early this morning for her flight to Paris. Ooh la la!

As one of the centres of the fashion universe, we are sure she will come back from Playtime Paris with her arms full of new products to stock at Bella Mama and all the industry gossip from having met up with some of our fab designers at the show. 

More to follow on her return. 

Dx

Look as stylish as the celebs with gorgeous maternity clothes

Preparing to become a mum is an exciting and nerve-wracking time and there is plenty for you to do. As well as watching what you eat and drink, making sure you’ve read the literature handed to you in antenatal classes, preparing your home and so on, you’ll need to find clothes that feel comfy and look great.

There are certain things you have to sacrifice when you become a parent, but thankfully fashion isn’t one of them and when you’re searching for fabulous garments, you might turn to the celebs for inspiration. Seeing the world’s A-listers when they’re strutting their stuff on red carpets or simply walking down the street can provide you with plenty of ideas for your own maternity wear.

Adele to become a mum

British singer-songwriter Adele recently announced she’s expecting her first child and she’ll no doubt choose some fabulous attire to accommodate her bump as it grows. The 24-year-old, who hails from Tottenham and is one of the most successful recording artists on Earth, revealed the news on her official website.

Writing on her blog, she said that she and partner Simon Konecki are expecting. It seems the pair, who have been dating for more than half a year, are excited about the prospect of becoming parents.

Over the moon

The songstress wrote: “I’m delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together. I wanted you to hear the news direct from me. Obviously, we’re over the moon and very excited but please respect our privacy at this precious time. Yours always, Adele xx.”

Other celebs were not shy in offering their congratulations. One of those to express her enthusiasm was fellow singer Lily Allen. On Twitter, she posted: “Wow. Adele’s preggers! Congratumalations to her and Simon!”

Across the pond, actress, comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres posted: “@OfficialAdele is pregnant! I’m so happy, I’m rolling in the deep! At least I think I am. I’m still not 100% sure what it means.”

Ditch the frump and say hello to maternity chic

When you’re on the lookout for new maternity clothes to help ensure you look and feel your best, you may want to peruse our online boutique here at Bella Mama. We know how important it is to feel gorgeous at all times, especially when you’re preparing to be a mum or have a newborn in-tow.

After all, if you don frumpy ensembles, your confidence can really suffer, and this is the last thing you want. With this in mind, we offer a fantastic array of stylish, flattering and feminine maternity wear that could be perfect for you.

The hassle-free approach to maternity clothes shopping

Buying items online from us couldn’t be easier. There’s no need to traipse along the high street. Instead, you can put your feet up, sip a nice cool drink and peruse the great selection of items on offer at your leisure.

There really is no better way to fill your maternity wardrobe. So, to see what we have to offer, just take a look around our website.

Sources: http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/celebrity/536951/adele-pregnant-with-her-first-child.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/adele-announces-shes-pregnant-with-her-first-945959
http://www.bellamama.co.uk/about-bella-mama.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adele_%28singer%29

New Home for Bella Mama's Breastfeeding Business!

After starting life on the desk in the bedroom surrounded by baby grows and piles of eco-friendly nappies,  Bella Mama just like our kiddos has had another growth spurt!

As of May 1st 2012 Bella Mama is in a new home. We quickly outgrew our home office, and took an office at Gawsworth Business Court. After more than 2 years in our bijou little office in the New Barn, with stock piled up around our ears and lugging the posting bags filled with orders down a flight of stairs, we have now moved Bella Mama to a huge ground floor office in The Rick Yard, with a dedicated stock room and desks for everyone, hot-desking no longer required!

Some of our favourite things about our new office:  Lots more space for our gorgeous stock; a dedicated pick, pack and wrap station; and a creative zone where we can choose and design new styles for our amazing customers.

But aside from the extra space, Bella Mama also has 2 more new people on board. Helen already does our books, keeping the tax man happy, but she has taken on extra hours and is now tasked with beautifully wrapping the orders and keeping the stock up to date. In addition, Dan is taking on the role of new projects developer. We have some exciting new products and additions to the business coming soon to complement the range already on the web so keep checking back to see what's happening.

Finally, we don't want to keep all the good stuff to ourselves! We are so grateful to our lovely customers who support us, return to shop at Bella Mama when they are expecting again and who give us such wonderful feedback on our clothes, styles and service. We want to share the love with all our fab customers, so check out the various social media feeds and parenting magazines for some great competitions and giveaways in the very near future! 

Bella Mama's Xanthe breastfeeding top shortlisted for PPP Award

We are absolutely thrilled to learn that Bella Mama's best-selling Xanthe breastfeeding top has been shortlisted for the 2012/2013 Practical Parenting and Pregnancy Award in the Feeding Top/Bra category.

This beautiful breastfeeding top has been a best-seller for Autumn/Winter 2011 and is available in Plum, Cobalt blue and Classic Black. The short-sleeved summer Xanthe is also proving incredibly popular with new breastfeeding mamas, and is available in Baby Pink, and new stock is due in shortly in Smokey Blue, Plum and Blue.

We just love our new Xanthe breastfeeding top, designed to make all mamas look amazing, and hope that the breastfeeding tester Mamas at PPP 2012/13 love it just as much as we do!
 
* Made from beautiful soft jersey fabric, our Xanthe nursing top is a beautifully designed breastfeeding top. Our experience from breastfeeding mothers ensured our top is perfectly suited to new mamas, not too tight, not a hint that it is a nursing top, elegant scoop neck to show off your decolletage thus ensuring it is very flattering for post-natal mamas!

* This top drapes beautifully, with small pleat detail at the neckline and the banded hem at the bottom can be worn pulled right down for a longer top, or folded for a looser effect and is just brilliant at disguising post-natal tummy!

* Super easy nursing access, simply lift the side hems to access the vertical centre line nursing opening.