Together with my biggest dream, my little family, I live in the very south of the Netherlands, close to where I was born and raised. I’m married to my first love, and together we have a three year old son, who of course immediately became our universe after arriving. That universe will be expanded soon, as we are now expecting our little girl in February. We live just outside the city, close to water and green fields, but if we want to go to the city centre, we’re there in fifteen minutes with our beloved cargo bike. It’s the best of both for us right now.

My love for wool clothing started quite some years before our son was born. I wasn't brought up wearing wool at all, it probably just wasn’t as big a part of our 90s lifestyle back then. I think for me, there were two starting points that introduced me to this fibre. 

Soon after we got together, my husband and I celebrated our summers in Denmark almost every year. We loved to spend time near lakes, the woods, little villages, and: in the Danish thrift stores. Oh, the treasures we found!

I think it was 2015 or 2016, when suddenly I discovered the Danes even had special thrift stores for children’s clothing and other items, named Børneloppen. I have always been so excited and very passionate about the world revolving around kids - not only did I dream of becoming a mother myself one day - I actually started saving little things when I was 16 and studied to become a teacher, which I still am now. Discovering those thrift stores (and larger stores in the Scandinavian cities, too), introducing me to the most beautiful Nordic brands for children… Oh dear! For me, it felt like my favourite candy store on earth, and I was so excited to visit those stores regularly. 

Besides camping in the Danish countryside, we also made multiple trips together to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Iceland; another country we found to be so fascinating and inspiring. In between those times of travelling ourselves, I took so much pleasure from following people and families I really appreciated online. I loved many Nordic accounts that integrated wool in their daily lives, conquering the Scandinavian weather and inspiring others with a very cozy, folky style in their homes, combined with the beautiful Northern design, of course. It soon became impossible not to love this entire world of living with nature - a slower pace, craftsmanship, and natural fibres such as wool. 

I feel like I am a very nostalgic person. I tend to have a little trouble letting go of the past, and accepting time moving so incredibly quickly (especially since becoming a mother). I really value comfort, cosiness and warmth, which really does affect my choice of products and brands. I like when something is very durable, like wearing the same favourite coat for years and years, memorabilia that sticks with you forever, so many photos, prints, even receipts that hold on to a certain memory - it’s all been a very big part of my life. I quickly link matter to feelings, which isn’t always convenient! It makes it extra hard to let go of, for instance, pretty much all of my son’s baby clothes. 

So in choosing clothing or toys, I always look for something that's going to last for a long time. I really love that we can use pretty much all of our son’s items again, for our second baby. I often choose secondhand, as it’s so much more sustainable, and more affordable, too. I also think it’s really fun, that sense of treasure hunting, to find something lovely.

I would definitely recommend looking more into woollen base layers, and try wearing it underneath a sweater or trousers; that are too chilly otherwise. Maybe start simple with some woollen socks, a hat and some fluffy mittens. That makes everything so much more cosy. For babies, I love starting out with a snuggly sheepskin to lie on, a little wool bonnet, a soft wool blanket, and probably my favourite: wool fleece products. I cannot get enough of this material - I think it’s the absolute best and very beginner-friendly. For my toddler, I now love boiled wool as well. It’s more sturdy than wool fleece, and it just feels very, very durable even during rougher play. Wool comes in so many shapes and structures - try out what works best for you.

What I’ve learned the hard way (and I’m still learning), is that not only people love wool, but little bugs do too! It sometimes is a challenge, more than with cotton for example, to keep wool items safe for a long time. Because of the natural fibre, it’s more vulnerable, and it’s good to know this beforehand. I'm getting better at storing wool safely though; in sealed bags, keeping them in the freezer or even putting them in the oven to make sure they are all clean and pest free. For dirt and spots, I use a mild detergent or gall soap, which works well for wool. Especially combined with sunlight to get leftover spots out!

Last but not least, I know wool is really fixable and mendable. It’s just that… I still don’t know how to do it myself! I have been reminding myself that I really need to learn how to fix simple, little holes, but I must admit there is quite a pile still waiting for that day to come. Who knows... maybe the arrival of the new baby will push me just a tad further on this!

I believe MamaOwl truly has the most beautiful selection of brands and products, along with the Siskin collection, which brings the most stunning colours to suit every season. I love the German brands Engel Natur, Disana, Joha, Cosilana and Ostheimer, who have all offered us items that have played a big part in our family life thus far. For example, the wool fleece jackets and suits by Engel (in collaboration with Siskin, too), my son’s first wool blanket by Disana, his soft fleece balaclava from Joha, and the lovely wool/silk/cotton mixed bodies by Cosilana. And then there's the classic wooden Ostheimer figures - so timeless and beautifully made. 

Then there are other brands like HVID, Gray Label and Kleine Schobbejak, who all produce their products very close to our home. I love the softness of their wool and cotton, staying in beautiful shape, even after many times of use. All timeless designs of which you can never get tired of.

I think my favourite order from MamaOwl is from July 2023. It contained a lovely Siskin merino rib top in ochre that I still wear underneath a sweater for example. But I especially love my son’s yellow Kleine Schobbejak Pixie coat - I bought it in a summer sale, even though the size was way too large back then (he was only one at the time, and the only available size was 4-5 years). I just fell in love instantly - I knew it would be the perfect, magical piece for him. I’m so happy I went along with ordering, as time passed by so quickly and eventually, he could start wearing it around 2.5 years. He looks like a little forest gnome with the hood on, and it’s the sweetest thing! I’m definitely saving it for our girl, too.

Besides clothing, wool definitely also plays a part in the rest of our home. Our son has been sleeping on a cosy sheepskin since he was a tiny baby, and he still loves it, thankfully! Also, there’s this big woollen throw on our sofa that we use every evening. Even during summer, when it’s really warm, but you still feel like being covered by a blanket anyway, the wool feels perfect. Recently, I finally went on with purchasing a wool filled duvet and a wool mattress topper for ourselves - the best choice for Autumn and Winter to come!

Sustainable clothes always make you feel good, in my experience. You know they’re made of great, mostly natural, materials that are wrapping your skin all day. There’s a comfort in the way it’s made and the way its presence impacts the entire planet - which is, of course, such a delicate and fragile place already.

I feel like there’s this constant stream of inspiration going on between all those like-minded parents who share their love for stores like MamaOwl. Whether it’s through Instagram, the MamaOwl Wool Lovers Club on Facebook, or in real life - I feel like it’s such an honest enthusiasm that people bring along. It’s the feeling of meeting or seeing someone and thinking, "Yes I love what’s going on here!" Once you find those people (often complete strangers!); who like to live life a certain, relatable way, it’s really fun to connect, soak it up together and enjoy the good it brings.

I am currently full on mothering, working, and focussing on growing another tiny human, so there aren’t many other plans on the horizon for now. But who knows what the future holds - I am really excited for what’s to come.