First birth in my life
In September 2021, I gave birth for the first time in my life.
Up until now, I've spent my life using my time for myself.
I remember that suddenly, another person (a child) appeared before me and I had to live with the responsibility of another person's life, and although I loved my child, it was not easy to accept this huge change.
(In short, I was not prepared in any way for the feelings of becoming a parent.)
A handmade baby outfit
Before giving birth, when I had no idea that I would become a parent, I did my best to look for a hospital dress to wear when I was discharged from the hospital.
However, I couldn't find a design that I liked, so I designed my own, made a clothing pattern, and handmade some baby clothes.
Baby clothes are small and require a lot of labor, and the organic cotton fabric is extremely difficult to sew, so it took me many, many days to finally make one outfit.
When I put it on my eldest daughter at the time of her release from the hospital, I thought, "Ah, I have really given birth to this human being, and my life with my daughter is about to begin." Although I felt complex emotions, a mixture of joy and anxiety, I also realized that I would be facing the "human being" I had given birth to every day and living as a parent.
Childbirth and child-rearing are the ultimate "real"
Since returning to my parents' house, I've been busy every day trying new things. Did he drink his milk? Did he sleep well? What clothes should he wear?
It was the first time I had ever had to deal with the necessities of life, including food, clothing, and shelter, and coming from the IT industry, I felt like I was experiencing the "ultimate reality" of giving birth and raising a human being.
Nowadays, everything has become convenient, and even if you don't have a physical object, you can easily do things on a screen. However, when it comes to giving birth and raising a baby, although technology has developed, such as painless childbirth, the fundamental aspects remain the same.
Ovulation, fertilization, implantation, pregnancy, giving birth to a child while putting a physical strain on the mother's body, adults caring for a baby that is literally "helpless" all the time, and watching that baby grow day by day, both physically and mentally.
Every time I see my children, I feel that it is difficult, but that is also what makes them so precious.
Altering a romper that has outgrown it
The rompers I originally made were too big for a newborn, so I thought, "Maybe he can wear this for about a year."
However, my child grew rapidly and outgrew this clothing when he was seven months old.
As I took monthly photos of my baby wearing these clothes, the idea of "feeling a growth through clothing" and "capturing a moment while creating memories that will be recorded for a certain period of time" fit with my own values, so I thought "I want to continue this until 12 months no matter what", and had some alterations made to the clothes so that they could be worn for the remaining six months.
This garment would later become the prototype for Rico & Bambo's rompers.
Summary: Experience of child rearing through clothes
Memorable photos include the first time you put baby clothes on, and memorable photos of your baby growing up by the month, when you realized he or she had outgrown them.
Through these real and authentic experiences, and with trial and error, I gradually and naturally became a parent myself.
Something I felt strongly about my own baby clothes was that
"Clothes are a way of making records and memories, and a way of making those moments more vivid."
That is it.
Giving birth and raising a child is not an easy thing to do; it is one of the biggest changes in life.
Both children and parents change, and because this is a limited and irreplaceable time with your baby, we want you to create many wonderful memories.
With this in mind, we decided to start a company with the concept of sustainable babywear that can be adjusted and worn for a long time.