Years ago, I embarked on a quest for a beautiful baby gift for a dear friend and colleague. I was immersed in my career at the time, consulting for various fashion brands, so my go-to was online shopping. It was even what I was doing at the time—helping brands launch e-com sites—so I didn’t think it would be challenging to be the customer this time. And yet… it was.
I was looking for a gift that was useful and exquisitely made, and I wanted it also to be joyful and pretty. As a lover of color and artful prints, I was hoping to find a blanket so beautiful that my friend would carry it with her everywhere she went, along with a soft, comforting playsuit that could one day become a keepsake. Being a baby gift, organic fabric was also important. And yet I had no idea then how difficult it was to find textiles that were both organic and unique. Generally, they were white or beige, aptly dubbed “the sad beige” by the Wall Street Journal.
When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I pivoted and found a few different items on a popular children’s online marketplace. I ordered a knit playsuit, a cashmere bonnet, and a snuggly pair of socks. I was feeling pretty good about this gift, anticipating what my friend might feel when she unwrapped it and felt the softness of the hat and saw the absolute cuteness of those tiny socks in the palm of her hand.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have that experience.
Roughly ten days later, I received a thank you note (gah - I forgot to tell her “no notes necessary”!) that read more or less, “Dear Ro, Thank you for the adorable socks for Kaia. I can’t wait to put them on her.” I couldn’t believe she received only the socks and thought that was all I was sending her.
Please don’t get me wrong: great baby gifts come in all shapes, sizes and price points (I feel pretty good about our own gorgeous $24 “perfect” bib). But this friend, whose desk was next to mine and was witness to my online shopping, would have been surprised if that was all I was giving her. Guilty as charged!
At the time, online marketplaces fulfilled orders with dropship partners, meaning unless you purchase all items from one single brand, you receive different items, in different packages, at different times. The vision of one single, beautifully wrapped gift—certainly my vision at the time—is not possible.
Fast forward a couple years after this incident, when my co-founder, Erin, had her third son, Timo. That’s when the idea for Timo & Violet was born. I’ll let her share her side of the story in the next post, but for me, it was all about solving the problem of gift-giving.
Today, I’m proud that Timo & Violet offers a curated selection of baby gifts that embody luxury, beauty and thoughtful design. And just as important, we provide a seamless end-to-end experience for our customers, wrapping every gift—whether a single bib or multiple items—in our signature gift box and ribbon, with a handwritten enclosure card.
From our handpainted Tropical Chinoiserie shawl blanket to monogrammed robes, rompers, burp cloths and other necessities that add a touch of individuality, Timo & Violet's gifts are more than just objects; they are expressions of love, care, and impeccable taste.
Here's to the joy of finding, giving and relishing in the perfect gift.
💜💜💜Ronit