Carly, owner and designer lives in Melbourne with her husband Dan and son Hugo. She is a textile and graphic designer who has worked in the childrenswear industry designing textile prints, placement prints and fashion ranges for the past 8 years.
“It is an amazing feeling to walk down the street and pass a little person wearing my designs and it never wears off – I am always so proud”
While on maternity leave Carly got back to sewing again and was invited with her 3 month old son to a Halloween party, so on went the thinking cap and came up with the Redback spider costume made from onesies, it was an absolute hit! Everyone loved it and wanted photos with her little Spider Baby, and he was so cosy and happy in his costume he slept through most of the party. After that friends kept asking Carly what he would wear for Christmas. The Reindeer was created and once again very well received. Carly and Hugo were almost mobbed at Myer when he was sitting on Santa’s knee as a little Red Nosed Reindeer – of course then came Easter and a Bunny.
Carly’s friends am family were asking for some themselves and soon she was convinced to start selling them.
“I came up with with the name Lil’ Creatures and set up an Etsy shop and after making my first sale 19 minutes later, I’ve never looked back”
The Lil’ Creatures range now includes a Ladybird, Frog Prince, Missy Frog, a Monkey (Hugo’s 1st birthday outfit), Bunnies of every colour, Redback Spider, a Koala Bear, Fox and a Penguin Suit (to lead the wedding party down the isle at her little sister Claire’s wedding last year). She also make custom costumes that to date have included a chameleon, Max from Where the Wild thing Are, a Panda, a Skunk and Hoot the Owl from ABC.
“It has been quite an experience setting up a business, coming up the the name and logo, website and email address, and figuring out all the paperwork for making it legit. I’ve now sold around 100 costumes around the world, America, Canada, New Zealand, England, Belgium, Israel, Dubai and many of course here in Australia too. I love hearing from the customers with feedback and photos of their babies in my Lil’ Creatures definitely makes all the hours sewing and dyeing worth while”
For more information head to the Lil’ Creatures website www.lilcreatures.com.au or www.etsy.com/shop/lilcreatures.
