We often hear members new to the babywearing community asking “What are Tula Signature Carriers and why are they so special?" And the truth is, it’s quite complicated, so we thought we’d share some insights to FAQs:
How did they start?
As most of you know, Baby Tula was born from the search for an ergonomic, comfortable AND stylish babywearing option. Our founders’ love for the artistry in babywearing inspired the concept of crafting our baby carriers utilizing beautiful and unique woven wraps from across the world in 2012.
How are they different from other Baby Tula Carriers?
Our original cotton canvas line of baby carriers and our Signature Collection share many fantastic features that make them supportive, stylish, and intuitive to use. Our Signature Woven Carriers and our original canvas / twill Tula Carriers are offered in the same structural sizes and styles: Explore Baby Carrier, Free-To-Grow Baby Carrier, Half Buckle Carrier, Standard Baby Carrier, and Toddler Carrier as well as the Preschool Carrier.
However, our Tula baby carriers are often made with printed cotton canvas or twill fabric whereas our Signature carriers are made using material that has been woven together to create richly detailed or intricate designs. While offering the ease of a soft structured buckle carrier, the Signature woven carriers celebrate textile artistry and the unique feel of woven wrap material.
How are Tula Signature Carriers made?
Multiple visionaries come together to create every single Tula Signature woven carrier, beginning with the variety of woven wrap fabric that is sourced from around the world. Each woven piece is creatively and thoughtfully designed with the intention of producing a functional art piece. Often times, the woven material is produced by small, female-owned companies who have a long tradition in textiles that combine intricate patterns and designs into the weave of each woven. We also collaborate with textile artists who hand-weave the material in very small amounts on a hand loom.
The woven process is highly detailed. Even the threads used to weave each woven piece are examined and selected based on their fiber content, their weight, their color, and the way they move. These factors contribute to how the finished woven wrap will feel. We carefully select weavers and textile companies that align with our design aesthetic and our company values. In some very special cases, like with Cameo and Angel of Meeyoo Handwoven, we work in unison to develop a specific woven design to be produced for Tula Signature Carriers.Once the woven wrap material is created and in our hands, our Tula Signature carriers are crafted at our original production facility in Bialystok, Poland. Each woven carrier is handmade, start to finish, by one single seamstress.
Many of these seamstresses have been working with Baby Tula since our very beginnings. With profound care and attention to the woven design placement, each Signature carrier effortlessly expresses the combination of artistry and luxurious soft support. Long fluid pieces of woven material are transformed into a soft structured baby carrier with our distinct streamlined design, soft padding, and webbing.
What are the differences between “Full” and “Half” Signature Carrier? And what is a Coast?
Signature woven carriers come in two different types: ‘Full’ and ‘Half’. Each type uses a different amount of woven material to create the carrier. The Full woven carrier is made entirely out of woven fabric meaning that the shoulder straps, body panel, waistband, and detachable hood are all made with a woven material, front and back. A Full Signature carrier is amazingly soft, moldable, and are a customer favorite! The Half Signature carrier is made with the woven fabric only on the outside of the shoulder straps, body panel, and waistband. It has canvas or cotton twill material on the inner shell of the carrier. The detachable hood is made with woven material. Some find that the canvas reinforces the woven material to make it feel more supportive.
Both Full and Half Signature carriers can also come in a "Coast" version. "Coast" is the name of our breathable mesh line of carriers that are made with a mesh center panel and mesh hood. Signature Coast carriers are an amazing marriage of style and function!
What is a “Fancy” Signature Carrier?
In very limited quantities, we are able to acquire rare, handwoven, and even hand-painted wrap material. Tula Signature Carriers made using highly sought after handwoven material are sometimes called “Fancies” by our community.
The process of weaving these artistic fabrics by hand is both gorgeous and very work intensive. It takes many hours, sometimes weeks, to complete. As a reflection of the longer, specialized production or the rarity of the materials, handwoven wraps have a higher retail price than the other woven fabric we use to craft our Signature collection.
The weavers that create handwoven fabrics tend to work on their own or in a small studio. We are so honored that our collaborations allow us to support, female-owned businesses.
Watch a video of how a handwoven Signature Carrier is made:
How much do Signature Carriers cost?
The woven fabrics we use to create our Signature collection can range in price based on the material, length, weaving intricacy, and rarity. Tula Signature Carriers begin at 215 Euro and can go up to 850 Euro if they are a highly-exclusive sought after handwoven carriers.
While the Signature collection has been both popular and limited, we have been working to provide more opportunities to own a Signature carrier. We know how much meaning and joy that our woven carriers can bring someone because we feel the same way!
Are Signature Carriers always sold out? How can I buy one?
The limited nature of our Signature woven carriers does not allow us to have large quantities of them. However, some of our partners are generous enough to provide enough of their woven material to allow us to highlight their designs in a rotating collection, readily available for purchase on our website Baby Tula UK. Limited edition releases are hosted a few times per year.