We're ever so excited to have stock of the beautiful new ranges by Piccalilly, we think you'll agree that  they're absolutely gorgeous!  Piccalilly design organic baby clothes, children's clothes and gifts  that are bright, modern and of course childish!  They're made from the best quality organic cotton to the highest ethical and fair trade standards.  We've tried and tested lots of Piccalilly clothing on our own little ones, and also given them as gifts.. we love them because they still look good wash after wash and wear after wear!

The new Cotton Knit Collection for babies up to 12 months is available in two colours - dusty pink and twilight.

Cotton knit play-suit 

The Tomato Stripe  range has clothing and gifts for babies and children up to the age of 5.  We love the bold stripes and bright red and royal blue. This collection has quite a few pieces including a fantastic sausage dog scarf (for children over 3yrs) and a stripy playsuit for babies.

Tomato Flapper Hat

The Cornflower Stripe range is another lovely collection of Flapper hats, beanies, scarfs, playsuits and bibs.  We love the colour combinations!

Cornflower Stripe Peruvian hat

The Ditsy Dot & Floral range has lovely bits and bobs for both babies and children.  We love the ditsy floral sausage dog scarf.. sooo cute!  And the pyjamas below are available in both Children's and baby sizes in two different prints - gorgeous!

Ditsy Floral Pyjamas

We just know you're going to LOVE this collection as much as us..  We'll leave you with these beautiful sausage dog scarfs we keep going on about...

              Click on the images to buy online now!

Have you heard of  Pebble brand by Little Hathi?  Little Hathi distribute beautiful crochet and knitted toys by PEBBLE in the UK and Europe and we think that they're wonderful!  Pebble crochet toys are becoming very popular and when you look at them it's easy to see why!

We have two little octopus rattle toys to give away, one in blue/green and one in red/pink.  There will be two winners so please specify what colour toy you would like.

All you need to do to enter is answer this question by commenting below...  What name would you give your new Octopus toy?

For more chances to win see bonus entries below -

• FOLLOW Little Hathi on Twitter
• LIKE Little Hathi on Facebook
• BLOG about this competition - mention us on your own blog
• SHARE a link to this competition on your facebook page
• RETWEET this post

It is important that you leave separate comments for each possible entry each comment number is counted as an entry!

All entries need to be with us before midnight on Sunday the 10th of April 2011

This competition is now closed.  Congratulations to Caroline (comment 44 - Pink/red octopus) & Jessica (comment 59 blue/green octopus)

It's hard to believe that Sophie the Giraffe (Sophie la Girafe)  will be 50 years old this year.  She's even more popular today than she was all those years ago!  Made in France, Sophie is given as a newborn gift  to 9 out of 10 French babies.  She's fast becoming a hugely popular toy here in UK and worldwide too.

So what's the secret to Sophie's success?

Well, she's not "changed with the times"  in fact, she still looks like a 60's toy!  Her retro style is not a bad thing though.. I think you'll agree with us that Sophie's very cool!  She has a cute little face with big dark eyes and she squeaks when her tummy's squeezed.   Sophie's a very lightweight toy, and her slender shape is great for inexperienced little hands.  Babies always seem latch on to Sophie as one of their very favorite toys.  You can almost guarantee that Sophie will go straight into baby's mouth... and because she's made from 100% natural rubber, which is soft and non toxic you can be sure that your teething baby's being soothed safely and naturally.

An award winning toy, Sophie's made from 100% natural rubber (phtalate-free) derived from the sap of the Havea tree

· Natural Rubber is soft, safe & non-toxic for baby to teethe & chew.
· Lightweight & easy to grasp for tiny hands.
· Painted with non-toxic, food-grade paints.
· Stimulating to baby’s senses with her soft colors & gentle squeak.
· Bumpy head helps soothe sore, teething gums.
· Sophie makes a soft squeak when squeezed - such fun for a baby!
· Slender, flexible & soft - babies love manipulating & teething Sophie.
· Sophie the Giraffe is Phthalate-Free with No Vinyl (no-PVC)!
· Born in France in 1961, Sophie the Giraffe is a classic!
· 7” Tall (17cm)
· 0-12 months +

Sophie the Giraffe can be purchased on-line at Babi Pur.  Click here to buy Sophie now!

Little Hathi, a family business based in North Wales distribute the gorgeous range of crochet toys and knitted baby gifts by Pebble to gift shops and boutiques all over the UK and Europe.   These cute pixie rattles are part of the new range arriving early in the spring...

Little Hathi have been importing fair trade crochet toys and gifts from Hathay Bunano based in Bangladesh since 2007.  The Pebble brand was launched in 2010 and the unique and quirky toys are proving to be a huge success!  One of their most popular items is a gorgeous crochet octopus rattle and it's easy to see why.. he has a huge smile, big eyes and 8 dangley legs to chew on!

Little Hathi are looking for new shops and boutiques to stock these beautiful toys.  If you have a shop get in touch with Little Hathi now!  email - wholesale@littlehathi.co.uk

Little Hathi,  UK distributors of the Pebble Toys and gifts are a  friendly family company based in Wales.  Little Hathi don’t think you should have to choose between beautiful products and fair trade values. They believe you can have both, and they're committed to sourcing ethical and fair trade toys that are irresistibly cute and cuddly.

Every member of the Pebble family is lovingly hand sewn or crocheted in Bangladesh. The artisans are paid a fair wage and the employment which has been created for them is local, flexible and safe.

Little Hathi have been working closely with the Pebble brand since it was launched.  They’re very proud to be associated with this pioneering business which we believe will make a difference to so many lives in rural Bangladesh.

Little Hathi are also thrilled that there are plans in the near future to produce every item in the Pebble range with official FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations) labels, which is currently unavailable for this kind of product. The FLO label is instantly recognisable to shoppers; it’s the one that’s used on everyday products like bananas, coffee and chocolate. By introducing new processes, the Pebble brand is hoping to lead the way for the handicraft and toy sector to be FLO labelled.

Come and meet some of the Pebble family.

“My name’s Copyn and I love my stripes. I’m always smiling and if you shake me gently you can hear me rattle.

I’m made of 100% washable cotton, and my friends and I are all fair-trade toys. This means that the ladies who made me will be paid an honest wage and have good working conditions. Good jobs help them to look after their families.”

“Hello, I’m Gwdi and I’m a podgy little baby owl. My wings haven’t grown much yet, so I can’t fly away, but I know you’ll love my big blue eyes.

I’ve got a rattle inside, so I can make lots of noise, and if I get messy I love going for a spin in the washing machine.”

As well as adorable toys and rattles, Pebble make cute cotton booties, knitted tea sets and crochet make believe cakes that are almost sweet enough to eat. The toys are unique, quirky and so cute, that our team of young testers for Little Hathi have already fallen in love with them.

It’s a glorious day here in Wales with the sun shining – a real autumnal treat!

Without wanting to sound too much like a misery-guts, I’m afraid that all good things have to come to an end and I’m sure that this fine weather won’t last for long. 

If your tiny tots could do with something to keep them warm and snug in the autumn chill, we highly recommend Pili Pala Childrenswear’s range.  Made from organic cotton or a mix of organic cotton and recycled fabric, your children will be snug as a bug in a rug whilst looking über trendy with the Scandinavian inspired range, which is made here in Wales.  Their funky clothes can be mixed and matched and being largely unisex, passed from one sibling to another – talk about being green!

One of the best items is their brown and green jumpsuit which is a fantastic cover-all.  It’s great for those times when your kids have managed to cover themselves from head to toe in paint, chocolate or anything else that comes to hand and you have to strip them down to their nappy or vest.  Throwing on one of the Pili Pala jumpsuits is a great solution.  They’re also handy for putting over clothes when it’s just a bit nippy or even after swimming when your skin goes a bit sticky and you’d rather be in something loose and comfy.  Go on, give it a go, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

The little tin shed on the island of Ratankandi in Bangladesh is brimming with the sounds of productivity. Animated laughter drifts out through open windows before being swept away with the breeze that blows along the Ganges River bank. The dull shed walls fade away among the vibrant colours of the wool and cotton that are scattered along the workbenches, and before the end of the day will be lovingly transformed from lifeless fabrics to quirky, cute children’s toys.

The people of Ratankandi in Bangladesh are among the poorest in the world. This little island in the middle of the Ganges River has to contend with flooding, poverty, terrible living conditions, high rates of unemployment and little government support. Many women are uneducated and illiterate, and many men are employed to do arduous, physical and menial tasks that are often poorly paid. Providing shelter, food and clothes for a family is often almost impossible.

But one woman’s vision and dedication has set out to change the fortunes of this remote community, and in doing so, has radically transformed the lives of thousands of rural Bangladeshi families.

Samantha Morshed and her husband created the Hathay Bunano (which translates to Hand-Made) brand, in 2005. Samantha set about teaching forty women in Ratankandi the skills of sewing, crochet and knitting, so they could then be employed producing handmade toys, blankets and clothes for children that are exported to the UK, Australia, America and Europe. At Little Hathi we’re proud and excited to be closely involved with this fantastic Fair Trade business.

Samantha firmly believes in the power of social enterprise projects that provide fair working conditions and employment for women in rural areas. Bangladesh has an established textile industry, and there are many huge factories in large and hostile industrial cities that draw workers from rural areas to work long hours for small wages and slum-like accommodation. Samantha believes that providing opportunities for women to learn new skills and gain fair and safe employment in their own rural communities is the best way to tackle poverty. Not only can women and their families stay and work safely among the support of family and friends, but they can also contribute to local economies; eventually building stronger communities that can pull themselves out of the poverty trap.

Hathay Bunano have gone from strength to strength in the last five years, and now employ over 3,500 women across Bangladesh. Not only is the company a fair-trade, community based project, but it is a profitable company, with all profits being put back into the business. Not relying on donations or government hand outs means that Hathay Bunano can provide long term and sustainable help and support.

Little Hathi are proud to have worked closely with Hathay Bunano since our launch in 2007. As well as stocking the full range of Pebble Toys (Hathay Bunano’s new brand range), we are now the UK and European distributors for the Pebble brand.

We are also thrilled and very excited to be able have our own exclusive designs and ideas, lovingly created here at Little Hathi hq, and hand-made for us by the Hathay Bunano team. We know you’ll love them as much as we do.

And finally, let us introduce you to  Hathi. He’s our kind and caring little elephant who helps us spread the word about Hathay Bunano’s good work, as well as Little Hathi’s commitment to sourcing ethical and Fair Trade toys and clothes that are irresistibly cute and cuddly. He’s already part of the Babi Pur family!

How cool are these!  A fantastic alternative to Converse kids shoes and available in children's sizes 7-11.   Fairtrade  & Organic certified cotton canvas and fairly traded fsc rubber soles.  Available now in red blue black or pink at Babi Pur.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 is upon us and Piccalilly have just launched their new designs made from Fairtrade certified cotton.  So what is the 'Piccalilly Way'?  Well lets find out . . .

"Our transparent supply chain

All Piccalilly’s organic cotton is sourced through the CHETNA project in India and certified FAIRTRADE by the Fairtrade Foundation. Our manufacturing partner pre-finance’s the CHETNA Farmers and takes ownership of the cotton straight from the ginning factory, that way no one gets in a pickle about where it’s come from! The Chetna project helps farmers to convert to organic methods of farming through funding and education. It’s an on going project that we’re all investing in and each year it grows, taking on more farmers. Last count there were over 1500 Chetna farmers!

Why organic cotton? - The farmers side

The impact of using harmful chemicals within cotton production is huge. The farmers health becomes compromised and farmers can end up in a cycle of debt as they borrow more and more money to pay for them, often more than the value of the cotton itself! The suicide rate amongst cotton farmers has long been a concern too. Organic cotton is grown without the use of nasty chemicals. By converting to organic methods of production the farm workers and their local environment becomes free from toxic chemicals. And that’s not all, the cotton produced is silky soft, as well as strong and free from toxic residues.

Why organic cotton? - Because it’s best for baby!

Because a babies skin is 5 times thinner than a grown up it’s really important to care what we put on their skin. Organic cotton is not only softer, it is free from harmful chemical residues and the result is a cotton that is less likely to trigger allergies and much kinder on delicate skin. Most parents want to give their babies the best start when they are little and we are 100% certain that clothing made from organic cotton is a great start.

Ethical manufacturing & a 20% share in the profits for the Chetna farmers

The processing of Piccalilly’s organic cotton is safe in the hands of our manufacturing partner (the same one’s who kindly pre-finance the Chetna farmers!) This forward thinking company gently process the cotton into fabric and manufacture the garments with great care. No formaldehyde, solvents, toxic chemicals, silicone based softeners or optical whiten are used ensuring the end result is free from toxic residues regularly found in garmenters manufacturing. As an SA 8000 certified factory good wages (not minimum wages) are paid and strictly no child labour. Free meals are provided daily, free health care to the workers and their families and all employee’s have the opportunity to progress and develop their roles within the company. But that’s not all! To enable the Chetna farmers to enjoy the bigger fruits of success in today’s growing market for organic and Fairtrade clothing we are delighted to tell you the farmers own a 20% share of our manufacturing company - now that’s what we call Fair Trade!"

Taken from the new Piccalilly spring catalogue 2010

Piccalilly Fairtrade and Organic Baby Clothing - shop here

At Babi Pur we are committed to ethical, safe and sustainable toys!

Plan Toys have issued the following statement to their customers: