News

Happy New Year to you and your amazing family! 🎉 We can't wait to spill the beans on our epic 2023 journey, share our excitement for the adventures that lie ahead in 2024, and reveal the empowering mantras that keep us moms and founders grounded.

Let's admit it, getting little ones dressed up and herding them together for a family photoshoot can be quite the ordeal, even more so when you have to scramble at the last minute. Maybe you suddenly realized the holidays are around the corner, and you want something fresh for holiday cards! Whatever the case may be, taking DIY family photos at home can be just the ticket. It can also be fun (at least my kids think so)! So, put on some matchy or coordinated outfits, grab your phone, and say cheese 📸! What to wear? First things first - your family's outfits! We love the matchy matchy look, and the coordinated color palette. Guess what, Mightly + Origin just launched our first ever Mommy & Mini collection that's perfect for the whole family (psst, we have dresses and basics that so all littles can match mom). The prints are fun, bright, and perfect for a more playful family photoshoot. If you're more into a muted color palette, opt for colors like olive and navy, and mix and match the solid colors from one print. 

It's the BEST feeling when you find that perfect gift and you see your loved one's face light up when they open it. What feels even better? Knowing that a small and purpose-driven brand-owner did a happy dance when your order came through! We’ve curated our favorite small and impactful brands that we LOVE and we think you will too!l By shopping from ethical and sustainable brands, you can help support the planet and the small business working to make a difference. Shop our gift guide for our favorite fair trade, women-owned, and sustainable gift ideas for everyone on your nice list.

Happy Pride Month everyone! As the mother of a gender nonconforming child, every June I’m reminded just how important it is for LGBTQ+ kids to feel not just accepted, but supported and celebrated for being exactly who they are. I also know how painful it can be when that doesn’t happen. A couple of years ago my child, who was 9 at the time, shared that being a girl didn’t feel like it fit and asked to be referred to with they/them pronouns. I’ll be honest, I did not take them very seriously back then and it took many months for me to really put an effort into using their preferred pronouns (and I still don’t get it right all the time). Since then, they cut their hair, stopped wearing dresses, and changed their original feminine name to Kai. We chose Kai together and agree that it fits them well. But I can’t deny that losing their birth name, which honored my own mother, was painful for me. In many ways the whole process of supporting my child through this astronomical change has been a combination of rewarding and painful. Rewarding to see them figure out for themselves how they want to present to the world and the assertive, but polite way they explain what being non-binary means to people who don’t get it, but most importantly to see them comfortable in their own skin again. Painful because there was loss, from the frivolous, (cutting off their beautifully wild hair was almost as painful as giving up their original name) to the fundamental, the loss of the little girl who I was expecting to watch grow into a woman. What was more painful was seeing how hurtful normally thoughtful and kind people could be. When an adult tells a child they don’t want to use their pronouns because “it isn’t correct grammar”, “I’m old, it’s too hard for me to change,” or “I don’t get it”, the message sent to the child is that they do not matter. When a kid at school calls a non-binary child “it”, and no one corrects them, it tells that child they are not worthy of protection. For some kids, I’m sure those experiences would make them hide who they are. For my child, it had the opposite effect. They became a vocal and forceful advocate for themself. They consistently corrected both adults and children on their pronouns. They responded to being called “it”, by saying “you shouldn’t say that, it’s super disrespectful. And they donated A Kids Book About Being Non-binary to their class library and asked their teacher to read it to the class. While I’m incredibly proud of Kai for standing up for themself and helping to educate their school community, that's a lot to expect from a tween. And what happens to the kids who are not as comfortable confronting their peers, not to mention adults? To quote the incredible Harvey Milk, “All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.” It’s up to us, as allies and adults, to make sure our LGBTQIA+ youth know they are accepted and loved for exactly who they are, wherever they are. To quote my incredible Kai, "I know using they/them pronouns is a new thing and I know it's hard, but I really appreciate it when you try. I really, really appreciate it!" Kai, 11Pronouns: they/them/theirs

While we are all looking forward to leaping into 2021, some of us want to leave 2020 behind with some added holiday spirit to fill the air. Here are some of our favorite tips and tricks to spread joy this holiday season. Stay Cozy!! At Mightly we think whatever you wear for sleep or lounging is just as important as what you wear out and about. This season, we are introducing our new line of 100% Organic Cotton, Fair Trade Certified Pajama Sets in the most buttery soft rib knits, along with our award winning “No Nasties PJ’s,” made with the same organic cotton plus a bit of stretch. Our new PJ’s have the same soft and stretchy necklines for easy dressing and our signature flat seams are designed to keep kids comfy throughout the night or while snuggled up watching a movie. And while sleep is one way to stay cozy, we also recommend indulging in our favorite Cacoco drinking chocolate. There’s nothing more fun than gathering friends and family for a warm cup of chocolate, but not just any chocolate. These Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate blends are combined with organic superfood herbs and spices to make for a different and unique type of drink. These naturally rich and creamy drinks are filled with beneficial nutrients and available in a variety of flavors to fit everyone’s spirit. Whether you are the Spicy Dark type, the Mint Chocolate variety or the classic Rich Dark, there is guaranteed to be something for everyone to enjoy. Dress Up and Zoom In! Whether your gatherings are socially distanced or on Zoom, there is still plenty reason to dress up. Our sugar plum fairies love Mightly’s Skater Dresses for all the celebratory twirls and spins. This season, we’ve added some classic bright jewel tones, like a ruby red, amethyst raspberry, and a topaz turquoise among our fun prints like gold leopard and confetti prints and even a rainbow stripe. For the little ones that like wearing a little sparkle, we love supporting jewelry made from fair trade artists like the beautifully made beaded bracelets from Aid Through Trade. These colorful bracelets are fun to mix and match and trade with friends. Plus, they are available in adult sizes and mommy and me, so you can share your commitment to supporting Nepalese artists with your kiddos. Love Art, Wear Art! We love using our Dresses and T-Shirts as canvases to showcase beautiful artwork, especially by our partner artist Lili Arnold. If you love our signature Lili’s Garden Dress or the limited edition print Night Crows or Poppies t-shirts, you can also enjoy her artwork as a print to adorn your wall. Lili combines her beautiful hand block printing technique with her love of nature’s beautiful objects to create unique pieces of artwork. Treat Yourself! OK…we haven’t forgotten about you on our “who has been nice” list. Whether you share with a BFF or decide to keep for yourself, there’s simply nothing better than indulging in the best panettone. Our friends at From Roy are nothing short of serious when it comes to delivering a luxury and iconic panettone that starts with a small slice but inevitably doesn’t stop there. It’s all the Buzz! It’s no secret, bees are amazing creatures and when alarming news of the honey bee epidemic started to gain mainstream attention, three friends came together to build 100 beehives to help support their local ecosystem. This was just the start to how Bee Bella began their mission to make positive change. Now, the company gives consumers a chance to enjoy a byproduct of the bees -- naturally, lip balm! Every purchase of Bee Bella lip balm contributes to research funding for the honey bee epidemic, they source only organic ingredients, and the lip balm is Fair Trade Certified™. At Bee Bella, you can do good and feel good! Sugar and Spice, and All Things Nice! If you are Bay Area local moms like us, you have probably visited Oakland’s best little theme park, Fairyland, too many times to count. A fun day at Fairyland can easily continue as you explore Lake Merritt and up Grand Ave, where if you follow your nose, you will undoubtedly find Oaktown Spice Shop. With some of the best varieties of salts, herbs, and spices to choose from, this shop carries everything to spice a favorite rub, dress up a marinade, or flavor a baked treat. Their salt selection is amazing too, along with teas and other herbs but our favorite is their Saigon Cinnamon. Our family adds it to everything from homemade pancake batter, fruit shakes, or as fairy dust on warm rice pudding. If you aren’t a Bay Area resident, no problem...it’s all available online! At Mightly, we love the idea of keeping the planet and people in mind during the holiday season. However, sometimes the best gift is simply lending a hand, sending a note to a friend or offering a bright smile and some cheer.#mightlyme#fairtradecertified

If your household is like mine, you are not planning on ditching Halloween this year, but ditching store bought, plastic, and single-use costumes? YES!  Halloween is a big deal for families and this year there is no reason to miss out on any of the fun. Whether you are planning a socially distant candy-treat scavenger hunt, or a spooky walk around the neighborhood counting pumpkins and goblins, a great costume is still the key to having fun. In recent years, about 65% of Americans purchased costumes for Halloween instead of swapping used ones with friends or DIY-ing. If that isn’t bad enough, the majority of purchased costumes end up in landfills, generating spooky and scary plastic waste. YIKES! It’s time to get creative! If you aren’t so much of a maker but want a quick and eco-friendly solution, start with pajamas. Mightly Pajamas are a great organic cotton base for any costume since they are comfy and keep kids cozy throughout the day and into the night. Animal print pajamas like our Gold Leopard or Pink Leopard are perfect for transforming into a cat with a homemade fuzzy tail, a headband with fuzzy ears attached, and a simple face painting of whiskers and a pink nose. Sounds puurrrfect! Ready to zip, zap, zoom to the moon? Space-themed costumes are great because they create reasons for kids to explore cool facts about planets, why the moon changes shape each night, and gravity. If you are looking for a sibling-friendly costume, here’s one that is out of this world. Mightly Galaxy Pajamas are a colorful take on what you see in the night sky. We have shooting stars running across a midnight navy background, just like you are looking through a telescope.  What about the planets, your little ones ask? Here’s an idea . . . how about taking some scraps of non-toxic modeling dough or make your own with an easy recipe. Next, form your favorite planets (and maybe even some imaginary ones too) and leave them out to dry. Don’t forget to insert a bamboo stick or something pokey through the center of each planet before drying. Once the planets are ready, find a scrap piece of string or ribbon to thread through each planet “bead” to form a necklace or belt, and get ready to orbit! Your space partner or resident astronaut is also very important. Do you have any insulated box liners from a recent delivery? If so, turn it upside down and cut a small opening at the top large enough for a head to pass through comfortably. Next, line up where the armholes need to be and cut holes to allow arms to move freely up and down. For pants, you can do the same thing, but this time the opening is right side up and the leg holes will be at the flat bottom. You can cinch these two pieces together with a belt or tape, but if you do the latter, make sure to include a slit in the back for easy on and off, especially for bathroom breaks. Lastly, transform your bike helmet into an astronaut helmet and snow boots into moon walkers. This costume is one small step for fun and one giant step in keeping things green!  If you are thinking more “blast from the past,” start with a twirly skirt or a Skater Dress. Simply add a belt at the waist and a neck scarf knotted to the side or tied to a pony tail, covering the rubber band. Next, put on a pair of white fold-over socks and some simple tennis shoes or flats. If you feel up for an extra challenge, cut some ribbon and sew (or glue) on a dog leash to the skirt with a few loops. Then, take some felt or fabric that won’t fray easily on the edges, and cut out a poodle silhouette. You can add some decorations like rhinestones to a collar or draw on face details too. Then it’s time for a trip to the soda fountain and a sock hop!  Are your kids readers and do they easily get lost following their favorite characters in stories of adventures and magical journeys? A favorite author and also local Bay Area resident, Michael Chabon, wrote The Astonishing Secret Life of Awesome Man and we have just the outfit to match. Our Long Sleeve Organic Cotton Raglan T-Shirt in red and navy is just what you need. To complete the outfit, pair it with jeans and red sneakers. Of course, if you want to keep your secret identity safe, be prepared to add a cape and eye mask! Best witches for a haunting Halloween!   Mightly Made for Mightly Kids #MightlyMe ∙ #ShareYourFair ∙ #OrganicCertified