Do you ever find a brand and feel like they have just got everything right? That’s how I felt when I first came across Muddy Puddles, a kids’ outdoor clothing brand.
Now I know that most parents think of Peppa Pig when they hear the words ‘muddy puddles’, but however sick you are of listening to that theme tune, don’t let it put you off this awesome clothing brand.
They are a company with a conscience, a company that encourages kids to get outside and play in the open air, and a company that opt for designs that don’t make you want to vomit.
I’ll tell you more about why I like them here, and it goes much further than simple aesthetics or price.
No Such Thing as Bad Weather – Just the Wrong Kit
I have always liked this little nugget of advice, and it just so happens to be the belief on which Muddy Puddles was built.
The company started on a farm in Devon over 20 years ago, so outdoorsy people were behind the brand from the start. A woman named Susan Cullen laid her smallest child on the kitchen table and drew around him in order to make him a puddle suit. This was the very first piece of Muddy Puddle clothing ever made.
Susan made more and sold them locally at markets and country fairs, and the brand took off. She created a whole line of outdoor clothing (and a few indoor bits too, like pyjamas), then took the business online where it did equally well.
What I love is that Muddy Puddles encourages parents to get their kids outdoors in all weathers. The message here is that rain isn’t something to shelter from, it’s something to play in – so long as you have the right kit, of course.
Susan stepped away from the business in 2009, but it was taken on by Natasha Ascott, a mum of three, who has grown Muddy Puddles to new heights. Now it’s one of the leading outdoor clothing brands for kids in the country, and deservedly so.
What They Sell
All of the kit sold by Muddy Puddles is unisex. This is another big tick for me. I’m not a fan of the stereotypical boys in blue and girls in pink thing.
It’s all designed to be more on the minimalist side in terms of how it looks, too. You won’t find stuff covered in rainbows, unicorns, and footballs. It’s all cute stuff, don’t get me wrong, but it’s much more stylish than the stuff you find in supermarkets and Primark.
You can probably break their line down into three sections:
- Waterproofs
- Clothing
- UV Swimwear
We own a few items of Muddy Puddles clothing so I can attest to the quality, it’s all really well made stuff. It looks good too, and always fits well. We all know how good kids are at destroying their clothes, but the stuff we have has been passed down through three siblings and is still holding up.
Waterproofs
Things like puddle suits (all in one waterproofs), jackets, changing robes, wellies, gloves and mittens, and even the likes of snow boots and dungarees fall into this category. The collection covers staying dry in all weathers, whether puddle stomping in the rain like Peppa Pig, or wading through a stream in the summer.
Clothing
Anything that isn’t waterproof, basically. Like welly socks, fleeces, pyjamas, base layers, thermal leggings, the even have snoods, baby grows, and sleep suits for really tiny tots. It’s the kind of kit you would need to go walking in the hills, or to play outdoors on a countryside lodge holiday. All the snuggly stuff.
UV Swimwear
This is quite niche, and it’s the only category where there are some boys and girls differences for obvious reasons. So the swimwear section is all made from sunsafe, UPF50+ fabrics. How many brands can say that? They have swim suits, surf suits, rash vests, swim shorts, poncho towels, and sun hats.
Sustainability
This is the third big tick for Muddy Puddles clothing. All of their clothes are eco-friendly and made with sustainability in mind. I know everyone says this now, but Muddy Puddles actually mean it.
For example, their swimwear and waterproofs are made from 100% recycled materials and all have non-toxic finishes. They have a pre-loved marketplace on their website where customers can sell the things their kids don’t fit into anymore. Their sales are always incredible because they would rather unsold items go to a good home than end up being binned.
Most impressively, they are B Corp certified. You probably don’t know what that means, not many people do, but basically, B Corp status is the gold standard for sustainability. Only 20 fashion and footwear brands in the UK have it, and they all have to meet rigorous social and environmental standards covering five key impact areas: governance, workers, community, environment and customers.
Their packaging is made from corn starch, the tags are recycled, the cotton is organic, the staff all have very flexible contracts that allow a good work/life balance, all of their partners are vetted, and they use Feefo (an independent review site) to collect customer feedback and, crucially, they act on it.
Muddy Puddles is a wonderful company, and best of all, they have absolutely nothing to do with Peppa Pig.