What We're Wearing: Vol. 3 (H&M)

It's time for another installment of "What We're Wearing" and we have decided to highlight H&M!

H&M is known for giving the everyday person accessibility to trendy, fashion-forward styles at a great price point. We love what they're doing with their children's line and are even more impressed with their sustainability efforts. 

From working to conditions to wages, H&M strives for a harmonious relationship with its employees, animals, and the environment. Check out their sustainability efforts here. 

This is what a partnership between Friendly Rooster and H&M might look like from our point of view. 

Enjoy! 

What We're Wearing: Vol. 2 (Tea Collection)

It's time for another installment of "What We're Wearing" and we have decided to highlight Tea Collection.

Tea Collection. There are so many great things to say about this children’s clothing line; from its deliciously soft cotton fabric, to its global inspiration, to its vibrant pattern and color usage. The company started in 2002 and has since elevated to be the well-known company it is today. 

Tea Collection’s current inspiration is India and we may be partial, but we believe our shoes are a perfect match for their clothing! Here are some examples below of how to mix and match Tea Collection with Friendly Rooster.

Other News: We just sent out pairs of charity shoes to our partners so that impoverished American children can have a safe, dependable pair of shoes to get them off on the right foot! 

What We're Wearing: Vol.1 (Mini Boden)

Being a website that only offers shoes/accessories, we like to have fun and imagine what our shoes would be like with some of the popular children’s clothing brands on the market. In this series, "What We’re Wearing", we will highlight our products alongside our favorite clothing lines to create a complete ensemble!

First up we have Mini Boden. Mini Boden is the children’s line from a great British company called Boden. Boden introduced their line for little people in 1996 and its popularity has grown immensely. A Baby Boden offshoot was also created in 2007. 

We love Mini Boden because it is playful, colorful, and unique. The clothes go well with Friendly Rooster shoes because the pieces are vibrant and the attitude is fresh and young. Boden also shares our desire to be green by practicing ethical trade and using recycled paper for their printed materials. Learn more about these endeavors here. 

Here is a small sampling of what Friendly Rooster paired with Mini Boden might look like. 

What outfit ideas do you have? Any children's brands we should highlight? 

Send us pictures of your little ones in their Friendly Rooster shoes! 

Well guys, it’s a new year!

As the year came to a close, we here at Friendly Rooster had a period of reflection over the last 365 days. What worked, what didn’t, what will the new year hold? All of those questions crossed our minds and while 2014 was amazing, we can’t help but believe 2015 will be even better! 

Trying new things served us well and we intend to keep the theme going next year. We plan to bring popup shops to different cities around the United States and need YOUR help deciding where! 

Another change will be the introduction of brands that have a charitable approach. Friendly Rooster currently has an initiative called Share Your Love of Shoes™ which you can read about here. In 2015, our aim is to partner with other shoes brands that fit within our vision:

• developmentally appropriate 
• charitable/philanthropic
• unique

Friendly Rooster strives to be a company that stands for something and gives back in some form or fashion, so we are super excited! 

Do you want for us to bring a popup shop to your city? Do you have ideas/feedback for our year ahead? We want to hear them!

What's Next for the Rooster?

Friendly Rooster is having a banner year! 2014 has been good to us and we are so thankful for everyone's patronage and and support.

If you are at all familiar with our brand, you know that our mission is to provide cute shoes with a purpose. The Share Your Love of Shoes™initiative is our way to give back and our main brand, Tip Toey Joey, does this by giving a pair of shoes to an American child born into poverty for every pair sold. We have other brands represented on the site, but are hoping to partner with more charitable brands in 2015.

After some research, we've uncovered a few brands that could work well with the Friendly Rooster vision; RileyRoos, Pedoodles, and Kepner Scott. All of them give back in some way and we are in the exploration phase. Do you have any personal experience with any of these brands? We'd love your feedback.

Below is a poll for you to express your interest in what's next for Friendly Rooster. Click on the active brand links above and let us know your thoughts!

Use Wufoo templates to make your own HTML forms.

But Their Feet Grow So Quickly!

Why invest in good shoes for your children, right? Their feet grow like weeds and they play rough. Well that’s precisely why they should have shoes of quality. 

Never mind the cute factor in our shoes, Friendly Rooster is more than just looks. We all want our children to have cute shoes, but we also want shoes that are developmentally good for their feet. 

Some facts about children’s foot health:

• Critical foot development years happen from infancy through the toddler years
• A shoe that is too rigid or too tight can change the shape of your child’s foot
• Around 70% of foot problems come from wearing the wrong footwear
• A child’s feet grow in spurts and often require new shoes every 3 to 4 months

And what does a doctor say have to say about it all? Let’s hear from Dr. Pamela Johnson, a pediatrician in Charlotte, NC. 

“Once a baby starts pulling up, that’s a great place to start introducing shoes. In the past, hard-soled shoes were recommended, but studies show that flexible soles are better for the feet and aiding in walking. Have your children's feet measured because they grow so fast. Ill-fitting shoes can do more harm than good and don’t forget to consult your physician if you have questions or concerns.”

Also, check out what the American Podiatric Medical Association says about buying children's footwear here. 

*Opinions expressed in this blog post are unique and may differ from others. Consult your physician on what is best for your child*

Share Your Love of Shoes®, But Why?

Here at Friendly Rooster, we have an initiative called Share Your Love of Shoes®, which gives shoes to babies in need, thanks to our partnership with Tip Toey Joey.

When mentioned, people say something along the lines of, “Oh yeah, that’s like [insert big, philanthropic shoe company]” We do give shoes to children in need, but that is where the similarities stop. 

So how is Friendly Rooster different? Here are a few things we are advocates for:

• helping at-risk children here in our own country, the United States
• pairing with national organizations that are already making a difference; no need to reinvent the wheel
• giving quality footwear to help beginning walkers take their next steps (Our shoes look good and are developmentally healthy for children's feet with natural materials and adjustable fastenings)

The two charities we work with currently are Room To Grow and My Stuff Bags Foundation. Check them out and you'll get a better idea of what they are all about. 

Maybe we will grow in the future to donate to other charities or expand our product base, but for now, keeping it close to home is good enough for us :)