Smile Lifestyle
T
Smile
Inspiration
HIS is how two mums responded to our global plastics crisis …Cecily Henderson and Katherine Rhodes talk silicone bibs, bamboo toothbrushes and how families can manage a plastic-free lifestyle…
What inspired you to set up PomPom?
I launched PomPom with a great friend, Katherine Rhodes. We set up the venture in response to the plastic crisis, as parents ourselves we were drowning in colourful plastic – the most convenient and conventional route – but recognised how much we, and our kids, were adding to the world’s plastic problem. Katherine and I have four children between us (ages three, two, one and twenty-months), and when we both decided to start looking for alternatives, we discovered that finding good looking, long lasting plastic-free designs for kids took time, energy and thought. (None of which we had enough of!)
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Spring/Summer 2020
Smile Magazine
We are not advocating for parents to throw away what they have already but rather to make a different choice next time they are shopping.
We started trawling local shops and online. The mind boggles with options – how to tell what works, what breaks, what leaks; the ‘mumma blogs’ are a world within themselves! Then of course, half the options are ugly. The inconvenient truth rears its head again. So slowly we made time. We shared tips. Our friends started asking us for recommendations, their friends started asking us for tips… We soon realised that
we could answer those questions; what if the plastic-free choices were made easy without sacrificing aesthetics? What if those choices kept your life original and imaginative but ethical?
PomPom was born!
In October, we launched our website, PomPom (https://shoppompom.com), with unusual and stylish designs that children will love, play with or use again and again. PomPom is plastic-free from product to packaging, with toys, gifts, games and playroom ideas. PomPom is the home of the indoor climbing triangle – which is an eco-friendly foldable, wooden climbing triangle, inspired by Dr Emmi Pikler.
How do you believe your products inspire families to start or sustain a more eco conscious lifestyle?
We are a design-led store. We are aware that the eco-friendly decision is made so-much easier if it looks great and works brilliantly! We hand pick items created by brands that love design and creativity like we do. Our desire to be free from plastic works hand in hand with our aesthetic. We hope to inspire families to make small swaps that are easy and actually workable but have a huge impact. Alongside our bestselling games and toys, we stock practical, everyday products for children such as bamboo toothbrushes, shampoo bars (yes, they actually work!), beeswax wraps, silicone bibs, bamboo bowls, plates and mugs. These are all sustainable alternatives to household items that are regularly replaced. We are not advocating for parents to throw away what they have already but rather to make a different choice next time they are shopping. There is a lovely meme circulating with the slogan, “but it’s only 1 toothbrush” says 7.5 billion people!” We believe that millions of families making small changes is better than a handful of people living perfectly plasticfree. Together we are stronger!
A way of life
