Quinn and Dot offers modern design and comfort in clothing for infants and young children while keeping it local. Its owner, Rachel Drader, lives in Niverville.
“I was looking for modern clothing for my young daughter and couldn’t find anything locally that fit with my love of simple, monochrome designs,” says Drader. “I started creating basic pieces myself and posting them on my Instagram account and was flooded with orders and requests for other pieces.”
Drader, who moved to Niverville about a year ago, says that she and her husband were on the hunt for a family-friendly community to raise their daughters, the kind of community that would also match the philosophy of her business. Run out of her home, each item is lovingly handcrafted by Drader or her husband, mother, or sister-in-law.
Drader has expanded the community aspect of Quinn and Dot by supporting other local and regional businesses. “A lot of my customers value the attention to detail that comes with handmade products and like that their money is going towards a local business. We source almost all of our fabrics, notions [buttons and zippers], tags, shipping supplies, and accessories within Manitoba. If they are not available locally, we source the remaining within Canada wherever possible.”
The family-friendly community feel extends beyond the clothing and sourcing of materials. The Quinn and Dot blog offers advice on clean and modern decorating, photographs, anecdotes of parenthood, and promotes local businesses.
From the early days of slouchy beanies, headbands, and leggings, the business’s catalogue of products continues to grow. Quinn and Dot has recently added rompers, raglans, harems, and accessories.
“We currently offer between 10 to 15 items in six or seven different colours and designs depending on the item,” says Drader. “This will vary depending on the season.”
Their stylish rompers, leggings, and harems are made for comfort and feature cuffs that can be adjusted to suit every child. Currently, each lovingly handcrafted item takes anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to make.
What’s next for this growing business? Branching out beyond clothing for infants and young children may be in Quinn and Dot’s future. “I’m always playing with new designs and considering offering product for older children as well as adults,” Drader says.
With clothing with such vibrant colours and made of soft cotton and bamboo knits, is it possible to pick a favourite?
“It is very hard to choose one item,” she admits, “but I truly love our rompers, as my daughters absolutely love them and they are so comfortable.”
These made-to-order items are available in a few boutique stores and sold online (see below).