When architect Carrie Shaltz Haslup watched her brother and sister struggle to undress their baby daughter for skin-to-skin feeding sessions, she noticed something missing in baby clothing design. The simple act of getting clothes on and off was stressing out both the parents and their infant. After searching everywhere for baby clothes with easier access and finding none, Haslup headed to her kitchen, grabbed some scissors and an old t-shirt, and created her first prototype.
Haslup started Tabeeze in 2018 in Los Angeles, drawing on her background in architecture to approach baby clothing from a fresh perspective. Though the pandemic threw some obstacles in her path, she launched the company in 2022. It wasn’t a quick journey – it took three years and several false starts with different factories before she found a manufacturing partner who could turn her vision into reality while meeting her standards for sustainability and social responsibility.
The Bottom-Up Bodysuit became Tabeeze’s first product, featuring patented shoulder snaps and specially designed finger pockets that help parents line up the snaps correctly. Instead of pulling clothes over a baby’s head, these bodysuits slide on from the feet up. The company later added Snappy Tees and Zippy-Leg Rompers to their collection, keeping the same practical design elements that made their first product work so well.
The clothes are made in India at a GOTS Certified Organic factory and shipped from Los Angeles. Everything is made with pre-shrunk, ring-spun organic jersey cotton, with thoughtful details like nickel-free snaps and flat inner seams. Parents can toss the clothes right in with their regular laundry, though cold water and the delicate cycle will help them last longer.
Tabeeze has earned several environmental and ethical certifications as a Certified B Corporation:
- 100% GOTS Certified Organic
- Fair Trade Certified
- 1% For The Planet member
- Carbon offset partnership through Cloverly
- EcoEnclose Partnership
For every item purchased, the company donates one to NICUs, having given over 4,000 Bottom-Up Bodysuits so far. They also offer a 40% discount for families with babies in the NICU or with medical needs.
The shoulder snap design turned out to have benefits Haslup hadn’t initially planned for. Parents of babies with medical needs found that the design made it easier to work around medical equipment and lines. The bottom-up approach and specialized features work particularly well for babies in the NICU or those with sensory sensitivities.
As someone new to e-commerce and manufacturing, Haslup had to learn everything from scratch. She spent time finding manufacturing partners who genuinely cared about the product and shared her values. The company maintains strict standards about materials, staying away from harmful substances like phthalates, flame retardants, and solvents.
Tabeeze now offers three main products:
- Bottom-Up Bodysuit: With shoulder snaps and finger pockets to make dressing easier
- Snappy Tee: The same shoulder snap design in a t-shirt style
- Zippy-Leg Romper: Features an ankle-to-ankle zipper for quick diaper changes
All items are pre-shrunk and machine washable, though using cold water and the delicate cycle helps them stay in good shape longer.