Fancy Folks - Katie Rooprai of Bun Bun & Monkey

Katie and her daughter, Marin

It is always really inspiring to me to meet other women entrepreneurs and it's even better when they've been long-time friends!  Katie Rooprai and I went to high school together and she was gracious enough to host a group of awesome ladies in her home in Denver this past May for a trunk show for Erin's Faces.  Katie has developed a super successful line of some of THE cutest handmade dresses for little girls (avail in 3 months - 5T) called Bun Bun & Monkey (the perfect gift for this aunt of two nieces!) and even Martha Stewart has taken notice, but more on that later - read on!

When did you start Bun Bun & Monkey?

I officially launched Bun Bun & Monkey in October 2013. Prior to that I had been sewing a lot for my kids, and making a lot of gifts for friends, but I launched my Etsy site last October.

Pierson (Starboy TShirt), Marin (Chinese Lantern Playdress) and friend (Citrus Slices Playdress)

How did the name come about?

I named my company after my kids’ two luvvies; the beloved stuffed animals that feel like my third and fourth children. My son, Pierson, has a monkey that has been his best friend since birth, and my daughter, Marin, has the same relationship with a white bunny. I’m constantly walking around the house saying, “Where are Bun Bun and Monkey? Has anyone seen Monkey or Bun Bun?” One day as I was on the hunt for Bun Bun & Monkey I thought their names together sounded like a catchy name for the business.  I originally named the company Double Luvvies, but after a few weeks I switched to Bun Bun & Monkey—it just had a great ring to it.

What made you decide to turn sewing from something you did for your children into a business?

Five years ago I didn’t own a sewing machine and I didn’t know how to sew. But then I left my corporate marketing job to stay at home with my son.  I finally had the time to learn to sew; a life skill that is quickly becoming a lost art. My Mom was the perfect teacher, as she had sewn for me throughout my childhood. I just wanted to sew a few baby clothes and maybe a throw pillow. Two years later we were blessed with a baby girl. There’s just something about a little girl that makes you want to sew, and sew, and sew. I started creating new outfits for Marin and giving handmade gifts at baby showers. It was the incredible response from friends and family that encouraged me to start Bun Bun & Monkey. Eventually after enough people say, “You could sell this, you should start a business,” I finally listened.

What makes Bun Bun & Monkey stand out?

What draws people to my Playdresses is how polished and put together they look. Without being overly frilly or fussy, my dresses are an elegant solution for everyday dressing. I use on-trend fabrics that help little girls standout in a crowd because of their classic beauty, a welcome break from mass-produced, commercialized princess dresses. In the summer I love to work with timeless fabrics like seersucker and nautical prints, as well as modern floral patterns. For my fall/winter collection I move toward bold geometric prints and tartan plaids in the holiday season. These fabric choices often remind mom/grandma of their own childhood, but in an updated dress for today’s fashion forward little girl. And because I do a matching hair bow and fabric bead necklace with each Playdress, the total look is classic, custom, adorable.

 

Coral Floral and Patriotic Princess Playdresses

What’s your most popular print?

This summer the most popular design was the one I named “Patriotic Princess” (see above) – it features a white sleeveless top and a skirt in blue and white seersucker with red polka dot trim. I love that it is super summery and patriotic. For the Fall collection, the Fall Flowers Playdress (see below) has been a big hit. The skirt has bold, modern flowers in warm autumn tones of browns, reds, and a touch of yellow.  My favorite part is the trim that features a broken line pattern in the same colors.

Fall Flowers Playdress

How do you pick your fabrics for the next season?

Designing for each new season is my favorite part of the whole process.  I shop all over the place, in boutique fabric stores and online. And I look for patterns that really catch my eye. I try to have a good mix of colors—some pink and purple, but also brown, red, green, etc. And my husband is the best sounding board, I always consult him on the fabrics I choose.

Hairbows, Luxe Car Seat Covers and more at a Denver market

Do you do boys clothes too or just girls?

Boys are included too! I have Birthday Shirts for boys in a fun robot pattern, and I always make a coordinating StarBoy T-Shirt (see 2nd photo in post) to match the girls’ dresses when the print allows. For instance any print that isn’t heavy on pink and purple makes a great boys shirt. And I’m a total sucker for matching boy/girl outfits. My next project is to work on developing a line of bow ties for boys. This summer we were attending a wedding and I had forgotten to pack my son’s bow tie. He had a total meltdown, so I grabbed one of my daughter’s Hair Bows and clipped it to his shirt. It looked great all night long. So I have a bit of product development to do, but I’m excited about the idea.

Cherry Festival Playdress and Play Pearls

Anything for moms?

Yes! We can’t forget about Mom! I make an accessory called Play Pearls — fabric bead necklaces in all the wonderful prints that match our Playdresses. These are a great accessory for mom, and the best part is they are virtually indestructible. My kids were forever pulling on my delicate necklaces and breaking them, so I decided to make “jewelry” that was super kid friendly. I also have a lot of moms that use the Play Pearls as teething or nursing necklaces. 

Spooky Sweet Playdress

What’s new for Fall?

The start of Fall is truly my favorite time of year—I can’t wait for the weather to get cool, and I can never get enough pumpkin everything. So this year’s Fall collection features some of my favorite fabrics and prints: the Flannel Fans dress with a super soft single-nap flannel in greys and pink on the skirt, and the Spooky Sweet Playdress which is perfect for Halloween season (which in my house starts now and last for a full two months!) Spooky Sweet is has a black long-sleeve top, and a spider web/moth pattern on the bottom in muted tones of mauve and grey. My description really doesn’t do it justice, it’s delightfully unique for Halloween without the traditional orange/black combo. Also this Fall I’m featuring even more designs in the larger sizes, 2T-5T, which have been increasingly popular for Bun Bun & Monkey.

I’ve been to your house – you are always mothering, cleaning, cooking, etc - when do you have time to sew?!

That’s a very good question! I am a full-time Mom first and foremost.  And like most Momtrepreneurs, I have to fit my business in around the rest of my non-stop life. It’s a constant balancing act. My “sewing studio” is in my basement, which makes it convenient to work whenever life allows. I always joke that my office hours are from 10pm-2pm, but it’s really not a joke!

What’s the story on this Martha Stewart Nomination?

Bun Bun & Monkey is a 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Awards Nominee!  We’re so honored and excited! For the past two years the Martha Stewart organization has been celebrating American Made products from a wide variety of categories…everything from jars of jam and wheels of cheese to bikes and scarves. Bun Bun & Monkey meets the qualifications of being proudly American Made. In the nomination, I had the chance to answer the question, “What does American Made mean to me?”  It’s very thought-provoking to consider why this movement is so important to our country and our economy.

When I choose an American Made product, I expect it to last longer and have a higher degree of craftsmanship. These values inspire my work at Bun Bun & Monkey. 

Our Playdress has an extended wear cycle and can be worn for multiple years. The first year it fits as a dress, hitting at the knee or slightly below. Next year it pairs perfectly with leggings as a peplum top or tunic. Long after mass produced kids clothes have shrunk, faded, or fallen apart, our Playdresses are ready to be passed down to little sisters or neighbors for many more seasons of wear. And there’s something special about this notion of “small batch” that has cropped up in the retail world. Whether it’s chocolate, bourbon, or clothing, it indicates that more time was taken to create the product; that more hands and fewer machines were involved in the process. And that makes us feel as if we’re getting a product truer to our roots, maybe a few degrees closer to what our great-grandparents experienced.

Can we vote for you?!

To help Bun Bun & Monkey advance from a Nominee to a Finalist in the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Awards, here's how you can help: SHARE this link on Facebook and Twitter as widely as possible before this Tuesday, Sept. 9.
http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/95763/crafts/bun-bun--monkey

 Where do I find Bun Bun and Monkey?

You can find me on Etsy and connect with me on Facebook.

Upcoming Markets

You can come visit Bun Bun & Monkey at the Boulder Green Streets Market on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 10am-4pm, and at the last Sweet William Market of the year in the Stapleton neighborhood of Denver on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9am-2pm.