#risaroo

Our next company in our Spotlight feature, is Risaroo Wovens. Marisa is the founder of this amazing company. She is a hard working, single mother of a beautiful little boy. Marisa is also a very busy lady! Any time I’ve been able to catch her, she was an absolute joy to talk with. I hope you enjoy getting to know her and what Risaroo Wovens is all about!

-Who was/is your biggest supporter throughout the process?

My mom is my biggest supporter. She has always been behind me cheering me on with full support and it’s so awesome to share this journey with her. Several family members work for Risaroo/Risaroo Wovens and I love being able to share this with them!

-How did you come up with the name for your company? What is the meaning behind it?

As a toddler, when my little brother tried to say my name it came out as Risa. At some point family members added -roo to the end and Risaroo became my nickname as a child. I still have a few aunts and uncles that occasionally refer to me by that name today. I loved the idea of using it as a name for a babywearing business because it reminds me of kangaroos, which also carry their babies. It was a perfect match.

-Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

Design inspiration tends to jump out at me from the same places, specifically architecture, photography, and fashion. I stumbled upon the most beautiful pair of shoes with an exquisite design that inspired the Perrault design. I also have a special affinity for vintage lace and its intricate design and I love to see a modern twist on any vintage piece. There is something so beautiful about a classic piece of fabric transformed into a modern garment.

-Where do you see yourself and your company in 5 years? What is your ultimate goal?

You will continue to see the introduction of new designs and colors at RW. We are also working diligently on our newest category, the Geek Files. We have so many fans that have expressed an interest in melding together two things they love…fandoms and babywearing. This new collection, at both Risaroo and Risaroo Wovens, will be much more influenced from our online communities. We really love our groups on Facebook and the community that has been created by the awesome moms, dads and caregivers. So, we are going to involve them a lot more in the selection and design process for the Geek Files wraps. We also have a few more things that we are working on, so stay tuned!

-How do your wraps go from idea to tangible design? What’s the design process look like?

When working on a new design, I usually begin by talking with my designer about my idea and the inspiration behind it. We bounce around ideas and then she puts together some sketches based off of our conversations and inspiration. This part of the process can take as little as a few days and has taken as long as several months.

-If you ever got a chance to interview your wrap inspiration, what would you ask?

I’m so interested in learning about what inspires people and where they draw their inspiration. So, learning about their personal design inspiration would be at the top of my list.

-If you didn’t collect wraps, what would you collect?

Purses and shoes! Before I was a mom and a babywearer, purses and shoes filled the shelves that are now occupied by wraps.

-How do you feel your business is bringing innovation to the industry?

We were one of the first wrap companies to offer Tencel wraps and we are proud to offer sustainable/eco-friendly fibers options for our customers. In addition to Tencel, we are adding Eco2Cotton wraps to our line. Eco2 yarns are made using the post-industrial cutting scraps from t-shirt and apparel manufacturing facilities. The scraps are collected, separated by color and washed. The sorted and washed scraps go through a shredding process. The shredded fiber is spun, plied back into yarn and then woven into wraps.

What is your biggest challenge as a business owner?

For me personally, the biggest challenge is balancing my work life with my personal life. Most importantly, I’m a mom. So, in addition to running Risaroo & Risaroo Wovens, I’m a single mom to an active 5 year old that I’m currently homeschooling. Most days, I just need more hours added to my day. 😋

If you had never started Risaroo Wovens, what do you think you’d be doing now?

-My degree is in public relations, so I think that I would be working in a PR/marketing position….preferable in another small, family owned business.

-What’s your six word story?

Determination and faith got her through.

-Which of your creations is your favorite or most personal to you?

It’s so hard to pick a favorite! My favorite always ends up being the design that I’m currently working on. The design that is most personal to me is Kerrington because it reminds me of my grandmother. The inspiration behind Kerrington was the lace doilies that she collected and I love that I automatically think of her each time I see Kerrington.

-What inspired you to start geek inspired wraps/colorways?

We have so many fans that have expressed an interest in melding together two things they love…fandoms and babywearing. I’m a nerd at heart and so the thought of a Geek inspired line of wraps made my heart happy! So, we have created the Geek Files where we will be combining our love for everything nerdy with our love of babywearing. This new collection, at both Risaroo and Risaroo Wovens, will be much more influenced from our online communities. We really love our groups on Facebook and the community that has been created by the awesome moms, dads and caregivers. So, we are going to involve them a lot more in the selection and design process for the Geek Files wraps.

-Anything you’d like to say to your followers?

Blend - 100% cotton Price - TBD Wrapper level - Beginner+

I was recently given the opportunity to review a new exclusive colorway (sold only at risaroo.com!) from Girasol, called Purple Paradise. A previous wrap has been released, but in a different weft, called Creme Paradise. I haven’t seen this one in real life, but I can tell you the different weft makes a difference! 

This is my first experience with a Girasol, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by it! I’ve been wrapping for a while now, and I wish I had tried out Girasol as a beginner wrapper. The company has a great price point, so you get a good quality wrap for a good price. I would highly suggest anyone looking to get their first woven to check out Risaroo’s online store and look at their selection of Girasol’s!

So the first carry that I always like to try out is a simple FWCC. It’s a good way for me to judge how I’m going to like a wrap. What I noticed right away was that Purple Paradise is on the thinner side, and I wasn’t sure if it’d hold up my toddler very well. However, once I got everything in place, he was nice and snug! I enjoy that this wrap is thin, because that means it’ll make a great summer wrap. It gets well into the 100′s and up here, and babywearing during those hot days is NOT fun in a thick wrap! 

Purple Paradise is very moldable, almost like a second skin moldable! It also has great glide, which I enjoy, and makes wrapping so much easier. Again, I definitely believe this would make a great wrap for a beginner. 

After trying a FWCC, I tried a back carry, a simple ruck with two finishes. I did a basic front tie, and then a knotless Tibetan tie-off. Getting my toddler into a ruck with Purple Paradise was easy peasy! It made a seat nicely and kept it, and tightening up the rails was lovely. I personally find simple ruck “back pack” type straps to diggy into my shoulders, and I found this to be true for this wrap as well. So I tried the knotless TT, and it was a lot easier on the shoulders. My 20lb little guy felt weightless and stayed where I wanted him the entire time he was up.

Aesthetically this wrap is beautiful! I enjoy the bright rainbow colors very much, and it’ll be fun to wear out in public. From looking at pictures of it’s counter part, Creme Paradise, Purple Paradise seems to be a bit more saturated in color. Indoors, it looks dark, but outdoors in the natural light, it’s brighter.  

Overall, I’ve enjoyed Purple Paradise very much! I’m glad I gave Girasol a chance. If you’re hesitant to try one, don’t be! You’ll be getting a quality wrap for a great price! 

Pinnacle Aquarius has landed. Can’t wait to try it out!