Looking for safe and sustainable baby products that are also affordable? Whether you’re shopping for your newborn or want the perfect baby shower gift, you’ll find something from online store Raph&Remy’s beautiful range of baby clothes and newborn accessories.
When TIFFANY OKUMU launched her baby essentials brand Raph&Remy, it was just three weeks before her second son was due. She even packed and delivered a customer’s order on the way to hospital, after her waters broke! That’s how passionate the Australian mum-of-two is about her business here in Singapore. We spoke to Tiffany for the inside scoop.
How did you find yourself in Singapore?
By chance, or maybe fate – probably more of the latter! In 2012, after spending two years in New York, I found myself at a bit of a crossroad, so I decided to visit my sister who was living in Singapore at the time. She and her husband always spoke so highly of it, so I had to find out more about this magical place that had stolen their hearts! I arrived and fell in love with Singapore, too. Fast forward eight years and this is very much home for us. We can’t see ourselves living anywhere else!
It was also in Singapore where I met my soulmate – in my first year here. We married and have been fortunate enough to welcome two beautiful boys into this world – Raphael in 2017 and Remy in 2019. So our two sons and our family business Raph&Remy were all born here in Singapore!
Why did you start Raph&Remy?
After the birth of Raphael, I really struggled with the thought of returning to work and potentially missing out on all those magical moments with my child. So I decided I had to set up my own business – and from then on it was a case of “when”, not “if””.
I remember discussing a new idea with my husband at least three times a week for about three years straight, but we didn’t want to just start something for the sake of it. It had to be something I was super passionate about. I had my eureka moment just after we named Remy, in-utero, at three months pregnant.
The journey to conceiving both of our boys wasn’t quick and easy. Remy happens to also be our rainbow baby, after losing our second pregnancy five months before his surprise conception. I therefore wanted everything to be perfect for our miracle child.
One thing I always struggled with was finding affordable, high- quality and beautifully packaged baby products that are also safe, eco-friendly and built for comfort in our tropical climate. Something was always missing for me. I found it incredibly frustrating, and would constantly order items from overseas instead.
So, I began designing products I’d love to be able to buy myself. I was focused on creating a few precious items for our special baby on the way. It was an incredibly inspiring and empowering time for us, designing and creating the essentials.
Seeing our designs become a reality made me feel like I was floating for days. I became completely and positively obsessed with it all. When the first few samples arrived, I knew this was the beginning of something special that other mums-to-be would surely be interested in. With the backing of my husband, we decided to take a huge leap of faith and fully invest in the launch of Raph&Remy.
From the beginning, we didn’t want to create just another company that sold products; we wanted to build a company with a soul. We wanted a brand, a business and a community that gave people a platform to connect and engage with each other, especially new parents who are about to embark on an exciting, daunting and life-changing journey.
From the moment I became a mother, my purpose has been to love and protect my children with everything I have. And what I didn’t have and couldn’t find, I am now creating. I worked around the clock throughout my pregnancy, passionately creating every day. We launched the business three weeks before Remy was born. I even packed and delivered a customer’s order en route to the hospital, after my waters broke! This business really is my passion and it honestly doesn’t feel like work at all.
What are your inspirations behind the designs?
Before I create any product, I ask myself two questions. Do I believe this product is really necessary for babies and parents? How can I make the design as practical and chic as possible?
I’m all about creating useful, high-quality and elegantly designed products that make parents’ lives easier, and offer the most comfort and joy to babies.
What’s special about Raph&Remy’s products?
Quality is a big focus; it ensures customer satisfaction and, most importantly, the baby’s comfort. Our collections include products, textiles and apparels designed with style and comfort in mind. We use bamboo, an all-natural material that’s kind to our body and the earth. An eco-friendly, sustainable and renewable resource, it’s three times softer and more absorbent than cotton.
The fabric’s natural moisture-wicking abilities keep babies feeling fresh and odour-free, making it perfect for Singapore’s warm climate. Bamboo material has supreme breathability and is also temperature regulating, which means it keeps babies cooler in summer and warmer in winter, thus reducing the risk of overheating. Bamboo is also naturally UV-resistant and hypoallergenic, so it won’t cause allergic reactions.
Raph&Remy’s products are OEKO-TEX certified, which means they’ve been tested to be free from over 100 chemicals that are known to be harmful to human health. This assurance is another point of difference for our brand.
Secondly, many companies purchase wholesale goods from a factory and simply put their label on it. I created all our products from scratch, and oversee the entire manufacturing process to ensure quality is maintained. We only work with leading eco-friendly textile manufacturers in Asia. While this does cost us a little more, the end product is a result we’re truly proud of. I’ve spent months designing the products, and hours selecting colours, to get it just right. Even the gift packaging was painstakingly designed by me. We team our complimentary reusable gift bags with every purchase and our stylish gift box is an optional add-on.
What’s the most popular product on your site?
Our hooded baby towel and mitt set! It’s luxuriously soft and made from the finest quality organic bamboo. It’s three times more absorbent than even the finest organic cotton, and dries baby’s precious skin quickly while keeping them warm and incredibly comfortable. Featuring adorably fluffy ears atop its hood, it also comes with a matching, silky soft wash mitt to make bath-time a breeze. The set can be personalised through our online store for that extra special touch. It’s a beautiful gift for babies and kids up to three years old!
What’s next for the brand?
I’ve been working on a new collection of day and night apparel for little ones aged zero to two, for about seven months now. These new products have been on my mind since the birth of Raphael in 2017. We’ve now got them just right and they’re currently in production. We couldn’t be more excited as we count down to launch them this month! Our customers have been asking for bigger sizing in our stylishly designed and signature silky-soft bamboo fabrics ever since we launched our apparel collection for newborns in December last year. I feel incredibly honoured and proud that parents and their babies are growing up with our brand and I can’t wait to make these must-haves available to them very soon – I know they’re going to fly!
A Good Cause
Raph&Remy will donate 20 percent of all sales from their eco-friendly, reusable premium tote bags to The Red Pencil (Singapore) Humanitarian Mission. The Singapore-based charity aims to bring the benefits of arts therapy (drawing, music, movement and dance) to children and low income families who have been through traumatic life circumstances such as life-threatening illness, violence and abuse.
Discover the products at raphandremy.com, which offers worldwide shipping. You’ll also find the brand at Tanglin Mall, TANGS at Tang Plaza and Robinsons The Heeren.
We hope you found this interesting; click here if you’d like to read more.
Anthia Chng
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