Sisters run online baby silk bedding business from Mayo and Australia
By Tom Gillespie
TWO Castlebar sisters, Jenny and Jackie Geraghty, have a unique online business selling luxury silk bedding for babies and children.
The inspiration for the silk collection came when Jenny had her son Ollie a couple of years ago.
He was born nine weeks premature with loads of dark hair and she wanted to protect it from what she thought was the inevitable bald spot phase.
As a silk pillowcase user, she looked for bedding for children and couldn't find what she needed. Soon she realised that silk was the answer.
That's when the idea came to start the Cailiekins brand - named from a combination of their sons named Caiden and Ollie.
The sisters, from Turlough Road, Castlebar, run their online business from Castlebar, where Jenny is based, and from Brisbane, Australia, where Jackie resides.
Jenny said: "We're a new Irish business. We sell silk bedding for babies and children. It’s an exciting new product for families because silk is a fabric that is ideal for preventing hair loss, dry skin and eczema.
"We launched on November 4 last year. We're all about the best for children from newborn onwards."
Jackie added: "We have designed a collection of silk bedding for children. We have both been using silk for a number of years and love the benefits.
"It's natural, temperature regulating, anti-frizz, hypoallergenic, hydrating, kind to skin and hair. It's especially great for newborns because it reduces the friction on their delicate newborn hair and is also beneficial for children with skin conditions like eczema."
All of their bedding is OEKOTEX 100 certified as safe for newborns.
Jenny continued: "We have designed a collection of luxury silk bedding for newborns and toddlers. Our printed silk gives a fun edge to this already amazing textile. These collections are sure to add a unique pop of colour to any nursery.
"We have both been using silk for a number of years and love the benefits - it’s natural, anti-wrinkle, anti-frizz, hypoallergenic, hydrating, kind to skin and hair.
"We always use high quality materials to ensure that customers have the best for your little ones."
Jackie added: "Silk is a natural fibre that’s breathable. This means that it’s safe for baby and beyond. It’s temperature regulating, meaning it keeps you and baby warm in winter but cool in summer.
“It’s hypoallergenic. This is a biggie! Silk won’t harbour any of those nasty allergens. This is especially important for those babies that have skin issues like eczema and allergies. It doesn’t attract dust mites and it’s a natural anti fungal.
"It's kind to skin. Silk stops your skin being pulled and dragged as you move in your sleep. It’s anti-friction, so everyone wakes up without face creases and frizzy hair, while baby skips that awkward bald spot phase. It’s also hydrating so you wake up refreshed without dried out skin and hair.
"So what does all of this really mean? Better skin, better hair, better sleep and a better you."
The pillowcases are 100 per cent 22 momme mulberry silk with a zip closure. They measure 51 cm x 76 cm and fit most standard pillows.
They have four sheet sizes to ensure you get the right fit for your baby and toddlers sleep area.
Their bassinet sheet is 74 cm x 28 cm and it fits on most standard bassinets and Moses baskets. These sheets are half 22 momme mulberry silk and half cotton. At this stage, babies don’t tend to move around as much in bed so a full silk sheet isn’t necessary.
Their cosleeper sheet is 83 cm x 50 cm. It will fit on the majority of cosleepers. As a bonus, it also fits on small baby nests, which they have found is very useful for those families with both a nest and a cosleeper.
Their cot sheet is 120 cm x 60 cm. This sheet also fits on larger baby nests such as the sleepyhead grande.
These sheets are 100 per cent 22 momme mulberry silk. During testing, the sisters found that by this stage, babies and toddlers tend to be a bit more active.
Jenny said: "Many times, we have found our little ones with their heads at the other end of the cot. We recommend full silk sheets at this stage to make sure their skin and hair is always in contact with our luxury mulberry silk."
Jenny and Jackie can be contacted on hello@cailiekins.com or you can also find more information about their business on www.cailiekins.com and www.Instagram.com/cailiekins.
* Do you have a story to tell about your business? If so, Tom Gillespie would be delighted to hear from you. Get in touch at (087) 9680780 or gillespietom49@gmail.com.