So Not in Kansas Anymore
‘Mtoto’ is the Swahili word for child and the inspiration for the name Toto Knits, a wonderfully imaginative kids knitwear collection ethically produced in Kenya by a group of local women. The cotton is locally grown and spun, and the wool is hand-spun and dyed. Toto Knits provides an opportunity for Kenyan women to gain financial independence while learning new skills and working in a flexible way which fits around their commitments to their families. I love the design, ethics and story of this mom-run company.
“Erin Brennan Allan and Mary Wambui met in 2002 when Erin moved from New York to Nairobi, Kenya to fund-raise for a school for children with special needs. Mary was teaching Arts and Crafts at the school and persuaded Erin to pick up a pair of knitting needles and get creating.
When Erin had children she became aware of the importance of employment opportunities that would allow women to work whilst still nurturing their families, particularly in Kenya where women are often unskilled and marginalized.
After some lengthy discussions with Mary, who had raised her three sons single-handedly, Toto Knits was born. With Mary’s knitting know-how, Erin’s love for all things baby and their years of friendship it was a perfect partnership. Mary now trains and manages a group of twenty knitters (with help from her son Cyrus) while Erin works on the designs and marketing.”
Erin was kind enough to send a sample all the way from Kenya of Toto Knit’s amazing cotton Lion Cardigan and I want to pass it along to a Junior Society reader! It you have a 2T sized kiddo at your house, leave a comment on this post by Tuesday, May 27th at 11:59 p.m. and I’ll pick a winner at random to be announced the following day.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:36 am
Wow - these are so amazingly adorable. I have a 2T kiddo that would go Cuckoo Bananas for one of these
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:43 am
I’ve been eyeing these for a while now but can’t decide between the lion and the monkey… so winning this would put an end to my indecisiveness! Plus it would be the perfect size for Jasper this fall.
May 22nd, 2008 at 5:54 am
Rawr! These are the cutest sweaters I’ve ever seen!
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 am
muy delicioso! Will turns 2 next month and any of these would be adorable!
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 am
these are sweeet! i wish they came in adult sizes so i we could make the tribe/herd/congregation/pride…or maybe we’d just make the whole safari! so fun.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:07 am
Those Elephant ears and tail are heartbreakers!
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:36 am
I love this!
I work in a yarn store and I love finding out about fairly made knitted goods.
Thanks for letting us know about this!
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:42 am
Very cute - thanks for the giveaway!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 am
Those are adorable!
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 am
I was just looking a cute knit for the fall for my boy…the lion and the dino are on my list, and i wish i could knit half as well as these women!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 am
I would love to be the winner!!I love your blog so much great information.Thanks!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 am
Wow these are adorable. I too would have a hard time picking so winning would mean I could just buy another one! I love these as a baby gift idea, so sweet.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:32 am
Hey, I live in Kansas and would love to dress my little P up as a lion - her birthday is in Oct, and she’ll be 2, so it would be a really wonderful surprise! Thanks for the opportunity.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I love these. They were featured on another blog I read and I’ve been in love ever since. I’ve got a 2T-sized wee one.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
What a great story…it is truly inspiring! My daughter, Fiona, would look adorable as a little lion! Even if I don’t win, I will definitely be checking these out.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Too cute and what a great cause.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Love this story, love these pieces, love to hear when good work is being done somewhere out there. Keep finding these treasures and sharing them with us all.
May 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
I’m am loving the TOTO knits! The elephant and the lion get-up is especially hilarious! I’d like to do a little post about this wonderful little company myself next week.
Also, my last girl is almost 2, so I’ll try my luck:)
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 am
Oh my goodness these are adorable! My little 21-month-old Leo loves lions! And he’ll be two in late summer -just in time to bring fall in with a roar.:)
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 am
Toto Knit s are fantastic. I would love for my little girl to have one. She will be the cutest kid on the block!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 am
How incredibly cute. You always introduce us to the very best things, *thank you!*
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Too cute! I wish I could knit!
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Wow, I love the sweaters and being a knitter myself was inspired by the designs, I forwarded the post to some of my friends involved in aiding women with their craft businesses- so inspiring, Thank you!!
May 24th, 2008 at 6:32 am
These are a dream. I’m in love, first I’ve seen them. I would love the pattern to knit one myself. Do they sell the pattern?
May 24th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I am so freaking jealous these don’t come in my size. Send me one for the tot and I will learn to make my own!
May 24th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I am seriously in love with this sweater and rather all of them. We are just unpacking our life into our new home on Orcas Island and I am finally catching up in blogland. I am so hoping we might win one of these amazing sweaters as I have a size 2 with a head full of golden curls that would send lot of customers their way every time he would wear it.
May 24th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
ooh! these are precious! my almost-2 year old would look dashing as a lion
May 26th, 2008 at 11:23 am
My kid loves knitted stuff to, didn’t ya know! Still living the 2T. Pick me!
May 27th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I’m a knitter and these sweaters, hats, blankies and everything else they are making are priced really well. What unique handmade goodness! I love this company. Thanks for sharing. And my little guy would be adorable in this stuff!!