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Tired of Teddy Bears!
Flight Attendant-turned-Taos Designer Annette Stoner and
her Ethnic Baby and Youth Lines
By Sandra Richardson
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"I was a young
Mom at home with Jazzi, my six month old
daughter,” says Annette Stoner, “when an Oprah
show changed my life.” Stoner, now 38, is
grateful for the inspiration she got that
afternoon, watching successful Mom entrepreneurs
talk to Oprah about their home businesses. Her
14-year career as a flight attendant with United
didn’t suit her parenting needs. “Watching that
show, I knew immediately what I wanted to do.
I’d been shopping, and I was frustrated there
was no ethnic baby bedding. I’m part Filipino,
and I was tired of teddy bears.” Annette wanted
something that reflected her culture.
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Beary Basics body suit and
ballerina skirt with rose petals
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Annette lived in California at the time, but years at
her parents’ home in Hawaii engendered a love for
Polynesian motifs. The Oprah show gave her the impetus
to sketch some Hawaiian designs. She contacted her
friend who was a seamstress. “I never had an art class,
and I didn’t know how to sew, but she did, and I hoped
she could make my drawings come alive.”
Then Annette pawed through fabric stores and on-line to
find fabrics. “I knew I wanted sophisticated, exotic
designs that appeal to the adult eye. After all, they’re
the ones who are most aware of the baby bedding. They’re
the ones who buy it and spend a lot of time looking at
the nursery decor while nursing and changing diapers.”
With working capital of $1,500 each, Annette and her
friend started their business, Pitter Patter—exotic baby
bedding. First, she sold door-to-door, then at trade
shows, and now she supplies over 100 stores across
America with her trademark “ethnic-chic” baby bedding.
The manufacturing is still done in California, but the
designing, artwork and wholesale/retail base is now in
Taos.
Annette and her husband dreamed of Durango, but stopped
in Taos on the way and that was that. “I’ve still never
made it to Colorado. We bought our land here within six
days. Our house in California sold in 13 hours.” Three
years ago, Annette and family moved here. She found her
business partner and chief of operations, Donna Longo,
waiting tables at Joseph’s. Her CFO is another local,
Melissa Naylor, of Wells Fargo. Sara New is their
“personal assistant and live entertainment.” The
“Enchanting Elephants,” embroidered on the Asian
collection, are drawn by Joseph’s artistic wife, Kristin
Bortles. The drawings are digitized and embroidered onto
the bedding at the California plant.
You can find Pitter Patter in Arroyo Seco nestled in the
old “Casa Fresen” building, nurturing the oldest apricot
tree in Seco by her front porch. This charming retail
space, designed as a “Baby-to-Teen Boutique”, opened
last November. On the walls hang commissioned artwork by
notable locals such as AC Ward, featuring motifs
custom-made to accessorize the bedding. Big kids don’t
need to pout; you can special order King-size bedding
for the child in you from the Asian, Hawaiian (including
Surf and Safari), or Organic collections.
The store also handles a small, exclusive selection of
clothing. Some are imports, to keep it affordable. But
Annette’s team go to great lengths to make sure it’s not
“kids clothes made by kids.” The line of Entertaining
Elephants is made by a women’s coop in Bolivia. The
price is a little higher, but Annette says, “Just think
about how a small price can reflect Big Bad treatment.”
She carries Harajuku Lovers, by singer Gwen Stefani,
imported from China. It took several phone calls and
website checking to find out the company is publicly
held and operates under ethical labor laws. Annette
knows imports are easier on the budget, even though fair
trade goods cost a bit more. “At least we check how it’s
affecting everyone down the line.” She encourages
everyone to “just try to be thoughtful when you buy.”
(Pictured above: Beary Basics body suit and ballerina
skirt with rose petals.)
Annette’s organic bedding rage is set to take off! The
blankets will be part of Nordstrom’s “Going Green”
Launch in July. Across America, their stores will
feature Annette’s “Bamboo Blankets.” Not only are they
embellished with screenprints of her original drawings
of lotus, mandalas, and bamboo, but also the fabric is
actually made from bamboo. The fibers are pummeled into
an impersonation of cotton fluff, then made into really
soft jersey, velour, and fleece.
This is such an exciting success story! Annette is very
grateful for the guidance and support she received from
Chris Madrid of the Taos Sirolli Project, and to her
“Angel investors” along the way. Currently, she’s
pursuing investors to take her dream to the next level.
Annette’s ultimate goal: “to be financially content,
while creating awareness about sustainability.”
Not bad going for a gal watching Oprah who “just had an
idea!”
Sandra Richardson, aka
Zandi, is a freelance fashion designer. A
descendant of Celtic mystics, romantics,
storytellers, liars, and lunatics, Zandi travels
the world collecting antiques and textiles,
anecdotes and ideas...and poking her nose in
everybody’s business.
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Zandi Designs
Original Fashions
505-751-1882
P.O. Box 1798
Ranchos de Taos, NM. 87557
www.zandidesigns.com
Motto: Goddesses Don’t Iron (most clothes are wash & wear)
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