How it began

After being forced into lockdown at the start of the pandemic and losing my design job in San Francisco, I started illustrating as a creative escape. I began where a lot of artists start - with pet portraits. After totally exhausting cats and dogs, I moved on to images that inspired me more - all things feminine. I‘ve always been enchanted with the female body probably due to having grown up surrounded by three sisters in South Africa.

I was drawn to the illustrative quality of design from a young age and early on I fell in love with the iconic Hermès scarves. At one point I thought I wanted to design a series for Hermès – that was my initial goal. After finally finding my illustration style, I thought, “Why don’t I just make my own scarves?” Both my parents started their own businesses (as well as my older sister), so it felt natural for me to follow in their entrepreneurial footsteps.

At its core, the inspiration for starting Cocobaby was to celebrate female empowerment, diversity, playfulness and imperfection. The scarves allowed me to turn female-focused art into apparel. I wanted to celebrate the feminine through the power of creativity and storytelling. Female empowerment is deeply-seated in growing up with lots of sisters and two very strong mothers. The scarves allow me to make people’s lives more playful, exciting and colorful.

I launched Cocobaby in Aspen and within the first couple of months I sold out of my first round of inventory. 

It’s been full steam ahead ever since. Currently, Cocobaby is sold in local boutiques in Aspen; Kemo Sabe, Pitkin County Dry Goods and The Art of The Cozy.