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Want to add a little pizzazz to your child’s Spring and Summer attire, but don’t want your little one to be uncomfortable or look over the top? Look no further, the creators of Masala Baby have created a line of comfortable and aesthetically pleasing children’s clothing that is sure to heat up any baby’s wardrobe. The Fun-damentals, Free Spirit and Loungewear collections are inspired by the bright, rich colors of Indian spices and Indian culture, and are created in line with the urban influences of city life. This dynamic collection has allowed Masala Baby to give consumers a product that meets practical needs and captures the attention of style mavens everywhere!
If you’re looking to order some of these incredibly adorable and chic outfits for your little Masala boy or Masala girl, Masala Baby is offering CitySaheli readers a special discount until April 30th . Receive 20% off your purchase (code: citysaheli) and free shipping on online orders over $75 (code: freeship).
   
Want to learn more about Masala Baby and its founder? CitySaheli Baby had the chance to speak with owner and president, Dipali Patwa, to learn more about the company and how it came to fruition. Check out what she had to say.
What inspiredthe different styles Masala Baby offers and how often is the line updated?
The styles and colors are inspired by my roots in India, mixed with the urban influence of New York, as well as my travels. Delicious curries, authentic spices, colors of the chaotic bazaars, bollywood movies, beautiful marigold flowers, traditional Indian tunics, ghummar skirts, are all blended together to create a unique eclectic, bohemian, mod relaxed style. I realized that kids respond to color instinctively. The Indian love of color is celebrated in every facet of daily life – the rhapsodic use of color in India in brightly painted streets, mosaics of the palaces, the vivid hues of the women’s sarees, the variety of spices used in Indian cooking and the exuberance of Indian festivals. When I simplified the silhouettes and introduced in the urban influence, it just seemed to work.
The line gets updated twice a year. There is a Spring- Summer and Fall-Winter collection.
Who is your target audience?
Masala baby has a universal appeal. Our customers appreciate stylish comfortable clothes with bold colors that have global influences- whether it is India, Africa, Morocco, East Asia, Latin America. Masala baby is bought by moms and dads, grandmoms, aunts and sisters alike who are well traveled, or aspire to travel, and appreciate the worldly influences.
Where can Masala Baby clothing be purchased in NYC?
In NYC, Masala baby is available at:
Apple Seeds
10 West 25th Street
New York, NY 10010-2703
(212) 792-7590
Half Pint Citizens
55 Washington Street
Brooklyn (Dumbo), NY 11201
What are future projects and partnerships that you are working on?
For 2010 our key focus will be to enhance the Masala Baby brand by introducing two new collections:
The first is called ‘Mela Masala’, inspired by the Indian village fairs. Mela is the Hindi word for gathering or village fair. The line is inspired by wandering gypsies, fortune tellers, colorful caravans, medallions and peacock feathers which set the mood for our patterns and colors. The cuts and designs are earthy, comfortable yet chic, catering to the new age young traveler that appreciates the simplicity and wonder of life.
The second collection called ‘Mod Masala’ is urban, modern and casual using our signature prints and unique appliqué techniques. We are introducing ‘khadi’ which is Indian homespun, hand-woven fabric, within this collection. Its natural properties keep this fabric cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In fact, Mahatma Gandhi promoted the production of khadi in his movement to revive India’s domestic weaving industry. This fabric is close to my heart, both for its aesthetic appeal as well as the small scale industry that it supports in India.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs like yourself?
If you believe in something, it is worth giving it a shot. If you have an idea, explore its full potential and keep at it. It is not rocket science. It is certain level of taste, craftsmanship, and business acumen combined with a whole lot of hard work.
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