Close started back in 2004, when two mums got together; one with a passion for baby wearing and the other a love of cloth bottoms. Close has since established itself as a great British parenting brand, lucky enough to win a few awards and many loyal fans both at home and abroad along the way.
At Close, we have always appreciated the concerns of parents regarding the world your little one will grow up in, alongside all the pressures that come with the need to manage a family budget. As a result, we believe in making things that are durable, built to last and easy to use, so you can make the right choices for you and your little nipper, today, tomorrow and every day.
We also try to make things which are inspired, sensitively made and make a positive contribution to the environment. We not only consider the environment our products are made in, but also the environment they occupy throughout their lifecycle.
Above everything else, we believe in Close common sense… just like you.
Here’s more on what we do at Close, and how we can help make your life as a parent that much easier.
Our suppliers
Close has a very close working relationship with all of its suppliers, one where ideas can be shared and improvements continually made year on year. We have carefully selected our suppliers based on their excellence and ability, rather than cost, and as a result, these strong relationships outweigh mere economics.
The Close products you buy today are either made in Turkey or in China, with two manufacturing partners we have worked with over the last half-decade. They are seen as part of the same Close team, and at Close we are both engaged and invested in their ethics and working environments, as well as regularly spending time in the factory with them throughout the year to ensure award-winning ideas are always manufactured to exacting standards in order to deliver the best experience possible.
The causes we support
Locally, Close dedicates time to support a national network of sling and nappy libraries, providing subsidised products for these not for profit organisations. We are also proud to support Bliss, the UK charity supporting premature births, providing best chance of survival to little ones born too small, too soon or too sick.
Further afield, we donate nappies, bibs and hygiene products to international causes such as The Point Foundation, a UK-based organisation which works on sustainable community projects in Rwanda. Close also donates fabric to Jane Wright, a true champion of good causes, who not only up-cycles waste material to produce reusable menstrual kits for young teenage girls in Malawi but also spends time teaching locals how to make them for themselves, allowing them to attend school at times when they would normally be forced to stay home.
Over the years a growing number of parents have opted for pop-in, rather than throw away nappies. Close Pop-in nappies are as comfortable on newborns as they are on nippers, and bridge the journey from first nappy to potty training. The benefits of reusable nappies are threefold; economy, ecology and wellbeing.
Ecology
By using reusable nappies you can help divert thousands of disposables from the local ecosystem which is no small thing! Reusable nappies can be up to 40% better for the world we live in even considering the washing process (*source LCA report 2008). With environmental sustainability becoming an ever more pressing issue, this is one way in which parents can contribute to the protection of our world – giving themselves peace of mind as well.
Economy
Close know from experience how budgets soon grow when you become a parent, and so we think of our reusables as an investment, which help to make the first few years a little easier on the pocket. On average, reusable nappies can save up to 60% in the birth to potty stage, compared with disposable solutions… even considering the usage of water, electricity and detergents!
Wellbeing
There is lots of information available on some of the chemicals contained in modern disposable nappies but there is a belief that, given the choice, most babies would prefer to have soft breathable fabrics (dyed and processed to oekotex standards) next to their bottoms.
The team here at Close created our Pop-in nappies because we believe in a different way…a decade later and thousands of families around the globe have diverted “mountains” of disposable nappies from landfill by choosing to Pop-in. You too can make a difference to your local environment by choosing to reuse rather than dispose!
Once you Pop-in for the first time you’ll understand just how easy our clever little nappies are to use, and that being sustainable is far from boring: just check out all our fun prints and gorgeous colours! At the heart of our Pop-in products are our clever poppers, which provide the functionality and simplicity that make all our products a joy to use.
Now you can Pop-in whatever nappy system you are using with the Pop-in nappy wrap. This can be used with any reusable two-part nappy, and it has our tried and tested double gusset for added protection against leaks at any age or stage! The Pop-in nappy wrap has stretchy tabs just like a disposable for a snug fit around baby every time, with a soft waterproof shell that lets baby’s bottom breathe.
Here at Close, we take great pride in designing practical everyday products that make life easier both for parents and for the environment. We have had a blast along the way and if you find something you like among our range, then we hope you enjoy using it as much as we have making it.
Explore the full range of Close nappies and changing products in the bathtime and changing range here at Uber Kids.