Don't Leave It In Your Head

Eri is the maker behind Olie, where she makes clothing and little things for children, including the iconic Cozy Goosey. Olie is actually her second brand.

How it began

She started making things thirteen years ago, when her son was born. She wasn’t thinking about starting a shop. She simply wanted to make the clothes and little things she imagined for him.

When she began sharing her work on Instagram, people started asking if they could buy her pieces. That is how her first shop began, and along the way she discovered how much she loved making things: playing with colours, fabrics and shapes, and turning ideas into something tangible and real.

She wanted to create something that could stay with a child for a long time. Clothes are inevitably outgrown, but she felt a soft toy could grow alongside a child. Something they could be photographed with as a baby, play with as they grow, and one day, as an adult, hold again and be reminded of the feeling of childhood.

The glue

The people who hold her days together are her children and the connection she has with her customers. They are both a big part of why she keeps making. As for the things, her sewing machine is essential, of course. And social media has become an important part of her work too, it is how she stays connected with the people who find and support what she makes.

The harder parts

Honestly, the making itself has never felt difficult to her. If anything, the hardest part is simply not having enough time. If she could, she would spend all day making something. There is always another idea she wants to try, another fabric she wants to work with, or something new she wants to bring to life.

Start making it

“If there’s something you want to make, don’t leave it in your head. Start making it. Gather the materials and tools you need, and bring your idea to life. You don’t have to know exactly where it will lead. Just take that first step and make something real. Once you do, you can figure out what comes next.”

When she needs to reconnect with why she started, she often visits markets. Being surrounded by other makers and their work gives her new energy and reminds her of what she wanted to do in the first place. For inspiration she looks at interiors, where she loves discovering unexpected colour combinations and the way patterns are used in a space.

In the end

She hopes the things she makes become part of someone’s childhood in a simple, happy way. Something they might be photographed with as a baby, play with as they grow, and share little moments with along the way.

And years later, when they come across it again, she hopes it brings back the feeling of being little. A small piece of the memories they made growing up.