Suzanne Crowder, Babycapes
Product Development and Marketing
615 Sawgrass Drive
Charles Town, West Virginia 25414
Cell - 301-367-0914 Home - 304-724-8333
suzi@SuziHomemaker.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 14, 2007

WV MOMS COMBAT BULKY COATS WITH INNOVATIVE OUTERWEAR: BABYCAPES

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and local mom Elizabeth Hostler’s needs have led to an innovative new garment that is set to revolutionize the way parents dress their little ones in cold weather. Last fall, Hostler of Martinsburg, WV, grew frustrated with her daily attempts to wrestle her active eight-month-old daughter, Andy, into a bulky coat. Once in the garment, Andy could barely move. Add the car seat and harness straps to the equation and Hostler wound up with one very unhappy little girl.

“Not only was it a struggle to get Andy into the coat and her car seat, it also became uncomfortable for her once the car warmed up and she was trapped in this big, puffy coat,” said Hostler. Rather than face an entire winter of constant struggles, Hostler bought a cheap fleece blanket and fashioned a poncho-like pullover. The new garment was much easier to put on and take off. Putting Andy in her car seat also became much easier as Hostler could flip the garment to the side, adjust the straps and then drape the remaining fabric over the car seat. If Andy became too hot, Hostler could easily lift the poncho off. Hostler also realized that Andy was more secure in her car seat since there was no bulky barrier between Andy and her harness straps.

Every place Hostler went with Andy and her cape people commented on the ingenuity of the garment. Parents who had faced similar struggles were especially interested in how they could get one for their babies. One of these parents was Suzi Crowder, mother of three, whose youngest daughter, Carly, is just a few weeks older than Andy. Crowder is the owner of Suzi Homemaker, a home-based business specializing in custom embroidery and handmade baby blankets.

“When I first saw the garment, I knew I had to have one for Carly. It’s a great idea,” said Crowder, who had endured many of the same frustrations as Hostler. “I make baby blankets out of minky and thought that the specialty fabric would be perfect for the little capes.”

Crowder encouraged Hostler to seek a patent for the garment and together the women made several practical modifications, including the addition of a foot pocket for cozy little toes and an opening in the back to ease use in a car seat, stroller or front carrier. After many months and lots of input from family and friends, Babycapes are now available to other frustrated parents.

Hostler and Crowder have several seamstresses lined up and are now taking orders through Crowder’s website www.SuziHomemaker.net. They debuted the garments at a number of small trade shows and received an overwhelmingly positive response. They’re now in the process of hiring a sewing contractor to produce large quantities of the Babycapes which they eventually intend to make available wholesale to retailers.

For more information, call Elizabeth Hostler 304-582-8070 or email her at:
browndoggroup@earthlink.net

For product information, visit www.SuziHomemaker.net/babies/Babycapes.html.