butters&beans

Photo: Emily J. Davis

If you think organic fabric is synonymous with bland, think again. Ann Evans and her close-knit team at butters&beans have created a whole new look, feel and shape for organic baby clothing. The mission of butters&beans, founded last October, is to use organic and sustainable fabric to bring color, texture and style to your baby’s wardrobe.

When Evans discovered her youngest son suffered from eczema, she began to look into clothing options that wouldn’t aggravate his skin. “It was all plain, knit cotton and that’s just not my deal,” she says. “I started looking at fabrics and [realized] there was so much more out there with organics. I just kept wondering, ‘Why isn’t anybody using these amazing fabrics?’”

The clothing line includes pieces made from organic cotton, fleece, velour, natural silk and more. Besides being non-irritating to sensitive skin, organic material is softer, more breathable, and materials are made without the use of pesticides, herbicides or other harmful toxins. Organic garments are also much more durable; they can last over 100 washes without starting to pull apart as opposed to 10-20 washes for a regular cotton garment.

While Evans does all the designing (and some sewing) herself, she enlists the help of two close friends who are trained seamstresses to sew each piece by hand. Evans racked up years of experience in the fashion industry while working for various boutiques and luxury retailers on the East coast, and says her unique vision for butters&beans was very clear from the start. “I pulled that immediately from what worked for my kids: really classic, simple pieces. I wanted to put a twist on it and make it more fun, so that’s why I made sure I used very bright colored fabrics,” says Evans.

Bold prints accented with solid color details (like a red sateen ruffle on the hem of an Elliot collection dress) are the staple of Evans’ creations. She features several collections using different fabrics, and all can be paired together for a striking, fashion-forward look for your little ones. The vast majority of butters&beans clothing is unisex and sizes, including newborn, 6 month and 12 month, can all be worn about 4 to 5 weeks longer than traditional sizes because everything is cut slightly longer. Other notable features include elastic waistbands, brightly colored cuffs and pockets on wide-leg pants, knit hats and bibs backed with absorbent sherpa that are great for drooling tots.

This spring, look for new pieces like full bedding sets, lightweight knit swaddling blankets, linen pants and extended sizes for toddlers. Plans for post-partum wear are also in the works. Until the complete Organic Mama line is available, Evans recommends shopping Elodie and Francesca’s at Woodbury Lakes for maternity and post-partum wear. Both stores carry pieces that allow for stretch and movement. “I always encourage my friends to look for items that aren’t necessarily maternity, but have stretch and not a figure-conscious fit,” she says.

While Evans says future expansion is probable and hopes to sell in retailers in the Woodbury area, she’s taking it slowly to ensure she gives everything 100 percent. “I’d rather take my time and do every piece right than try to do too much at one time,” she says.

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Check out butters&beans for yourself at Simple Panache and Great Rivers Art in downtown Hastings, Uber Baby in St. Louis Park or online.

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