Fashion for
the Youngest Set:
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| Photos are by Liliana Photography |
When Patricia DeLisa first moved to New York City, it was to
join other aspiring young models in an apartment owned by the Ford Modeling
Agency. It was not long before DeLisa realized that her true passion was for
creating the designs, not modeling them.
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| Patricia DeLisa |
Fast-forward to today and DeLisa has realized her dream of
designing for her own apparel company. She is the creator of Cozy Cocoon, an
adorably chic infant swaddling garment that helps to soothe the baby as well.
Cozy Cocoon has gained an international following among some rather fussy
customers and their equally discerning parents. She talks about her role as a
designer for the very youngest fashionistas…
designing for her own apparel company. She is the creator of Cozy Cocoon, an
adorably chic infant swaddling garment that helps to soothe the baby as well.
Cozy Cocoon has gained an international following among some rather fussy
customers and their equally discerning parents. She talks about her role as a
designer for the very youngest fashionistas…
What is your design background and
how did the idea for Cozy Cocoon come about?
how did the idea for Cozy Cocoon come about?
Actually,
it seems I was born with a passion for design. As a toddler I carried a big
suitcase full of clothes and a giant baby doll everywhere I went. I would
change the clothes all day long. I had many brothers and sisters, so I
had a big stash of clothes to choose from to add to my suitcase! And, whenever
I could sneak into the nursery of the real baby I would; I had to change the
clothes as fast as I could so my mom wouldn’t catch me!
it seems I was born with a passion for design. As a toddler I carried a big
suitcase full of clothes and a giant baby doll everywhere I went. I would
change the clothes all day long. I had many brothers and sisters, so I
had a big stash of clothes to choose from to add to my suitcase! And, whenever
I could sneak into the nursery of the real baby I would; I had to change the
clothes as fast as I could so my mom wouldn’t catch me!
I got my first sewing machine at the age of 12. It was so
magical to me, and I never stopped sewing from that point on. I attended F.I.T., where I won all the awards for design in my
class.My teacher then hired me to design at the London Fog coat company.
magical to me, and I never stopped sewing from that point on. I attended F.I.T., where I won all the awards for design in my
class.My teacher then hired me to design at the London Fog coat company.
In 1998, as a mom with 27 nieces and nephews, I came up with
this idea to calm my fussy newborn niece. The idea flashed into my head and I
knew I could find a way to gently hold her flailing arms with
cotton/spandex! I went to the store that moment and bought a piece of stretchy
cotton fabric. I made the first pattern on the baby that day. That was the
beginning of the Cozy Cocoon.
this idea to calm my fussy newborn niece. The idea flashed into my head and I
knew I could find a way to gently hold her flailing arms with
cotton/spandex! I went to the store that moment and bought a piece of stretchy
cotton fabric. I made the first pattern on the baby that day. That was the
beginning of the Cozy Cocoon.
Cozy
Cocoons are both beautiful and functional. What makes them unique?
Cocoons are both beautiful and functional. What makes them unique?
No ties, no snaps, no buttons, no straps. It slips onto the
baby like a sock. So you simply scrunch it up like a sock and stretch it onto
the baby for a perfect swaddle every time. No uncomfortable zippers or Velcro,
no complicated wrapping or strapping. It’s soft, stretchy cotton and it has a
flip back pocket for easy diaper access. So you can change the diaper without
startling the baby.
baby like a sock. So you simply scrunch it up like a sock and stretch it onto
the baby for a perfect swaddle every time. No uncomfortable zippers or Velcro,
no complicated wrapping or strapping. It’s soft, stretchy cotton and it has a
flip back pocket for easy diaper access. So you can change the diaper without
startling the baby.
What is the inspiration for your
Cozy Cocoon designs and what fabrics are used?
Cozy Cocoon designs and what fabrics are used?
We use pure cottons of a nice 10 oz. weight with just a little
spandex, 5%, so the baby can stretch and explore naturally. This allows for the
fabric to hug the baby close without the worry of unraveling fabric. My design ideas come from the world around me, the beautiful
babies I see everyday, and the fun whimsical ideas that are constantly popping
up in my head.
spandex, 5%, so the baby can stretch and explore naturally. This allows for the
fabric to hug the baby close without the worry of unraveling fabric. My design ideas come from the world around me, the beautiful
babies I see everyday, and the fun whimsical ideas that are constantly popping
up in my head.
Where are your garments
manufactured?
manufactured?
We custom
make all of our fabrics here in the USA, in a mill in North Carolina. We cut
and sew all of our cocoons here on Long Island and sometimes use a small factory in Brooklyn.
make all of our fabrics here in the USA, in a mill in North Carolina. We cut
and sew all of our cocoons here on Long Island and sometimes use a small factory in Brooklyn.
Is it challenging to work with
your very young models?
Yes! We have so much fun with the beautiful babies that come to
our photo shoots. It takes a lot of patience to wait for the baby to
cooperate. It is such a blessing to be in the presence of so many newborns and
to dress them in these adorable outfits. The moms and dads are always so
happy. It’s a very rewarding experience.
our photo shoots. It takes a lot of patience to wait for the baby to
cooperate. It is such a blessing to be in the presence of so many newborns and
to dress them in these adorable outfits. The moms and dads are always so
happy. It’s a very rewarding experience.
Cozy Cocoons are an international
sensation. Where is your largest customer base and where can Cozy Cocoons be
purchased?
sensation. Where is your largest customer base and where can Cozy Cocoons be
purchased?
Yes, we
are happy to say that we ship worldwide on a daily basis from right here in
North Bellmore, New York. Our biggest fans are in Asia, Dubai, and the U.K. We are
currently working on a plan to launch Cozy Cocoon in many stores in the
U.S. by the year’s end. You can find us now online at: www.cozycocoon.com/
are happy to say that we ship worldwide on a daily basis from right here in
North Bellmore, New York. Our biggest fans are in Asia, Dubai, and the U.K. We are
currently working on a plan to launch Cozy Cocoon in many stores in the
U.S. by the year’s end. You can find us now online at: www.cozycocoon.com/
–Rhonda
Erb
Erb
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