After almost 10 years as a very busy marketing executive in London, my husband and I made the decision to up-sticks – we were starting to think about starting a family and had been strongly advised that cutting back on stress would help increase our chances. As much as I loved my job and manic schedule, as long as we stayed in the capital stress was always going to be a big part of life.

The slower pace of life in Cambridgeshire and the arrival of our beautiful daughter 18 months ago gave me a whole new perspective – I was besotted with my gorgeous little girl despite the exhaustion! And still had a passion to embark on a new challenge.

I became fascinated with all the paraphernalia needed with a new baby but there were some things that just didn’t work for me, either through function or the way they looked.

It was baby bags in particular that I couldn’t fathom – I was fortunate enough to be given a beautiful designer bag at my baby shower but the designer in question clearly had no idea quite how much kit a baby needs and, reluctantly, I had to give it up in favour of a very practical, yet decidedly dull, plasticy version.

I decided to do some research in a quest to find a bag I liked, but quickly came to the conclusion that, when it came to baby bags, it was function or fashion, not both! I didn’t understand why I should have to compromise on my own style (surely the lack of sleep is compromise enough!) and, having worked actively on new product development in my previous jobs, I began to explore the potential of designing my own bag, filling a gap in the market for women who don’t want to compromise on style just because their Mulberry Bayswater doesn’t quite carry enough nappies! And Mamami was born…

Throughout my life I had always wanted to be so many things - I loved the idea of being a designer, an entrepreneur and a mother and creating my own baby bag seemed like the perfect way to combine all my aims into a rewarding career path. I am thrilled with the final design, which I feel combines a stunningly chic exterior, with a practical (yet beautiful) interior. So striking in fact, that many of my friends without children say they would love one, surely the biggest compliment of all….

Feel free to get in touch should you have any queries or comments and I hope you find the Friends of Mamami useful too – please do let me know if you have any other gems we really should know about…