We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Veronika Verkhoglyadova a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Veronika, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea to create RCL was born from a mother’s desire to dress her children in a stylish and classy clothing that is made from a 100% natural materials such as a 100% Organic Cotton, Merino wool and cashmere because it’s both safer and preferable for children and the environment (less pollution – healthier air, water and soil).
The founder of RCL, a mother of three, two boys and a little girl, searched the US market for children clothes that would have such properties but it was impossible to find anything like that.
All there was is synthetic or partially synthetic clothing, so Veronika, the founder of RCL decided to design her own clothing brand. That way she would make sure that the materials of the clothing is of the highest quality and 100% Organic.
We test our clothes for a fabric composition and harmful chemicals contamination so that mothers that purchase our brand feel confident that their children wear the safest clothing on the market.
OUR MISSION
At Royal Cozy Luxury we go above and beyond to create the clothes from high quality Organic fabrics, so you can show all your love, adoration and care for your children’s health and the environment they grow in when you buy our brand.
We meticulously search the market for pure a 100% organic cotton, for only 100% natural materials avoiding synthetics because it’s our mission to keep the earth safe and clean for future generations.
Also we invest in a production part of such fabrics forms scratch when it is impossible to find it on the market.
So, for example, having not found a natural and sustainably insulating material on the market for our warm English Fox overalls, we decided to create our own, consisting of 100% pure Australian merino wool. We get this insulation due to the fact that Merino sheep are sheared on farms (as dogs are usually sheared to be comfortable them), then the insulation is rolled up from the softest and warmest wool obtained. This is done according to the method of manufacturing a European insulation called Alpalux, but Alpalux itself is only 50% natural, and the other 50% has a synthetic composition. We, in turn, make 100% natural wool insulation from the wool of Merino sheep. Despite the complexity of manufacturing our English Fox overalls, we have achieved a result in which these overalls do not lose their appearance when machine washed delicately in cold water. Thanks to our special technology for steaming wool insulation before cutting out patterns from it.
When purchasing from us you can be at ease that you make a world a better place because our clothes are certified for quality standards and material composition, and tested in laboratories approved by the US Department of Certification, and is a safer option for your little ones.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
In the past, I was a bank employee in the investment department before I became a mother of many children and a housewife. But from the moment I got pregnant with my long-awaited daughter (this is the third child in the family), I was inspired to create my own brand of clothing for children. Because I could not find anything stylish from natural organic fabrics, yarns and materials in the US market for my little princess.
Perhaps you will ask me: “What’s so bad about synthetic clothing? After all, the market has a lot of beautiful fashionable clothes made of polyester, acrylic and other synthetic materials.”
I will explain: Artificial fabrics and materials are dangerous for the human body! Let’s see why is that so?
Why is it important to know before buying children’s clothing whether it has been tested for the absence of harmful substances in the composition?
In the modern world, most premium brands sew children’s clothes from non-natural fabrics, which contain many dangerous elements that poison the child’s fragile body.
These elements include phthalates (carcinogenic compounds) that affect reproductive function; formaldehyde, which causes a terrible allergy, itching and sore throat; polyfluorinated substances that threaten kidney health; noninophenols, lead to disruption of the endocrine system.
Therefore, caring parents choose clothes made from natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, linen, etc. for their babies.
Even so, parents need to be vigilant. Since, not all brands use high-quality natural materials for the production of children’s clothing.
If natural fabric is dyed with cheap factory dyes that contain lead, nickel, or cadmium, this increases the risk of neurological disorders.
That is why all our garments are made from certified organic fabrics, laboratory tested materials for the absence of harmful substances and have quality certificates (CPC) approved by the US Department of Quality Control of Baby Products and Clothing (CPSC).
Also, synthetic clothing is a cause for concern for babies and older children, because little ones can get overheated or hypothermia in synthetic clothing. After all, synthetic fibers are not breathable and do not absorb moisture, the sweat of a sweaty baby. Because of this, the thermoregulation of the body is disturbed in children, and they may start to cry.
We created our own brand of elegant children clothes made from natural organic materials RCL ROYAL COZY LUXURY @royalcozyluxury (for Instagram and Facebook) at affordable prices, because we want our children to wear the best quality clothes, and allow this opportunity to you!
But why is the rest of the Fashion industry increasingly choosing artificial fabrics over natural ones?
First, it’s cheap! They do not want to spend so much effort, time and money to produce artificial fabrics and yarns, as in the cultivation of organic cotton, flax, hemp raw materials, wool. Big fashion brands just use what already exists on the market because they race with each other in.
Indeed, in order to obtain wool used in the production of yarn or fur, you must grow an animal taking a great care of it and its hair throughout its life, as well as clean the sheared wool, spending enormous resources for this.
Synthetic material is made in laboratories using chemical compounds and machinery almost in no time.
Secondly, these materials are very wear-resistant and durable. So durable that they do not decompose for more than 200 years. Can you imagine what kind of damage it is to nature?
Thirdly, they do not wrinkle.
Fourth, clothing made from artificial fabrics has a high margin for production. Which means that a fashion industry makes lots of money on cheaply producing clothes and selling it for higher prices then they paid for production.
You understand? It’s all about business, not about customer care!!!
How does the production of synthetic fabrics affect the environment?
Textile industries use harmful chemicals in the manufacture of fabrics and in dyeing them.
The brighter the paint, the more lead it contains.
Factories poison the environment with their emissions, both into the air and into the soil.
Things made of artificial fabrics are NOT ECO-Friendly! It’s just a beautiful idea that fashion industry likes to promote. In fact, huge amounts of water is spent on the production of polyester, it consists of harmful refined petroleum (oil-byproduct) and decomposes for more than two hundred years.
Synthetic fabrics adversely affect human health:
1. Due to the low hygroscopicity, the materials do not absorb moisture emitted by a person (most often sweat), therefore, with the constant wear of synthetic clothing, there is a disruption of body heat transfer and air circulation. This can lead to a number of health problems: high blood pressure, overheating, and disruption of the nervous system.
2. The components that make up artificial fabrics are of toxic origin, so constant contact with the body poisons the human body: phthalates, formaldehyde, lead, etc. Synthetic fibers are obtained during the synthesis of ethylene, benzene or phenol, produced from natural gas, oil and coal.
3. The likelihood of allergic reactions is high. Having seen all the features of the production of such materials, it becomes clear that there is nothing surprising in the fact that some people suffer from allergies when wearing such clothes. Allergies can manifest themselves in different ways: cough, runny nose, skin manifestations.
Many sustainable brands advertise synthetic clothing as eco-friendly. Using toxic garment dyes and finishes, they claim this to be a greener option. However, are man-made fibers really ethical? You can find many answers to your questions in the book “Killer Clothes.” This book takes a deep look into the dangers of synthetic textiles, which have been hidden from the public eye.
Perhaps you will ask me: “What about the production of natural fabrics?”
I will answer: Natural fabrics and raw materials include cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo, wool, merino wool, cashmere wool, leather, fur, and wood. These are all biodegradable materials and fibers that can be reused without harming nature. Otherwise, they will decompose themselves without polluting the soil, water and air, if at the time of production harmful chemical compounds were not used for dyeing or dressing the material for a longer preservation of appearance.
We choose only natural ingredients for dyeing the fabrics used to make our RCL brand clothing, and we also select genuine certified materials, such as organic cotton with the Global Organic GOTS certificate (which confirms the non-use of harmful substances in the cultivation of cotton, such as pesticides – glyphosate), Australian Merino wool with an Australian Certificate of Origin or Woolmark certificate.
However, there are a lot of products on the market made of cotton or blend cotton with synthetics.
And probably you will have a question: “What is the problem? Why not buy and dress children in these clothes?”
I can explain my position: As a mother I want the best, highest quality, healthiest things for my three children. But when it comes to clothes it’s hard to find items made of 100% natural materials. Natural fabric materials include cotton, linen, hemp fiber, silk, wool, etc.
With the invention of chemical pesticides non-organic farming started using harsh toxic chemicals like glyphosate to grow plants with larger yield. Pesticides are a weed control agent that are sprayed over plants to help farmers grow with ease but the downside is that those toxic chemicals end up getting into the fibers of plants and raw materials used in the textile industry.
Is glyphosate dangerous for the human body?
The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that this herbicide accumulates in body tissues and is a carcinogen. This means that, when glyphosate reaches gulf levels of concentration it begins to cause changes in cells and tissues, up to irreversible ones. Glyphosate kills them or causes them to change pathologically, provoking cancerous tumors. This pesticide can cause infertility and can disrupt embryonic development of humans and animals. There are a few studies done on glyphosate, one of them shows cattle fed with the pesticide sprayed food having negative effects on reproductive system.
The non-organic processing and preparing of animal hair for yarn production often uses formaldehyde to preserve the appearance of the wool.
It is also hazardous to human health.
With an increased concentration of formaldehyde in the air, a characteristic pungent odor occurs, it can irritate the mucous of the eyes, nose and respiratory tract, for people with asthma symptoms of diseases may worsen. High concentrations of formaldehyde may increase the risk of developing sinus cancer. It can cause allergic reactions. The children’s body is even more sensitive to the harmful effects of this compound.
In conclusion of the reply on this question, due to constant contact with the child’s body and respiratory organs, synthetic or natural non-organic materials can cause allergic reactions, and glyphosate and formaldehyde can penetrate through skin causing sometimes irreparable harm for vulnerable children.
That’s why we created RCL ROYAL COZY LUXURY brand and our high quality clothes is made from natural organic materials. We care for the smallest and dearest people in our lives, and your lives!!!
Then, perhaps you will tell me that it is too expensive to dress children in clothes made exclusively from genuine organic fabrics, yarn and other materials. After all, children grow up quickly, and parents will often be forced to buy new clothes for their kids.
My reply: As a mother of three children, I want to explain to you the importance of not skimping on children’s clothing and not buying clothes made of artificial fabrics. It’s crucial to choose kids’ outfits with great responsibility. Parents’ desire to save money as children grow up quickly is quite apparent. But choosing children’s clothing made from cheap synthetic materials or non-organic natural materials, you will save on your child’s health, which can lead to serious diseases such as cancer, allergic asthma, infertility, and neurological abnormalities. Saving currently on children’s clothing, you will have to spend much more money on the treatment of your child later. God forbid someone experience this.
Additionally, Economizing on winter clothing is a direct way to your baby’s frequent colds. Poor-quality products don’t remove moisture. As a result, a sweaty baby can easily get cold in wet clothes when they stop running and jumping.
We face a choice of selecting appropriate winter wear in the cold season of the year. Our preference heavily depends on the ability of clothing to warm our child, retain heat, and prevent wind and moisture ingress. Therefore, it is vital for winter clothes to be made of genuine fabric, both outside and inside.
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Genuine wool or cashmere as an outer fabric is better than airtight products. Kids are always on the move, and breathable fabrics regulate the internal microclimate, not letting little ones sweat and get cold due to wet clothes. A real cotton lining inside will promote good heat exchange, will not cause the “greenhouse” effect, and will not trigger allergies.
Do you think it is necessary to save money on children’s clothing?
I will answer, anticipating your question in advance: “Why we choose Australian merino wool and cashmere, because these are the most expensive types of wool on the market?”
When producing our clothes, we stick to the main rule – clothes must be made of genuine fibers. Therefore, we prefer merino and cashmere wools as they have natural and perfect properties:
To start with, both merino and cashmere are thinner than any other one. They aren’t itchy and don’t cause irritation. They are a must-have for sensitive baby skin. Both merino and cashmere are soft, delicate, and pleasant to touch.
Secondly, they are good at retaining and regulating heat exchange. It’s neither cold nor hot wearing them, so your little one will not overheat and sweat.
Moreover, outfits made of such wools are hypoallergenic, meaning it’s suitable from the first days of a child’s life. It also has a healing effect which protects the baby.
Finally, I would like to summarize by voicing three reasons to choose our product:
By choosing our clothes, you make a choice in favor of your kid’s health. Do you know why?
1. We thoroughly test our clothes for fabric composition and toxic ingredients to ensure moms, who buy our products, their kids are wearing the safest clothing on the market.
2. We can guarantee the production safety by choosing organic materials. All fabrics and yarns have passed several tests: GOTS certificate for organic cotton, Woolmark for wool yarn and CPC for all materials. It means that our products are free of harmful substances such as pesticides, plastics, polyethylene, petroleum products, lead, formaldehyde, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, barium, mercury and selenium.
3. All our models are made of genuine and hypoallergenic materials: merino wool, organic cotton, cashmere. They are safe for children from the very first day of life.
An environmentally friendly approach and care are our priorities when creating outfits for your little ones.
OUR SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS
One of the most important points in our activities as a family brand ROYAL COZY LUXURY (RCL) is sustainability.
Making a promise is one thing, keeping it is better. RCL is committed to creating and manufacturing products made with more sustainable materials to limit our environmental impact.
We are committed to incorporating sustainability into our actions, practices, and products as part of our responsibility to our community and our environment.
RCL products are ethically manufactured in small batches using only natural organic fabrics and materials.
Our safe production is guaranteed by the choice of a labeled organic cotton grown on organic farms, regularly inspected and following European regulations. No synthetic chemicals are used in the process.
We love merino wool and cashmere for all of their naturally perfect properties – both wools are the finest and softest wool on the planet, they are exceptionally breathable, constantly renewable, versatile, and altogether unmatched by anything manmade.
Merino wool produced from the Merino breed of sheep. The sheep eat grass, drink water and take in the sunshine – all essential ingredients to creating soft, comfortable Merino wool fibers. We only use wool from non-mulesed sheep and 100% of our wool is sustainably sourced from certified humane sheep farmers in Australia and New Zealand.
Cashmere is a warm, soft, and durable material that comes from goats living in high elevations. Due to the rarity of these goats, the popularity of the material, and the labor-intensive production methods, cashmere is a high-priced luxury good that can cost a significant amount compared to other wool materials.
Our packaging is recyclable, biodegradable, or reusable.
All deliveries are carbon neutral.
BRAND RCL ROYAL COZY LUXURY by VUELO DE ALMA INC. is a business registered in MA, USA and operates as an online retailer.
I think I spoke in great detail about the idea of launching our brand, about the reasons for creating unique clothes from natural organic materials, about our mission, and about our priorities. I hope this information will be useful to your readers and perhaps some will think about the importance of choosing children’s clothing in favor of natural organic materials.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
Great question. Initially, we launched our store on Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook. Then, as the range of goods expanded, we realized that we needed our own website. We turned to website developers and marketers to further develop and promote our brand. Now we are at the initial stage of launching a promotion company. We hope that this will bear fruit and more people will know about the emergence of Royal Cozy Luxury as a responsible brand in the children’s clothing market.
Our website: www.royalcozyluxury.org
Our Etsy store: rclroyalcozyluxury.etsy.com
Our Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest: @royalcozyluxury
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
We take a responsible approach to the task of interacting with clients: we quickly answer their letters with questions, help determine the size of clothes and models, help determine whether a particular model is suitable for a particular season of the year in their region or not.
There is detailed information on the composition and certification of each product, with certificate numbers on our website and in the listings of Etsy, Facebook, and Instagram stores. This is so that people can see that we justify the quality of our product. We can present all certificates to the client upon request.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.royalcozyluxury.org
- Instagram: @royalcozyluxury
- Facebook: @royalcozyluxury
- Other: Our Etsy store: www.rclroyalcozyluxury.etsy.com Pinterest, TikTok: @royalcozyluxury
Image Credits
All images are owned by VUELO DE ALMA INC. (RCL ROYAL COZY LUXURY TM)