I was convinced my daughter, at three weeks old, could tell the difference between organic and non-organic cotton. She had a wonderful Under the Nile side snap tee shirt and a onesie and when she was comfortably swaddled in one or the other she seemed at ease, relaxed and happy. When we had to change her out of them she was fussy and uncomfortable. Coincidence? Who knows? My new-Mom brain grasped at many straws. The clothes sure seemed perfect to me, soft and with each washing softer, so well made and cute as anything. And now I find that the company is so eco-satisfying that there’s no downside to gathering a complete Under the Nile layette for your newborn, baby and toddler.

Founded in 1997, Under the Nile has worked with Sekem Farms in Egypt to create organic, fair trade clothing from seed to sewing. The farm is certified by Demeter and the Center of Organic Agriculture in Egypt, and is a model community and workplace. Sekem workers receive a fair wage, have health care, are served two organic meals a day and have a school for their children, provided by the Farm community.

The sweet dolls, veggie toys and teethers are handcrafted and stuffed with the same wonderfully soft cotton, not the industry standard “fluff” that can cause respiratory problems in children. The side snap Babybody (Under the Nile lingo for onesie) is very easy to negotiate – not a small requirement when you’re operating on three hours of sleep.

I recently came across Under the Nile clothing at a fair trade import store, so I bought a great Peas on Earth print Lap Shoulder Tee and Trouser set (I would call them pajamas) Price: $24. My daughter giggled when I showed them to her, and when she proudly wrestled them on in her 2-year-old way she exclaimed, “Oh! So soft!” and they are. She likes the colors, I like the fact that they are non-toxic, metal-free dyes. From diapers to clothing to blankets and playmats, Under the Nile products are simple, well-designed and charming. The line is reasonably priced, especially given all the satisfaction you get knowing how the clothing is produced.

Under the Nile Apparel

Cost: Veggie Toy $6.00, Babybody $12.00, New Baby Gift Set $89.00

Where to Buy it: Amazon, Whole Foods, local specialty children’s stores