Cricket & Monkey, was established in 2006 after designer and creator Karen Stein’s first grandson, Micah (Monkey) was born. Karen’s goal was to design stylish and functional items for her daughter to use for herself and for everyone.
The focus was to offer high quality, easy to care for products... emphasizing detail, and choosing unique, contemporary fabrics for her bibs, blankets, burpies and playmats. By the time her granddaughter Samantha (Cricket) was born, many stores were asking for the novelty prints to be used for diaper bags, so that division of the business developed. Using her strong eye for color and texture, paired with her entrepreneurial background, Karen has successfully created products that stand-out from the rest!
The vivid colors of cotton canvas printed fabrics was the inspiration for the newly introduced collection of canvas bags in 2009. Karen prides herself in the workmanship, and that everything is manufactured in factories in the USA. Karen has been designing and manufacturing for 18 years, as well as owning and buying for 2 Specialty Store Boutiques. Being on “both sides of the table” has assisted her in knowing exactly what the retailers want to create successful businesses. She also is a P/T Professor at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA, trying to inspire her students into the wild world of fashion.
The diaper bags have also been selling into markets other than Maternity...they are being toted as funky handbags, travel bags, laptop bags, school bags, knitting bags, beach bags, and most recently she has expanded into high-end Pet Stores, using them as small pet carriers. Stevie Wonder’s wife, Kai Milla, has a canvas tote for her new puppy, Romeo!
Top celebrities like: Tori Spelling, Chris Noth and family, Stevie Wonder’s wife, Kai Milla, Charlie Sheen’s wife Brooke Mueller, Allison Sweeney, Julie Bowen, Kathy Hilton, Holly Robinson Peet, Marisa Jaret Winokur, Chyler Leigh, Scott Baio and family, Rich Sommer and family, Kevin Weisman and family, Maxine Bahns, Victoria Recano, Evan Handler and family, Joley Fisher, and Jodie Sweetin, have Cricket and Monkey products, and all share in appreciating the softness of blankets, the waterproof multiple use playmats, and of course the fun yet functional diaper bags, with most items being machine washable and/or wipe clean.
Cricket & Monkey can be found in Specialty Stores throughout the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands, as well as many e-commerce sites, twitters, and blogs.com sites.
Visit us at www.cricketandmonkey.com, or email karen@cricketandmonkey.com.