Design in Business Award 2008

Merino Kids Finalist in Design in Business Award 2008
September 18, 2008 – Merino Kids is a finalist in this year's Design in Business Award, an initiative of the Designers Institute of New Zealand presented in association with Better by Design. Merino Kids is the leading designer of stylish baby sleep bags and swaddles crafted from New Zealand's finest pure merino wool

The Design in Business Award seeks to recognise New Zealand companies that have used design to drive innovation and business growth. Judging criteria included: proven business success, brand and reputation, home grown innovation, evidence of design skills in detail, and most importantly, the pre-eminence of design thinking at a strategic level.

Said David Walker, a member of the University of Auckland's INNOVATIONZ team and a judge of the Design in Business Award 2008: "The judges were impressed by the high standard of work and the commitment of the entrants who were using design throughout their businesses. This gave us an encouraging cross section of pioneering New Zealand businesses to choose from, each of whom was hungry for global success."

Merino Kids was founded in 1993 by mother-of-three Amie Nilsson, who applied her experience as a London textile designer and her knowledge of the virtues of merino fibre to create the world's first merino baby sleep bag. The 100% natural Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag is cuddly soft, allergy-safe and has the remarkable ability to regulate a baby's body temperature so they don't wake up cold or overheated. Merino Kids also pioneered the world's first merino baby swaddle, which fits perfectly all newborn babies without restricting their natural movement for comfort and brain development.   

Merino Kids sleep bags and swaddles are sold in boutique baby stores across Australasia, Europe and the United Kingdom, and company revenue has increased 750 per cent over the past two years.

Amie Nilsson, founder of Merino Kids, said "We are delighted to be recognised as a finalist in the prestigious Design in Business Award. We pride ourselves on our unique designs and commitment to seek out alternatives to synthetics in an increasingly disposable world. We use only safe, sustainable natural materials that are best for our children and best for the environment."