Frequently Asked Questions

General • Easy Care • Environment/safety

General

What's up with your name?
It was either that or Pippi the Cat!

Where can I find your products in the real world?
We sell our products across the country, as well as internationally! Check out our searchable online database here. You can also visit our outlet in San Rafael, CA, where you can find discounted prices and discontinued prints!

Where are your products made?
Our fabric is designed in Sweden and produced in Europe. We use two factories to produce our fabrics: one is located in Estonia and one is in Sweden. Everything is assembled in Oakland, CA by a team of skilled seamstresses.

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Easy Care

Can I iron or tumble dry my Mimi products?
Yes, and yes! Iron on the back of the products and use a smooth cloth between the product and the iron. You can machine wash warm and tumble dry on low heat!

Are Mimi lunchbugs/lunchsacks insulated?
Mimi lunchbugs are not insulated with a batting material, however they do keep things cool, especially with an icepack or if you stick some ice in your reusable water bottle.

Will your bags mold?
Mold is caused by dampness. If the bags are properly washed and dried, mold should not be an issue.

Why doesn’t Mimi make sandwich wrappers?
Here at Mimi the Sardine our first concern is your child’s safety. With that in mind, knowing that harmful bacteria can grow when food is in close contact with a porous material, we have chosen not to make sandwich wrappers - we recommend using reusable tiffins made of metal or plastic.

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Environment/safety

What makes your products ecologically sound?
All fabrics are made of organically grown cotton with an acrylic coating (the one exception is our linen-cotton adult tablecloths) to make it permanently water and soil resistant. This also makes our products durable and long-lasting, which cuts down on landfill-waste and energy-use in production and transport. Our acrylic-coated (as opposed to PVC) fabrics meet the European Oeko-Tex 100 Standard which is a textile safety standard ensuring that dyes, emissions, energy consumption, and more are at safe levels. There are additional benefits to the environment through compliance, but the emphasis on human health ensures a wider scope of regulation. In contrast, textiles labeled “organic” with no other certification can use unregulated dyes and chemicals during production.

Our fabrics also meet the US CPSIA standards. For more, click here.

Our fabric factories meet the ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 standards, which are systems for routines concerning quality questions including planning, production, and control. They ensure that workers are trained in how to handle chemicals, waste-water, air pollution, energy consumption, and more. For more information, click here.

Check out this flyer with an more extensive list of what not to be afraid of in our products.

What is the difference between organic and non-organic fabrics?
Organic fabrics are made without the use of pesticides or herbicides, and employ a variety of other ecologically-sound farming practices. This keeps the growers, manufacturers, and consumers and their local environments safe from harmful chemicals.

I know the cotton is safe, but what the trimming (zippers, straps, and buckles)?
The zippers are made of nylon and polyamide and the straps are polypropelene, all of which are non-toxic and phthalate-free. We rely on the supplier’s tests, which are regularly provided to us. They are tested for safe levels of lead and phthalates. Contact us for more information.

 

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