Our Story

Renée Hatt
Zookini Kids has been in development over the course of many years but only now have I found my passion for its purpose in building it. As much as designing is a creative expression of me, and children wearing fun, fantastical, age appropriate clothing is extremely important, this company is so much more. It is a conduit for education, nurturing, creating community, raising awareness about the environment and animals, and understanding how to have your healthiest mind and body.

My Background: When I was eight years old, my twin aunts, Evelyn and Virginia, taught me to sew on my grandmother's White machine. I sewed on and off as a child. After high school, I graduated with a Fashion Design degree from Brooks College, Long Beach. Then, I worked at several companies in the garment industry. The greatest impact on me came from a children’s clothing company, Peanut Butter & Jelly. It was the best experience I ever had in any company in or out of fashion- I loved it! I knew I had a strength and desire to design children’s wear but I had yet to find my passion and purpose in building a business around it. After leaving Peanut Butter & Jelly, I bounced around from job to job trying to discover myself. By age 23, it was time to face year’s long health issues that I could no longer ignore, which ultimately opened me up to an entirely new path in alternative medicine.

In learning about alternative medicine and my own body and mind, I discovered I had another love: helping others heal their minds and bodies. After seven years of studying numerous healing modalities while in my own healing process, I decided to attend the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) to become a Certified Holistic Health Counselor. Wanting to add another piece to my practice I, then, became certified in NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) and Hypnosis. I still love reaching people on an individual basis and continue to do Personalized Health Counseling and I also wanted to reach a larger crowd focusing on children.

Zookini Kids is more than ten years in the making and I finally understand its purpose. My passion for creating combined with my love for nurturing and teaching about preventative medicine and healing have collided, resulting in....
ZOOKINI KIDS

What Inspires the Designs?

I’m inspired by children playing, having fun and feeling good in their clothing. I design dresses similar to what I remember wearing and feeling good in. I have three suitcases full of infant and toddler clothing I kept from my childhood upon which I often reflect. I am inspired by period costumes, vintage clothing, fabric, and nature.

How Will We Accomplish our Vision?

I love finding creative ways to teach. In addition to clothing, we are in the process of developing toys, books, music, DVD’s and other innovative, stimulating and imaginative tools for reaching young minds and spirits.

We are donating a percentage of our profits to non-profit organizations that focus on children’s interests and needs. We are teaming up with individuals and groups, some of whom are fellow graduates of IIN, who share a similar passion - teaching children what it means to choose healthy foods. That physical activity along with positive thoughts and good food choices helps one maintain a healthy immune system and have a strong sense of self.

We want to connect with community centers to help them grow community gardens, not only to produce food, but to create a supportive nurturing environment where one feels safe. Also, helping these centers create programs for children to express themselves through music, dance, drama, and writing. It is so important for us to help provide a supportive loving environment to enhance children’s self esteem and belief in their abilities. That if they can dream it, it can be done!

Other areas of importance are supporting local farming and organizations committed to the humane treatment of animals. As we grow our support grows and we intend to nurture as many children as we possibly can.

About Our Clothing

Zookini Kids takes pride in the manufacturing of our dresses.

They are made in the USA of all Natural Fibers. Though we use all natural fibers, the fabric we use is not yet available in organic/sustainable fibers so we support farms producing organic cotton and other fibers via donations to heighten awareness of its importance. It is important to us that not only food but fibers be sustainable and organic as well.

Generational fashions to wear today and share tomorrow. Our clothing is made of timeless and vintage fabrics designed specifically for children. They are meant for children to be children having fun, playing, dreaming, and creating.

We produce high quality product designed for comfort and durability yet is sweet and sophisticated.