Mom Uses Age-Old Practice Of ‘Baby Wearing’ to Start Business

Bayiravi Mani Mangaonkar is a Goa-based entrepreneur who launched Kol Kol Baby Carrier to make ergonomic baby carriers that are suitable for Indian weather and comfortable to wear.

Goa-based Bayiravi Mani Mangaonkar never expected to be an entrepreneur. In fact, seeing her uncles and father in business made her feel that she never wanted to pursue that path. She liked having a stable income. But they say that necessity is the mother of all inventions. And that is how Bhayiravi Mani Mangaonkar became an inventor and an ‘accidental entrepreneur’.

Bayiravi’s initial career was in event management. But after her marriage, she turned into home baking. But when her first son, Advait was born, she found it difficult to bake with her son in her hands. So she turned to baby carriers, which allow you to carry your baby on your front so you can have your hands free.

But Bayiravi did not like the baby carriers in the market. Some gave the wearer back pain, some were too uncomfortable, and some were just not suitable for Indian weather. After going through a number of baby wearers (carriers) she came to the conclusion that there is no baby wearer in the Indian market which is to her satisfaction. So she decided to invent one.

She stitched up about 100 different samples and distributed them among new mothers. And took feedback from them. It took her almost a year to get the exact design finalized. Now her brand ‘Kol Kol’ is a recognised brand in the world of baby wearers.

“I receive a lot of feedback that only makes me work harder. This carrier helped parents calm their baby who was suffering from colic, and another family was able to freely enjoy a holiday,” Bayiravi says. “Today, we have 15 tailors associated with the brand, and we make and sell more than 600 carriers each month.”

While the business has grown organically and continues to attract new parents from all over, Bayiravi says that the high point for her continues to be the feedback she receives. “I can’t complain. It has been a steady growth and I am happy with that,” she concludes.

Credits: The Better India

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-Staff Reporter