Ten Year Timeline

Little Zen One began with one baby, one wrap, and one big realization: life feels a lot easier when your little one is close.

Today, we are a small, woman-owned, disabled-owned business based in Toronto, proudly serving families across North America with ethically made baby carriers, expert support, and our signature Try Before You Buy program.

Before Little Zen One

Before becoming a mom, Allie studied International Development and worked in sustainable development, including an internship at the United Nations. Her passion was simple: to help change the world for the better.

Over time, she realized that lasting change often begins from the bottom up, not in boardrooms, but at the family level. When children are worn, they feel secure, confident, and deeply bonded to their caregivers. When parents feel capable and mobile, able to navigate the world with confidence rather than being stuck at home, they are less isolated and more connected to their communities. That is where real change begins.

Those beliefs shaped the foundation of Little Zen One: change the world, one family at a time.

2014 - The Beginning

In early 2014, Allie welcomed her first baby and, a few months later, discovered woven wraps. Babywearing quickly became more than a parenting tool: it was a game changer.

That year, she trained with Certified Babywearing Consultants and the Canadian Babywearing School, purchased the Little Zen One domain, and began building the foundation of a business rooted in care and community.

2015 - Launching From a Duplex

In November 2015, Little Zen One officially launched from the lower unit of a Toronto duplex. Allie built the website herself in a week, partnered with Didymos as the first brand, and personally received, packed, and shipped every order. Packages went out by bike courier to the shipping depot.

She saw hundreds of families for private consultations and personalized shopping.

From the very beginning, the focus was simple: beautiful carriers, ethical sourcing, and kind, knowledgeable support.

2016–2018 - Growing With Our Family

As Little Zen One grew, so did Allie’s family. In 2016, her second son was born, and orders were still being packed from home between naps and school runs. The business expanded to include Angel Wings babywearing coats and developed a reputation for thoughtful, one-on-one support and exceptional baby carriers.

2019 - Try Before You Buy Begins

In 2019, Little Zen One launched the Try Before You Buy (TBYB) program, the first of its kind in the world, allowing families to test carriers at home for a week before buying. It began with a handful of carriers and quickly grew into a community-driven movement.

Around that time, Allie had begun losing her hearing and realized that through the program and online connection, she could reach and support far more families than she ever could alone. That realization became part of the foundation of how Little Zen One operates today: using innovation to make connection and confidence accessible to every caregiver.

That same year, Little Zen One moved from the duplex into its first warehouse, and the timing could not have been better.

2020–2021 - Resilience In A Hard Season

The early 2020s brought challenges and change. During the pandemic, Allie was running the business from home with two kids, while pregnant with her third, and experienced sudden deafness.

In 2021, just five weeks after her third son was born, she received cochlear implants and continued leading Little Zen One as a deaf founder. This experience deepened her commitment to accessibility, transparency, and community care.

2022–2024 - Expanding Our Reach

Little Zen One expanded its brand family, adding Mamalila, LennyLamb, Girasol, and Happy Baby, all brands that share our values of ethical manufacturing and women-led ownership.

Our Try Before You Buy program grew to include hundreds of carriers rotating between families across North America. Behind the scenes, our team expanded to over 50 work from home mothers, supported by multiple warehouses.

Our community now includes over 13,000 caregivers in our Facebook group and reaches more than 250,000 people across social media. We are active on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, and probably a few more.

Every carrier, wrap, piece of babywearing outerwear, and accessory we carry is chosen for its quality, comfort, and ethics, with a focus on natural fibers, sustainable practices, and responsible partnerships.

2025 - A New Chapter In Fulfillment

In 2025, Little Zen One added another U.S. fulfillment center. Allie still codes and maintains the website, engineers the TBYB program, adds new products and vendors, and handles vendor relations and marketing herself, a reminder that this company has always been built with care, curiosity, and hands-on dedication.

Through all our growth, we have stayed true to our core promise: ethically made products, sustainable practices, and human-centered service.

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Today - What Makes Little Zen One Different

Little Zen One is now the largest dedicated baby carrier retailer in North America, but we still operate with the heart of a tiny shop.

• Ethically made carriers and accessories, many crafted from organic fabrics by women-owned businesses.
• Multiple warehouses to ensure quick and reliable shipping to families in both Canada and the United States.
• Work-from-home team of parents and caregivers dedicated to supporting other families.
• Try Before You Buy access to hundreds of carriers so you can find your perfect fit.
• Certified Babywearing Consultants support and personalized guidance from real parents who have been there.
• Community focus through our Facebook groups and educational content designed to empower families.
• Owner-led innovation Allie still codes, writes, and refines the site herself, ensuring every detail reflects our mission and care.
• Growing community of over 250,000 people reached through our social media channels, where we share babywearing tips, product news, and family stories.

Whether you are just starting your babywearing journey or adding to your collection, we are here to help you.