A quick glance at her designs is all it takes to see where Chelsea Geenen, the creative mastermind behind Plymouth-based clothing company Chelsea Baby, finds ideas for her line of eco-friendly baby shoes. “I get my inspiration from tropical fish. They’re all so different in the way that their patterns and bright colors are placed together,” she says.
From the start, Geenen knew she wanted the shoes to be both eye-catching and environmentally friendly. The tops of the shoes are cotton and the soles are made of Sensuede, a stain-resistant material that is “100 percent green in the milling process,” according to Geenen. They’re also free of toxins, completely washable and even more durable and more plush than other baby shoes. “It’s something new, and I wanted to be on the cutting edge. There are so many soft-soled baby shoes out there, but this is different because nobody is using this product,” says the 29-year-old.
Chelsea Baby began with one-of-a-kind orders when Geenan launched at Fleurish in Wayzata in June 2010. As word spread about the stylish shoes, which come in sizes 0–6 months and 6–12 months, Geenen realized she’d have to stick to a standard list of products in order to continue producing high-quality, high-fashion pieces. “It’s kind of hard for me, because I’m always thinking of new ideas,” Geenen admits. For girls, four styles of the standard shoe are currently available with an additional four snap-on “bouquets” made of tulle; they’re guaranteed to liven up any outfit. Similarly, four shoes are offered for boys with three snap-on “bowties.”
Geenen brings years of school and professional experience to her current business venture; she’s lived in seven states, is a 2004 graduate of the New York Fashion Institute of Technology where she studied accessory design, and has worked in high-end design showrooms in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis. She moved back to Minnesota about five years ago to spend more time with her family and friends, so it’s fitting that every Chelsea Baby piece is named after an important person in her life. Even the company logo, found on the bottom of each shoe, is based on a special family treasure: her Nana’s antique brooch.
Headbands are the newest addition to the Chelsea Baby line, and Geenen is working on a high-end baptism shoe, which will be made with raw silks and stick to the signature Sensuede soles. What comes next? “I want to go into diaper bags and onesies, and we’ll probably change the shoes once a year,” she says.
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Check out Chelsea Baby around the Metro! The line is currently sold at Fleurish in Wayzata, Avanti Shoes in Excelsior, Quints in St. Paul, Edelweiss Baby in Maple Grove and Shoe Zoo in Minneapolis, or from your own home online. 612.386.8700
