Creator of Babycapes Ponders Consequences of CPSIA

[This is another in a series of posts by Susan Maphis covering the impact of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade and sign up for her CPSIA Alerts Mailing List ]

Babycapes were created by two moms from West Virginia, Suzi Crowder and Elizabeth Hostler, as a result of their struggle to get their baby girls into their carseats wearing bulky winter coats. These custom-made capes with a convenient front opening provides easy access for parents to the carseat harness straps while still providing warmth to baby. Now the future of Babycapes is threatened by the impending CPSIA legislation, set to take effect on February 10.

“When Elizabeth and I set out to make this wonderful product more than two years ago, we both felt strongly about having it produced in the United States because of the stigma surrounding products being made in China,” Crowder says. “Even though we are paying three times as much per garment to sew it in the U.S., we felt it was important to keep production in this country and put Americans to work.” All of their components are U.S.-produced as well.

Crowder says that testing of her products is going to be unwieldy and expensive. “We will be required to test a sample item from each lot of Babycapes, in each color and style, after complete assembly, and then the testing must be applied to each component — the fabric, the snaps, the labels, the hang tags and even the thread,” she explains. “Currently, we offer nine different styles of Babycapes and nine different styles of hats. Additionally, a new label will have to be added to each Babycape every production run providing the date and lot number. Those labels will need to be tested, too. That means 90+ different tests every production run.” There are few certified testing labs in the country, Crowder says. She also notes that the law will not only apply to newly-produced items, but to existing inventory, too.

As of now, Crowder is unsure how Babycapes will handle the CPSIA’s requirements. “What do we do?” she asks. “Cut down on the number of styles we produce, limiting choices for our customers? Jack up the prices to accommodate our testing bills? Take our business away from our U.S.-based sewing contractor and our American suppliers and give it to a factory in China or India because it will be less expensive to produce, padding our budgets a little to allow for ridiculous testing? The least attractive option would be to close our business completely, thereby throwing away the thousands of dollars we’ve invested bringing this wonderful product to market.”

“Our product was designed to keep babies and small children warm, comfortable, but most importantly, SAFE while traveling in car seats or strollers,” Crowder says. “Do you really think we would use any supplies that would cause our children harm?”

You can view Crowder and Hostler’s unique products at BabycapesOnline.com. During the CPSIA Inventory Reduction Sale, each style of Babycape is $30 off the regular price. This sale is on until Feb. 10.

[ For more information about the CPSIA, read Susan's previous article: The End Of Handmade]