Meet Dodo Banana, Our New Mama-Founded PJ Obsession!
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by Photos courtesy of Dodo Banana
Is there a sweeter symbol of childhood than the classic two-piece pajama set? More than just another wardrobe staple, kids’ PJs represent all the most magical parts of being young—watching morning cartoons, building forts out of sofa cushions, and making pancakes with Mickey Mouse ears. And we are over the moon about these brand new jammies, launched today (!!) by a pair of mamas with a commitment to quality and a knack for dreaming up the prettiest prints. Dodo Banana is the new biz baby of friends and collaborators Alessandra Olanow and Fiona Montgomery. An artist and designer respectively, the mamas met over a decade ago and immediately connected over a mutual aesthetic admiration for Alex’s thoughtful, conversational illustrations (which have graced MOTHER’s “pages”) and Fiona’s beloved Nolita design shop, Thomas Sires. Fast forward to today (past marriages, births, cross-country moves, divorces, and all the other stuff that can happen in ten years) and the official birthday of Dodo Banana—a line of organic pima cotton PJs featuring prints of sleepy bananas, dancing fries with smiling shakes, and animals in space (not to mention a super cool Skate Park print created in collaboration with Los Angeles–based artist and illustrator Mary Matson). Click through the slideshow below to see all the dreamy prints and find out more from Brooklyn-based Alessandra and San Francisco–based Fiona on why PJs are their passion.
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- Fiona: "From a practical standpoint, pajamas are such an important staple in every child’s wardrobe, and it felt like an unsaturated market with room for a superior quality pajama—made from only organic pima cotton—that also spoke to families with a certain aesthetic: softer lines and colors in interesting and playful prints. We found companies doing one or the other, but very few doing both. From a more personal place, bedtime is such a special ritual in both of our homes and we wanted our children to be comfortable, and selfishly, wearing something that appeals to us as well. Max and Coco always reach for their Dodo Bananas, so we know we’ve done something right. There is simply no softer fabric than pima cotton."
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- Alex: "Dodo Banana PJs are made from G.O.T.S. certified 100% organic pima cotton that feels like clouds on your child’s skin, with an emphasis on ethical sourcing and manufacturing, all designed with original hand illustrated artwork. The cotton is sourced and hand picked from the premiere producer of organic pima cotton in Peru. The longer fibers assure higher quality and durability for the pajamas to be washed time and time again without losing their shape or natural elasticity. Organic cotton has the advantage of being produced in soil free of chemical fertilizers and other harsh pesticides, which sets it apart from conventional cotton. This is paramount for children with any level of skin sensitivity. Children often spend more than half their early life in pajamas, so it makes sense that they are comfortable in fabric that is natural, soft, and durable, but is also fun to wear and makes them smile."
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- Fiona: "I have always worked in and around the fashion industry, but most recently I had a curated design shop in Nolita called Thomas Sires. It was such a cornucopia of things I loved: from pieces I sourced through travel, to original Thomas Sires designs, to simply items I coveted. With Dodo Banana, it has been refreshing to focus on one product, specifically something that is functional and necessary. I have always appreciated practical items with thoughtful quality and design, and that resonates with me now more than ever with children. There is so much temptation for inexpensive, shiny junk in the children’s market, and it’s exciting to create something that we know is the best in terms of quality and design."
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- Alex: "I have drawn my entire life. When I was a kid my family moved around a lot and sketching became a way for me to adjust to a constantly changing environment. I could be comfortable almost anywhere as long as I could sit in a corner and draw. Over the years, I’ve worked in all sorts of creative spaces—graphic design, art direction, even interiors—but I came back to what I love best, illustration and art. I’ve been so fortunate to work with many incredible clients, but I’d always hoped to find some way to incorporate my drawings into something of my own. So, when the idea of starting a pajama line emerged with Fiona, I thought ‘YES!'"
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- Fiona: "We wanted to strike a balance between what children will find fun and playful, and tap into their imagination—like dancing fries and shakes and animals in space—and what parents will appreciate, like classic stripes and soft clouds. Our children love bananas and they’re such a big part of our brand identity, so that was a no brainer. Our prints are all hand drawn by Alex, along with special artist collaborations. We are so excited about our first collaboration with Los Angeles–based artist Mary Matson and her Skate Park print."
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- The fruit muse of this whimsical pajama company.
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- Fiona: "Let each partner play to their strengths. Be open and kind, listen, and do not micro manage. When you agree stylistically and share a sense of humor, it helps."
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- Alex: "A little over a year, because life does happen. Fiona closed her New York shop Thomas Sires, and her daughter Elinor was born last fall. Meanwhile, I went through some big personal changes as well, so ultimately we took the time that we needed to get it right and not cut corners.The beauty of children’s pajamas is that they do not go out of style and children always need them."
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- Alex: "Some decisions get made much slower, but surprisingly at times, much faster. There is less time for second guessing. We are understanding of one another’s schedules and the time difference, so when we schedule a call, we try to stay focused."
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- Fiona: "Being the mother of a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old, children’s pajamas are very topical in my life. Alex and I reconnected during a very transitional time for me. I had always admired Alex’s work and what was a friendly catch up/work call quickly evolved into us literally jumping into business together. It was a natural progression for me to move into children’s wear as my life took a big shift from running a business in New York to now being primarily a mother in San Francisco. I was excited to take what I had learned with Thomas Sires and create something meaningful and very focused."
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- Alex: "Being a mom has certainly played a huge role in launching Dodo Banana. I never could find cute pajamas I liked for Coco, but more than aesthetics, I was really disappointed in the quality I saw out there. So many children’s items are made cheaply and felt wrong for my kid’s skin and for our earth. I thought, let’s do better."
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- Keep up to date on new prints and releases by following Dodo Banana on Instagram, or click over to the site and scoop up your own PJs today!
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obsessed with these PJ’s!!! So cute and soft!!!!! Best holiday gift.