About Us
Hi there, thanks for visiting Makaya! My name is Anca and I
would like to share my story with you.
How it started
Makaya – it is the combination of my kids' names. It has a
special meaning to me of course, and it is also the start of my journey as an entrepreneur.
With the birth of my first
child, I did a lot of research. I wanted to find (just like many other parents)
the best baby products. Having zero experience with babies, living in another
country than my own, I had a lot of research to do before being able to make a
decision. (We are flooded by products these days and it can be overwhelming, no
matter the country you are living in).
To make it easier for me,
I turned to some mother groups from my home country and started reading
their recommendations. To my surprise, I found out that many local producers
started small to medium businesses with great products. The first 2 categories
I was sold by were babywearing carriers and barefoot shoes. From there my
passion and research extended to other products (clothes, personal care
products and toys followed).
After testing and ordering from many different producers of barefoot
kids shoes, I decided I was also worth it and started my own journey in the
barefoot world. I never made it back to conventional shoes and try to at least
inform everyone about the existence of barefoot shoes; if not have them try a
pair!
This is why I decided to start this webshop after my second child was born.
What is my
mission&purpose?
I had this drive telling me I should bring these products
over to the Netherlands, and have like-minded people discover and enjoy them.
The idea behind MakayaShop, is to bring sustainable
products, made by European business, in small productions, with quality
materials and good intentions. These are handpicked companies that I believe in
and whose stories I would like to share with you.
How do I do it?
I am in direct contact with the producers. I “lend them my
voice” and help them reach out to bigger crowds. The majority are products that
never made it to markets, but they all have a great story behind. I will
present their stories individually and give each product the rightful place on
the website.
What can you expect
by browsing the webshop?
• Unique
designs (with accent on the materials used, making sure that the kids
wear will be enjoyed for more than a season=SMART DESIGN)
• Natural materials used (from cotton, to linen and wool with muslin and wood in between)
• Sustainable
products
• Healthy
footwear (aka barefoot shoes)
• Long-lasting
clothes that can be worn several seasons and then passed on to other
generations or sold for a fair recovery of the investment
• Natural
toys, Montessori or Waldorf inspired (open-ended that let the child’s
imagination develop)
• Ergonomic
designs
• No
umbrella labels and terms, just products that are made ethically, with good
intentions and high quality materials.
Where are the
products coming from?
I am sustaining the local producers. In other words, it is
all made in Europe, to keep the transportation costs to a minimum and support family
businesses.
The products are made following European regulations so you don’t have to worry about where and how the products are made, just enjoy their unique style and quality. Let us do the work, so you don’t have to. Sustainable living can be easy!