Vanity Fair Loves Sama Baby

A few years ago, when sisters Shivani and Neha Gupta were perusing options for eco-friendly baby apparel, they were sorely disappointed in the options available. “We only saw a few little onesies,” Neha says. “When you touched the material, it felt rough—almost like a potato sack. We knew that there had to be a better way.”

In 2006, that feeling led the sisters and their mother, Anita, to found Sama Baby Organics, an eco-friendly fashion company with a range of options for kids. The fashion-forward line uses eco-friendly materials (including organic cotton and nontoxic dyes) and processes and is inspired by their home country of India. Sama Baby Organics carries hoodies, tees, and jeans for boys, and halter-style dresses, mini-tunics, and capri leggings are available for girls. “When I’m designing, I definitely think of the different colors that look good on different skin tones,” Neha says. “The bright colors and neat prints are completely inspired by the romantic colors and textures of India.”

An ancient Sanskrit word, sama means balance, calmness, and serenity. Even as the label has grown, Shivani, who serves as C.E.O., and Neha, who is vice president and head designer, continue to visit India themselves and remain hands-on throughout the entire production process. “This is what makes the difference,” Neha says. “We know the language. We have a relationship with our manufacturers like that of family. I’m personally talking to the factory heads.”



The dichotomy between the East and the West has been on Neha’s mind since she was a painter in high school. “All of my paint subjects became focused on East and West,” she said. “What is the view of beauty in each? What are the cultures? What are the values?” With Sama Baby Organics, she continues to combine the best from each side of the world. “My designs are Western silhouettes with Eastern prints and colors. I never thought that all my interests would come together in synergy,” she says.

Although green fashion has recently gotten more attention, Neha says she’s proud that Sama Organics has been committed to sustainability from the start. “Eco-apparel is a totally different way of operating,” she explains. “From the factory working at higher standards to the required health-care regulations, it’s fair trade and organic through and through. It’s changing the standard of life and the way the world is affected.”