Wash Instructions šŸ«§

WASH GUIDE

Our kākahu are made for everyday wear and designed to last, but mess still happens. For tougher marks like grass or dirt, we recommend The Dirt Company products, effective at lifting stains while still being gentle on fabrics.

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Care Guide

All of our pieces are made to be lived in and loved. Because many of our garments are custom dyed and crafted from natural fibres, they require a little extra care.

Each item has its own care label, and we recommend following those instructions first, as they are specific to that garment.

To preserve the colour, shape, and longevity of your garment, all items must be cared for in accordance with the care instructions provided on the garment label and our website.

Damage, shrinkage, colour transfer, fading, pilling, stretching, or other issues resulting from washing, drying, storage conditions, stain removal products, fabric treatments, or general garment care after purchase are not considered manufacturing faults and will not be eligible for a replacement, refund, store credit, or exchange.

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šŸ¤ TÅŖHONO ITEMS

OUR TÅŖHONO ITEMS ARE MADE USING UNIQUE CUSTOM-DYED FABRICS. TO HELP MAINTAIN THE QUALITY, COLOUR, AND INTEGRITY OF YOUR GARMENT, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

ā€¢ Cold wash only
ā€¢ Gentle machine wash or hand wash
ā€¢ Wash inside out
ā€¢ Wash with similar colours only
ā€¢ Do not soak
ā€¢ Do not bleach
ā€¢ Avoid harsh detergents, fabric softeners, and stain-removing products
ā€¢ For stains, apply stain treatment directly to the affected area only
ā€¢ Do not leave stain treatment sitting on the garment for extended periods
ā€¢ Remove promptly after washing
ā€¢ Hang dry in shade and avoid direct sunlight

Following these care instructions will help preserve the quality, colour, and longevity of your garment.

šŸ–¤ FLEECE / COTTON GARMENTS

(Whakapapa hoodies, crewnecks, rompers, long sleeves, terry sets)

Fabric
Cotton / cotton blend fleece

Care
Cold gentle wash only
Wash inside out with similar colours
Use mild detergent only
Do not soak or use fabric softener
Hang dry in shade
Do not tumble dry
Do not iron directly on printsĀ 

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šŸ¤Ž RIBBED COTTON SETS

Fabric
Ribbed cotton / cotton elastane

Care
Cold gentle wash
Wash inside out
Line dry in shade
Do not tumble dry
Cool iron if needed

šŸ§¶ KNITWEAR

(Pikorua knits, chunky knits, knit pants)

Fabric
Cotton knit / cotton blend knit

Care
Cold gentle wash
Wash in a laundry bag
Reshape while damp
Lay flat to dry
Do not hang
Do not tumble dry

šŸŒ§ RAIN JACKETS

Fabric
Waterproof PU coated polyester

Care
Cold gentle wash
Do not use fabric softener
Line dry in shade
Do not tumble dry
Do not iron

šŸ§„ PUFFER JACKETS

Fabric
Polyester outer with synthetic fill

Care
Cold gentle wash
Do not use fabric softener
Air dry only
Do not iron
Optional: tumble dry on low with dryer balls to re-fluff

šŸŠ SWIMWEAR

Fabric
82% polyamide / 18% spandex

Care
Rinse in cold water after each use
Cold gentle wash
Dry in shade
Do not tumble dry
Do not iron
Do not store wet

ā˜ MUSLIN

Fabric
100% muslin cotton

Care
Cold gentle wash
Line dry or low tumble ok
Warm iron if needed

šŸ§øĀ  PARAIKETE (BLANKETS)

Fabric
Polyester minky (front)
600gsm faux rabbit fur (reverse)

Care
Cold gentle wash (below 30Ā°C)
Wash separately with mild detergent
Low spin
Do not soak or bleach
Line dry in shade
Pat into shape while damp
Shake or gently brush once dry
Do not tumble dry
Do not iron

Faux rabbit fur may flatten slightly after washing. Shaking or gently brushing once dry will help restore its softness.

šŸ§µ LINEN

Fabric
Linen / cotton linen blend

Care
Cold gentle wash
Line dry in shade
Warm iron if needed
Do not tumble dry

šŸ§ŗ OVERALLS

Fabric
Mid-weight cotton

Care
Cold gentle wash
Line dry in shade
Warm iron if needed

šŸŽ’ BAGS (PĒKE)

Fabric
Heavy cotton canvas

Care
Spot clean only
or cold gentle hand wash
Air dry
Do not tumble dry

šŸ§¢ COTTON HATS

Fabric
Cotton

Care
Cold gentle wash
Line dry in shade
Do not tumble dry

šŸ§¶ KNIT BEANIES

Fabric
Cotton / acrylic knit

Care
Cold gentle wash
Lay flat to dry
Do not hang
Do not tumble dry

šŸ› HOODED TOWELS

Fabric
Cotton terry

Care
Warm gentle wash
Line dry or tumble dry on low
Do not iron on prints

Our Story

A journey through the milestones that shaped our pakihi
The Beginning
2024

The Beginning

Our journey started as new mātua, wanting our pēpi to grow up surrounded by their culture, seeing it, wearing it, and feeling proud of who they are. What began as a simple idea soon grew into Baby Bear.
Our First Sell-Out
2024

Our First Sell-Out

What started as a small idea quickly gained momentum. Our first sell-out collection showed us that other whānau were looking for the same connection to culture and identity that inspired Baby Bear from the beginning.
Introducing Adult Kākahu
2025

Introducing Adult Kākahu

This collection marked the beginning of a new chapter for Baby Bear. With the launch of our first adult sizing, alongside our much-loved Quarter Zips and Oversized Rompers, we expanded from creating for tamariki to creating for the whole whānau.
Our Most Loved Collection
2025

Our Most Loved Collection

Tūhono quickly became more than just a collection. With matching styles for adults and tamariki, it captured the hearts of whānau across Aotearoa, selling out within days and returning through multiple restocks due to overwhelming demand.
A New Chapter for TÅ«hono
2025

A New Chapter for TÅ«hono

July 2025 marked the launch of our first TÅ«hono Rain Jackets. Originally introduced as a new chapter for the collection, they quickly became one of our most sought-after releases, leading to multiple restocks and new colourways.
A Whānau Essential
2025

A Whānau Essential

The launch of our pēke marked another exciting chapter for Baby Bear. Created to blend practicality with beautiful design, they quickly became a whānau favourite and remain one of our most popular products to this day.
Our Biggest Launch Yet
2025

Our Biggest Launch Yet

Our Safe Swim collection was created with one goal in mind: helping keep tamariki visible and safe in the water while celebrating culture through design. The response exceeded anything we could have imagined, with demand reaching more than ten times our original forecast and making it one of our biggest launches to date. In the lead-up to Christmas, we packed and shipped thousands of orders in just two days so they could leave before the Christmas courier cut-off and arrive in time for whānau across Aotearoa. It remains one of the proudest and most significant milestones for our Baby Bear whānau.
For Our Community
2025

For Our Community

One of the things we're most proud of is the ability to give back to the community that has supported Baby Bear from the very beginning. As the pakihi grew, so did our opportunities to support others, whether through collaborations with trusted brands, community giveaways, donating to fundraisers, supporting kaupapa, or helping whānau who reached out in times of need. Giving back remains one of the most rewarding parts of our journey.
The Collection That Kept Growing
2026

The Collection That Kept Growing

After multiple sell-out releases, TÅ«hono Rain Jackets returned once again in 2026 with new colourways and the introduction of our TÅ«hono Overalls. The response proved that what started as a collection had become one of the most recognisable and requested parts of Baby Bear.
Nine Minutes
2026

Nine Minutes

After a year of Tūhono restocks, we genuinely believed this would be the final release of our Tūhono Kids Sets and Adult Hoodies. We ordered more stock than ever before, confident it would be enough to see us through winter and comfortably meet demand. When the restock sold out in just NINE minutes, we opened one final pre-order to give whānau another opportunity to secure a set. The response was incredible, resulting in one of our largest orders to date and reinforcing just how much Tūhono had come to mean to our community.
Future Forward
2026

Future Forward

What started as a small idea has grown beyond anything we ever imagined. From packing orders at home to officially outgrowing our current space, the Baby Bear journey has been one of constant growth. While we're proud of how far we've come, it feels like we're only just getting started. As we move into a warehouse and prepare for the next stage of the business, we're excited to continue growing our range, creating meaningful products, supporting our community, and building something that will be here for generations to come. With new ideas, bigger collections, and exciting opportunities on the horizon, we're looking forward to the next chapter alongside the whānau who made it all possible.