Do you hand make the products in the UK?
No — although I run Green Cheeks from my home in the UK, I don’t sew the products myself. I design everything here, and then work with a small number of specialist manufacturers who create the items using my patterns. Patterns created by mostly UK artists, some of which were created by my own idea, and brainstorm turned into art by them.

What is made to order and what is kept in stock?
A large part of our range is created individually when someone places an order. This includes:

• Personalised items

• School bags

• Water bottles

• Travel bags

• A selection of other patterned accessories

Some items are kept in stock and ship directly from the UK:

• Cloth nappies

• Wet bags

• Nursing/breastfeeding items

• Nursery mobiles

Our changing bags are held in very small batches so we never over-order.

Why do you work with manufacturers outside the UK?
Because of the types of products I sell. To produce small quantities of custom fabrics, personalised items and detailed prints, you need equipment and processes that most UK factories don’t offer at a small scale.
Where it is possible in the UK, the cost is extremely high — often as much as the final selling price.
Working with specialist partners overseas allows me to offer these products at a level of quality and affordability that works for real families.

This isn’t about cutting corners — it’s about being realistic as a one-person business while still offering a varied and customisable range.

Why did my order ship from another country?
Because your item was made by the partner best suited for that particular product. Since personalised items and printed fabrics require different processes, not all products come from the same place.

Your delivery address also matters.
For example:

• UK stock ships from the UK

• Some made-to-order or personalised items may ship from Europe

• Some items (particularly certain printed bags and accessories) may ship from China

Sending them directly to you avoids unnecessary steps such as receiving them in the UK only to ship them out again, which adds cost and delays.

Is the quality good even if it’s made abroad?
Yes. Every product follows the same design specifications I set. I only work with partners who consistently produce good stitching, accurate colours and durable materials. Most of my designs started as something I wanted for my own child — so quality is something I’m particular about.

Why operate this way at all?
Because Green Cheeks is still a one-mum business, and this setup allows me to:

• Offer more patterns and more personalisation

• Avoid over-ordering

• Keep prices reasonable

• Maintain better control over quality

• Scale slowly without losing what makes the brand… the brand

It’s a practical approach built for a small business that wants flexibility without sacrificing standards.