Svetlana, our Production Manager, visits the Mercy Orphanage in Erode, near Tirupur, India.

Svetlana discovered the orphanage through a friend of hers in the U.K. and was able to make a visit there on February 25th. The orphanage is run by Mr. Paulraj and his wife Mercy. Mr. Paulraj was orphaned himself and finds it natural to continue on this humanitarian path. His wife is a child of an orphan and both her and her brother devote their lives to managing orphanages. Presently, the orphanage is situated in a rented space but the owner has asked them to move out and now they are building a new facility close by, with donations. They will be able to stay in their new location for at least 10 years. In such a predicament, their need for cement is equal to their need for food.

The kids at the orphanage enjoy a treat.

The orphanage houses a total of 42 children ranging from ages 5 – 14 years old. They have 2 wardens that look after them and 2 cooks. Svetlana did not feel any anxiety when she visited, as life there seems to be normal and happy. This was the biggest surprise to her as she expected misery and poverty and found simple balance and happiness. They have no TV or music or computer but they have their homework and each other to play with.

The living room is spacious and the big family passes their time here. At night boys place their mattresses and sleep in the same space. Inside there are two more small rooms, one is reserved for the girls to sleep in. There is a small standing kitchen, and further down the hall there are three shower cabins and two toilets. All very modest, but clean.

Everybody loves their new Hatley dresses, t-shirts, and PJ sets.

All of the children go to the governmental school. Mr and Mrs Paulraj, are both well-educated and speak English. They make sure that children attend their classes and help them with their homework. Education is their only way out from poverty and they know it.

The highlight of her trip was when they all gathered around a circle and sang one song in English and danced together (without any music!). It was such a pleasure sharing little moments with kids.

Being out in the sun all day, it’s no wonder kids get tan very quickly. Their hair lightens, their smiles brighten, and they probably look the healthiest and happiest during summertime. Armed with a digital camera, you will certainly have a ton of opportunity to take amazing new shots of your kids – running through a meadow, playing in the sand, feeding animals at the zoo. The trick is to keep your camera ready so that you don’t miss your chance at snapping a few pictures, or even taking a video at the right moment.

Hatley Nordic Bugs Girls' Skirt Set

Here are a few tips for taking good photos of your kids:

1. Work around your kids’ schedule. If they are tired and groggy, don’t force them to act happy – it won’t come out right. Just pay attention to see when they are at their best – maybe it’s after breakfast or lunch, or as soon as they get outside, or when they are first arriving at a friend’s house for a play-date. You’ll know the right time when you see it.

2. Take pictures from different angles – you don’t always have to have them looking up at the camera. You could be laying down, standing below a slide, of have them perched up in a tree while you take the photos.

3. Dress them up in cute summer play sets ahead of time, so they are camera-ready. Not that kids need to be camera-ready, with how cute they naturally are, but there is always some room for snazzy outfits. Imagine a little girl wearing an adorable Nordic Bugs Girls’ Skirt Set – how irresistible would that be?

4. Be spontaneous. Kids notice when the camera is on them, so be sure to observe them closely to capture their facial expressions without them noticing. That means eliminating flash photography…but that’s fine if you are outdoors, where there is plenty of natural light as it is.

5. Take photos in motion – when kids are running, jumping, twirling, dancing, or sliding. This is when their faces are lit with wild excitement and sweet innocence only a kid’s face can have. Oh, the precious moments!

There are really no rules to photographing children, except – be creative! Try a few things out and see what works, and remember to have fun while doing it. The kids will reflect your happiness, and you will get amazing new pictures out of this summer!

Watch this video to see our lady bug outfit in action:

And enter below for a chance to win this outfit for your little cutie patootie!

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Which raincoat is your favourite?

Maybe your man is proud of his hot beach bod, and is looking for some swim trunks that would show off his good looks…but for most men, it’s safe to say, swim trunks do just that – provide a good alternative to underwear, and give enough coverage when soaking wet.

Hatley Blue Whales Men's Swim Trunks

It’s funny how women today mostly wear body-hugging bikinis and bathing suits, whereas men prefer a looser alternative. You won’t see many of them sporting Speedos around, unless they are a professional swimmer, bodybuilder, play water sports, or surf. In those instances, tight swim briefs have virtually no hindrance, while providing an excellent fit and unparalleled flexibility. In all other cases, men gravitate toward what they know best…swim trunks that are as comfortable as their regular boxers, but are a lot sturdier in terms of coverage when they come out of the water.

So, another summer is upon us and it’s time to shop for new swimwear. Well, Hatley’s got you covered! (Pun totally intended!) Check out our Blue Whales Men’s Swim Trunks – they are soft on the outside, and come with standard mesh lining on the inside. They are just the perfect length to give you enough coverage, and not make you feel like you are wearing baggy shorts. Oh, and did we mention that the design is quite manly?

Our board-style swim trunks are made of polyester microfiber fabric, which dries fast on a hot summer day. With a tie-string waist and velcro pockets, these are sure to become a favorite addition to your man’s summer wardrobe.

Mother’s Day is ingrained in us since childhood – when we carefully construct gifts for our moms out of colored paper, glue, and crayons. Under the guide of our classroom teacher, we labor over the card that we are making for mom, making sure that it looks better than everyone else’s – after all, our mom is the most special mom of all!

Each year Mother’s Day rolls around and makes you think back to your childhood, reminding you of how special your mom is – even now that you’re all grown up, and may even have kids of your own. She is always there for you – the one person in the world that will never leave you alone, no matter what…the ultimate friend who puts you ahead of everything else, including herself.

Having such a special relationship deserves a special celebration! Of course, you can send you mom flowers, or a simple card, but it would be even better to send her something that will last a while, that she will really enjoy. Hatley is celebrating this special holiday with our carefully hand-picked collection of Mother’s Day gifts that your mom will love.

Hatley One Of A Kind Women's Fitted Tee

Imagine giving your mom one of our One Of A Kind Women’s Fitted Tee – it is made of soft cotton, and sends a cute message of affection. She’ll enjoy wearing it this summer, and telling her friends that you got it for her.

Now through May 13th, get free shipping on our Mother’s Day collection of select items, and with every purchase of over $75, you get a free pair of women’s socks – one of our unique Hatley designs. Surprise your mom with a beautiful gift from Hatley – she’s sure to love it!

Hatley Fuschia Women's Wrap

This wrap is the perfect Spring/Summer accessory! The bright colour suits just about any skin tone and will brighten up any drab outfit, or give that splash of colour you were looking for. It is made out of slub jersey so it is super soft, and it travels well. The wrap comes with a hand-braided rope belt which can be used to keep it closed,  but is equally cute left open. It is available in three other colours and pairs nicely with either the Hatley linen shorts or linen pants (capris) :

Hatley Khaki Women's Linen Shorts

Hatley Soft Navy Women's Linen Pants

So go ahead and get Mom something she really wants this year! I mean, besides your love of course!

Mother’s Day Special – runs until May 13th, 2012:

• Free shipping on select women’s items under $50;
• Free pair of women’s socks for orders over $75!
• All orders over $50 ship for free!

Hatley "Kaboom'' Infant One Piece

A cute onesie like this one is a perfect outfit for your infant – they may even be able to enjoy it for a few hours between play time and feeding. Let’s face it – it seems like every time babies eat, at least half of their food makes it into their mouth, while the rest ends up everywhere else… on the floor, on their hands, clothes, and even hair.

Well, maybe your baby is perfect and has learned to use a fork and a knife at an early age, or you have discovered how to creatively use plastic wrap to prevent them from soiling all their clothes… But if not, then we know that in the midst of mushed up peaches and carrots, and drippy apple juice, your little angel ends up covered in goop – often from head to toe.

Hatley’s “Kaboom” Infant One Piece will help your new baby look stylish, even when it’s time to eat. This onesie can be worn with our Boys’ Khaki Slub Jersey Infant Bottoms for a perfect outfit. Check out a quick video below to see what it looks like on:

Babies go through more than one outfit per day, so it’s important to have a few comfortable ones ready to go if you need to change them quickly. In one day, you may be going on a play-date, to the park, grocery shopping, visiting friends or relatives, and if you are lucky – grabbing a quick nap in-between. Stock up on several Hatley one pieces and you will be set for a couple of days of not having to do laundry. Yay!

For a chance to win one of these adorable onesies, just enter below… you may be out next lucky winner!

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Hatley "Get Your Claws Off My Water" Adult Water Bottle

First, it prevents you from mistaking hunger for thirst. Every time you think you are hungry, drink a glass of water. If you are still hungry after 15 minutes, then have something to eat. It is incredible how often we eat more than we need to – just because we are thirsty. If drinking plain water doesn’t sound appealing to you, try adding a bit of fresh citrus juice or making non-caffeinated iced tea.

Second, when you are losing weight, drinking more water helps remove all the toxins from your body that have been stored for years.

Third, when you exercise (how are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions?), you lose a lot of water. It needs to be replaced, at the very least, with an equal amount of liquids. Ideally, however, you should re-hydrate your body with a larger quantity of water.

Besides these three main points, drinking more water improves blood flow to the skin, which translates into better looking skin! Who wouldn’t want that, right?

When you are on the go, it’s so easy to have a stainless steel water bottle with you – like Hatley’s cool new “Get Your Claws Off My Water” Adult Water Bottle. This BPA-free bootle will provide you with 28oz of water – take it with you to a yoga class, on a hike through the woods, camping, and anywhere else you go!

They say that you are supposed to drink half your body’s weight in ounces of water every day. So, if you weigh 160 lbs, then you need to drink almost three of these bottles of water per day. This is certainly very easy to do – just figure out your daily doze of ounces, then determine how many bottles it will take to fulfill it. Bottoms up!

In old movies, you can see actresses (the likes of Brigitte Bardot) staying at a cozy French inn, on a romantic getaway, and in the morning – lowering their basket from the window to get some freshly baked bread for breakfast. This is shown as part of the “experience” you get by staying at a cozy inn somewhere in Europe.

Today, in densely populated areas of Europe, you can get most of your shopping done at open air markets, small specialty stores, and permanently stationed street markets. These are usually easily accessed from public transportation routes and offer a great selection of fresh meats, cheeses, breads, as well as fruits and vegetables.

There, you will find that many people bring their own reusable shopping bags. This is a definite advantage when you are trying to cut down waste in heavily populated areas, since it significantly reduces the amount of plastic bags being thrown out every day. Imagine, if the entire population of Paris (over 2.2 million people) decided to stop using plastic bags… This would make a huge impact!

Reusable grocery bags are becoming very popular in North America too – in some areas more than others. People who are pioneering this movement are paving the way by bringing their own bags to the store, thus helping spread the message of being “green” while encouraging others to think in terms of “reduce, reuse and recycle.”

Hatley "Environmentally Friendly" Reusable Shopping Bag

The best part is that there are many stylish, cool-looking reusable shopping bags that are trendy and environmentally friendly. We here at Hatley also have a few clever designs, like the 100% recycled cotton canvas “Environmentally Friendly” Reusable Shopping Bag. Why not join the movement by ordering your new reusable bag today (or adding to your existing collection)? Get one now and show everyone how much you care for the environment!

From childhood on, pajamas seem to turn on a switch in our mind that tells our body to relax and get ready for bed. Once you put on your sleepshirt and pants, you begin to slow down, and automatically start to unwind from your day. Watching a movie on the couch while eating ice-cream, and wearing your favorite PJ’s, is by far a much better experience than doing the same thing while wearing your work outfit, or even jeans and a t-shirt. Go ahead, try it.

Hatley "Some Like it Hot" Women's One Size Sleepshirt

When it comes to PJ’s, clothing made out of 100% cotton is by far the best. Why is it so great? The truth is that cotton has been incredibly popular for over 7,000 years (!), and remains so even today, when there are many synthetic fabrics available on the market. Most people prefer it because it’s a natural fiber, and any clothing that’s made from it possesses its unique characteristics.

For example, cotton is good at conducting heat – meaning that you won’t get uncomfortably hot in one particular area as you are sleeping in a cotton sleepshirt. It also absorbs incredible amounts of water, so if you sweat at night, you won’t wake up feeling soaked as the cotton would’ve absorbed a lot of the moisture away from your body. As it’s prone to wrinkling, it will bend into whatever shape you want, without becoming abrasive or uncomfortable. The fabric is also quite soft, making it the most popular material used in making of sleepwear clothing.

When you choose any of Hatley’s sleepshirts, like the classic “Some Like it Hot” Women’s One Size Sleepshirt, you are getting the best of both worlds – a high-quality shirt made of cotton material, and an incredible design that instantly puts you in a good mood before bed.

Be sure to enter the giveaway below to win one of our cozy one size sleepshirts:

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