The Bumbleride Factory

We are big on family.

Family first. Not only in our own lives, and the families who buy our products but also the families who make our products. When we discovered a factory in Taiwan that was a family-run, assembly factory with ethical working conditions, fair pay and more recently a 5-day work week with no overtime (vs. 6 days elsewhere), we knew it was a match. These conditions result in higher monetary costs, but we believe there is a much higher human value and we know personally that the families of those that work at our factory appreciate these things. Our factory works with 50+ sub-contractors in Taiwan who are all small businesses, often family-owned as well. This fits right in with our business philosophy, which is built on strong relationships rather than seeking the lowest cost option. This original factory we chose in 2004 has remained with us through the years and we are very proud of our unique partnership. When our founder visits Taiwan, it’s work and play – complete with hiking, organic farming and sharing meals together.

Images left to right:  Afternoon tea and discussing product details at the factory in Southern Taiwan, the mountains and agricultural area near our factory in Southern Taiwan and Bumbleride CEO and family-operated factory owners on a day out in the mountains of Taiwan.  

Food brings everyone together for a shared meal.

Images left to right: Small batch production keeps us in tune with every last detail, field of green outside factory window and focus on quality craftsmanship. 

Quality matters.

Our small batch production approach means craftsmanship that keeps the quality consistent, while only producing what we forecast out to reduce excess waste. Being in tune with our factory and every step of the production process, allows us to be part of the progression from concept to completion, overseeing every small detail. The ability to talk to the factory owner at the drop of the hat goes above and beyond the communication path we imagine in the mega factories.

 Smiles that make us smile.

Images left to right:  Process of making recycled polyester (rPET). 28 plastic bottles are upcycled into each single stroller fabric & 52 in Indie Twin fabrics, durability and performance are critical to product longevity and the environmental footprint they make and working with local recycling team to properly recycle and reuse as efficiently as possible.

Doing the right thing.

Our focus on choosing materials with the least environmental harm, but also weighing durability and performance can happen seamlessly when we're working together closely and in solidarity with the same vision. We seek to keep our products as close to us as possible to keep the quality consistent, but to also be aware of everything happening behind the scenes. This means paying attention to details, for example if we work hard to source recycled materials, but then poorly manage production quantity or waste, then the environmental benefit is lost. Our factory shares our vision and produces very little waste and reuses or re-purposes almost everything, including using stroller fabric as table cloths and other unusable stroller parts in clever ways. Being conscious in all aspects of the manufacturing process is vital because it can be a very dirty business. Larger factories may be able to afford expensive certifications and market themselves as such. We highly value the criteria and importance of certifications that promote worker safety, fair policies and environmental protection. However, from our experience knowing who makes your products and their processes is even more important. Just like we would rather buy from the local organic farmer than a mega organic food brand. Doing the right thing is not always obvious, but is rewarding to know that we are trying our best to do our part.

Renee, head of factory operations, volunteer and passionate organic farmer. Harvesting fresh
organic radishes.