Behind Elskbar

My name is Louise Gronemann, and I am first and foremost the mother of four lovely boys from 2011, 2014, 2018, and 2021. In addition, I am an occupational therapist and have worked with brain damaged adults since 2012. I live in Brabrand near Aarhus in a beautiful old house, with my beautiful husband and our four boys.
But most relevantly, I am a huge cloth diaper nerd who just can’t help but do this – make my own cloth diaper brand.

My almost embarrassing passion for cloth diapers started when I was pregnant with my oldest son 12 years ago in 2010. I bought a single cloth diaper in a webshop. Back then, there were very few brands to choose from. He got the cloth diaper on when he was born, and then he delivered a decent amount of breastfed poop- and then I didn’t know what to do with this disgusting diaper. He never got it back on.

Three years later I got pregnant again and the market for cloth diapers was a lot bigger. I collected a very big newborn stash and started from day 1. It was a huge success. I researched everything about cloth diapers and met with other cloth diaper parents. Over time, I have guided many novices into the world of cloth diapers. They have visited me and seen and tried and borrowed many cloth diapers. I liked that. To be able to talk about what I knew so much about and what I was passionate about.
I started sewing my own diapers and testing a lot of patterns. It was great to be able to design a diaper with nice prints and a lot of absorbency. I fantasized about making my own fabric diaper brand, but it didn’t become more than a dream. When my middle son got diaper free it was a bit sad. The diapers were put away in the basement, and then they just lay there.

Fortunately, I got pregnant again a year later and then I could again be allowed to geek cloth diapers. New brands had come on the market and I went all in from day 1. with my third son. Over time, I became more and more critical and demanding. I wanted the diapers to really have enough absorbency- my son really peed a lot – I only found one single brand that really had that absorbency. It was good in theory, but the diaper simply got too big and had a bad fit. If I found a diaper that had a good fit, I could be sure it needed to be boosted further. There simply wasn’t enough absorbency. I was looking for natural materials against the skin, but too many brands had fleece or other plastic against the skin. The commitment decreased and we were in a period in disposable diapers. It was easy and I didn’t actually miss cloth diapers.

But one day when my friend needed help getting started with cloth diaper, I found them out again and I told and explained and suddenly the gaudy came back. This is where I got the idea to make my own diaper, which had everything I was looking for – the best of other brands made into a single diaper. Lots of absorbency, good fit, natural materials against the skin, delicious beautiful unisex prints – a diaper that just sits right in the closet in every way.
So back in 2014 I wanted to make my very own cloth diaper brand, but it would turn out that time went by collecting a lot of experience before the perfect diaper could be designed.

So for the past year and a half before Elskbar was a reality, nights of countless feeds have been spent devising and fantasizing about materials, colors, fit, and everything that makes for only the best products. The ideas have come to life by my beloved sewing machines at home in Aarhus and later tested and corrected and tested again – on my 3rd son and a lot of other delicious babies. Thank you to all the baby bums who have helped the diapers well on their way. Only the best ideas are put into production.
Now I am sitting here and have designed products that are just really good. I am really looking forward sharing the products with you and show you a world of cloth diapers.

We were enriched with another son in the summer of 2021 and had the pleasure of using Elskbar from the first diaper. Once again, I could geek cloth diapers and further develop and customize Elskbars products. And I can once again just say that Elskbars products are truly amazing.

Yes, and the story goes on.

Elskbar was launched in 2020 and took the world by storm.
Today (2022) Elskbar has sent diapers to 35 countries worldwide and has 20 retailers.
The warehouse started at a small children’s room, came to larger premises in the basement, and later in the in-laws’ barn. In November 2022, Elskbar moved to a large warehouse with space for an office, webshop, and showroom.

I am infinitely grateful for all that has happened in the last years with Elskbar. And I owe a huge thank you to all my customers for the huge interest and support that they have given me and Elskbar.

Production has started after contact with several manufactures. Skype meetings and countless mail correspondents with a handful of manufacturers have finally ended up in the choice of only the best manufacturers.
Elskbar’s manufacturer of cloth diapers is located in China, which is a small factory that primarily sews cloth diapers. There are 70 employees and the owner gives them really good working conditions. He is very aware that employees must have a fair salary, short working days and the possibility of extra days off if needed. The youngest employee is 28 years of age.
Elskbar is in contact with the manufacturer almost daily to talk about the products, but also to talk about ordinary everyday things like family and children, Christmas and New Year.
“Made in China” sounds to many like something negative, but it is actually possible to find a conscious and fair manufacture in China.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

Most of the pictures you see of our products are taken by super talented Gunilla Bjørn Bisgaard who is also a huge fabric diaper nerd. She has the profile @cloth.diaper.addict on Instagram.

In addition, we have a really skilled photographer, Maria Lyngsø Hougaard, to take lifestyle pictures of our diapers in use. You can find Maria on her two Instagram profiles @marias_morskab and @marialynphotography.