Co-founder of Tiba + Marl, Lydia Barron’s idea for the brand was born when he and business partner Anna Tizard had babies of their own and struggled to find baby changing bags that fit their styles. Together they discovered a gap in the market for such products and decided to design and create the bags themselves.
With a background in footwear and accessories design and Tizard’s accessories buying experience, the two were passionate and excited to create a brand that was both contemporary and sartorial while also being unisex.
When designing products, what sets Tiba + Marl apart from other brands is the fact their designs don’t look anything like traditional baby bags – a point of difference Barron believes is the most impactful element of the brand. “We combine modern graphic prints and premium and high-tech materials yet always ensure the bags are super functional, creating a stylish yet practical design.”
All Tiba + Marl bags are water-resistant and wipe-clean inside and out. The bags feature a luxury padded changing mat, an insulated bottle holder, a multitude of pockets and a coordinating wet clutch that comes with a cross-body strap, making it excellent for wet items and for use as a separate bag.
Barron and Tizard focus on trend-driven shapes when designing their bags. Sports-luxe backpacks, stylish totes, chic hold-alls and the like all serve as inspiration for designs that mean Tiba + Marl bags offer a life beyond the nappy changing phase.
“The unisex element is also incredibly important to us and is woven into our brand DNA. It was one of our key objectives when we came up with the idea for the brand. We wanted to make sure we also catered for and thought of stay-at-home dads, same-sex parents, along with creating bags that could be used by both parents seamlessly.”
Tiba + Marl are continuously looking at new ways of expanding the boundaries of what a ‘baby changing bag brand’ can be and are always pushing new products, from footmuffs and bum-bags to kids’ accessories.
“With both of us coming from a design and retail background, we are obsessed with fashion, scouring shows, blogs and always keeping a keen eye on street style, and this is reflected in the aesthetic of the brand. We love sports-wear inspired, androgynous style – which I think comes through in our collections – we love super technical, yet lux, fabrications, clever design details and attention to usability that still looks sartorial.”
Barron describes the brand’s design aesthetic as practical, technical and styling with loads of smart features. From double zips, bespoke hardware, metal feet to all the features one would expect from a baby bag – practical and utilitarian elements hold significant importance to the functionality of Tiba + Marl bags. The two always ensure that the bags’ features are bundled up in an edgy, sartorial package.
Barron added that it has been such an incredible journey. “The fact no day is ever the same keeps us on our toes.”
This Christmas, Tiba + Marl will be introducing some 100 percent natural lifestyle and beauty products and are working with independent stockists as the brand works towards international expansion.
