Tragetuch Wild Slings Les ténèbres

When I decided to create a wrap for my youngest son, I wanted it to be perfect. On one side soft and gentle, to wrap a small and fragile person, and on the other strong and firm as a father’s arms. I wanted it to be like a second skin, making the world accessible to the parent while the child is happy and safe.

It took me a long time to consider the blend. I wanted the wrap to be soft, resilient, elegant, noble to the touch but also natural. We often don’t spend too much time thinking which of these qualities should be most important, in the light of direct contact with our child.

“Les ténèbres” is made of 100% raw, organic, double twisted combed Portuguese cotton, OEKO-TEX 100 certified. It is a noble, luxurious, ethical blend in which I combined a classic black with natural white; the color was created without aggressive dyeing of the yarn with chemicals, toxic for the environment and the delicate child’s skin.

There will be no second quality products. These wraps are extremely limited, and I don’t accept any compromises when it comes to quality. I personally checked, ironed and packed each wrap; it is a unique and perfect product to me. It is ideal both for tucking in a newborn baby as it is for carrying a few years old child (I carried a three-year-old in a ring sling version without any problems).

As an artist, I couldn’t design a motif, that wouldn’t be symbolical; The design of “Les ténèbres” is an absolute, being a quintessence of parenthood.

Poets don’t like to explain literally the thoughts they put on paper, but I would like to unveil to you the secret of this design.

Everything begins in a circle. A circle is unity, infinity and harmony. It is a cycle of sunrises and sunsets. Beginning and end, Mother Earth. There is a moon at the center point, and its glow brightens up the velvet black of the night.

It is this illumination that lures the moth – a delicate butterfly irresistibly driven to the light. It is a fragile creature striving for warmth, knowledge, life. Because light is also life, birth, beginning of a fascinating journey and a new path.

But the moth’s spread wings are enclosed in a form, that the moth drags behind like luggage. Tiny threads are hanging from the figure with beads of runes – originated in the Germanic traditions, oldest European alphabet that was given to men, according to legends, by Odin himself. “Run” means secret, and the relationship between the ones I used is not accidental. Odala is at the center of the design. It is a powerful rune that symbolizes everything we call home. Family, warmth, harmony, drawing from the wisdom of the ancestors, history of the place we are at. Odala is unity based on safety. Directly behind comes Algiz – the most powerful rune of protection. It translates to a female elk, that was believed to be a magical animal. The shape of Algiz resembles the elk’s antlers. Elk is an animal seemingly ponderous, however it will do anything to protect its offspring and, to ensure their safety, will never withdraw from a fight. At the sides, I have placed two more runes, without which the message of the design would be incomplete – Berkano and Mannaz. Berkano is the women’s strength and energy. Quintessence of what is most important for the child’s wellbeing. The inseparable element of this wonderful and most beautiful bond. Tender gaze, warmth of hands, trust and love. The final rune, Mannaz means man. It focuses on his plans, dreams, understanding for weakness and strength, respect for others. Mannaz represents what every parent would like to pass on to their child, so it could grow to become a wise and good person.

I would love my wraps to go to exceptional homes, full of love. I didn’t make many of them, so I really hope they will find their way to such homes.