Ali Clifford writes: When my boys were little, I carried them everywhere with me, we didn’t much use a buggy – they were held close enough to kiss – and feed, and it gave me two free hands to get on with other stuff.
As a working mum (Paul was the main stay at home Dad carer) it also gave me the closeness I missed all day when I was away from them.
I used a ring sling, and later a hip seat, and on reflection, would have loved to have known Sarah Sadler, founder of Integra Baby back in the early 2000s when I had my two babies.
Sarah and I met eventually, through my dear friend and fellow Somerset dweller, (and Green Baby founder) Jill Barker at Middlewick.
As a firm advocate for ‘baby wearing’ myself, I will always recommend Sarah’s Integra Baby Carriers – and have worked with Sarah over the years, on client collaborations, such as these gorgeous shots by photographer Ali Dover for my client Earth Conscious based on the Isle of Wight. Bathroom Babywearing with Integra Baby.
Choosing how to carry our babies is more than a practical decision, it’s emotional, instinctive, and profoundly human. A portable hug!
The Integra Baby Carrier, is made by hand in Somerset, in the UK and desgined by Mother of 3, Sarah Sadler.
For many families, the Integra Baby Carrier isn’t just a tool; it’s a companion in the beautiful, messy, transformative journey of early parenthood otherwise know as the forth trimester.
What makes the integra baby carrier stand out isn’t only the artisanship or the sustainable materials. It’s the story behind it, a story shaped by the lived experience, values, and quiet determination of Sarah Sadler, Integra’s founder.
This carrier holds babies close. But it also holds meaning.
A fabric with heritage; A carrier with heart
One of the most iconic integra – the Harris Tweed integra – carries a special kind of warmth, not just physical, but emotional. Handwoven in the homes of islanders in the Outer Hebrides, each length of fabric is the result of patience, tradition, and generations of skill.
Sarah has always believed in textiles with integrity. Beautiful materials that feel honest, purposeful, and connected to real people.
Harris Tweed aligns perfectly with that vision:
- Handwoven, never mass-produced
- Crafted from natural, renewable wool
- Rooted in community and cultural preservation
For Sarah, choosing Harris Tweed was never about luxury for its own sake. It was about honouring the hands and heritage behind the cloth, and offering families something that feels grounded, something that whispers slow down, hold them close.
Sarah writes: We were delighted to send a Harris Tweed carrier to one of Ali’s clients: Harriet Riddell, the textile performance artist who goes by the name of InStitchYou – we absolutely love Harriet’s work and were so pleased to see her wearing the Harris Tweed on her instagram feed last month. Many congratulations on the safe arrival of baby Fergus 🙂
Sarah’s Journey: From One Parent’s Lifeline to a Lifeline for Many
Integra was never born in a boardroom. It began in the real, vulnerable moments of motherhood.
In her early days as a parent, Sarah found babywearing to be a lifeline, a gentle way to stay connected to her babies while finding her own rhythm again. She learned firsthand how transformative it could be: the grounding weight of a sleepy newborn, the ease of hands-free days, the confidence that grew from simply being close.
Her experience didn’t stop there.
She trained as a babywearing consultant, supporting countless families and listening deeply to what they needed: simplicity, softness, accessibility, and a carrier that didn’t overcomplicate things.
The Integra was her answer, a design shaped not by trends, but by lived reality. And her voice still echoes through every aspect of the brand:
Make things uncomplicated.
Make them beautiful.
Make them ethically.
Make them serve real families.
AND that Integra is for ALL.
Ethics Rooted in Everyday Choices
For Sarah, ethics aren’t a marketing angle. They’re the natural extension of how she moves through the world as a parent and a maker.
She believes in choosing well, consuming thoughtfully, and supporting communities both locally and globally. Which is why Integra carriers are:
Cut and sewn in Somerset, UK supporting local makers.
Produced in small batches often made to order, reducing waste.
Built with minimal, durable components which are replaceable should they get slammed in a door or chewed by a canine friend.
Designed to last and to be passed on.
Adding Harris Tweed only deepens that commitment: a natural fibre created responsibly, from sheep to loom to carrier.
Babywearing That Feels Like a Hug, for Both of You
At the heart of everything Sarah creates is one simple idea: babywearing should feel like a hug.
The Harris Tweed Integra honours that feeling:
It moulds comfortably to your body.
Supports baby in a safe, ergonomic position.
Stays light, soft, and flexible.
Works for newborns, toddlers, and all the moments in between.
A Legacy of Care, Woven Into Every Carrier
There is a beautiful symmetry in what the Harris Tweed Integra represents:
An ancient weaving tradition
A modern, parent-led design
Ethical production rooted in community
And Sarah’s heartfelt intention to support families everywhere
This carrier brings together heritage, heart, and humanity. It holds the stories of island weavers, the vision of a babywearing consultant turned creator, and the everyday moments of parents who simply want to hold their babies close.
It is, in every way, a testament to Sarah’s belief in the power of connection between parent and child, maker and material, community and craft.
In the End, It’s About Love, Carried Gently and Ethically
What makes the Integra Baby Carrier truly special is the way it reflects Sarah’s own journey:
Her values.
Her warmth.
Her belief that parents deserve tools made with care.
And her understanding that babywearing is not just practical, it’s emotional.
This carrier isn’t merely made to support your child.
It’s made to support you.
It holds your little one close, yes.
But it also holds a story, Sarah’s story, the weavers’ stories, and soon, yours too.
__________________________________
Visit Integra’s website here: https://integrababy.co.uk
Stay at The Middlewick holiday cottages at the foot of the Glastonbury Tor or visit the Middlewick Café.
Health Preparedness Abroad: What Every Expat Traveller Should Prioritise
Leave a Reply