Our story

Gooseberry was born in 2011, when we were living in Sydney with our first baby. I’m originally from Poland, and my husband is Australian, and from the beginning, our family life has blended European practicality with an Aussie way of living. Like many new parents, we spent countless hours walking through parks in the early mornings and late afternoons, beautiful sunny days, but often surprisingly cold. It didn’t take long to realise that, while we live in a warm country, our prams were missing the kind of accessories that are so common and essential in Europe.

My first idea was the pram umbrella, something to shield babies from the sun without completely covering them, so air could still circulate freely. Soon after, I noticed another gap: there were no proper footmuffs here. We were constantly picking up blankets that had slipped off or gone missing, and we thought there has to be a better way.

With strong ties to Europe and Polish roots, I didn’t want anything mass-produced. I was looking for something better, well-made, practical, and beautiful. After a lot of trial and error, I found the right small manufacturer in Poland. Over time, we built trust, and we’ve now worked together for over a decade, developing and refining the products we’re proud to share with other families.

Gooseberry started small, just a few parasols and cotton pieces, but we soon found ourselves drawn to wool. It’s natural, warm, and ideal for babies. We continue to work closely with our trusted manufacturer, using quality European fabrics to create our footmuffs.

When we moved to Brisbane, our first son was three, and not long after, we welcomed our second. While Brisbane may be warmer, every trip to Sydney, Melbourne or back to Europe reminded us just how valuable a good wool footmuff is. And every time we visited family in the south, they’d say, “This is exactly what parents need.”

Years on, Gooseberry is still a small, family-run business and I like it that way. We stay involved in every part of it, from product design to customer care. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re so grateful to every family who has supported us.

Here in Australia, we simply want babies to stay warm, cosy, and happy on every walk.

With love from our family to yours,

Barbara Stewart
Founder, Gooseberry Australia