When Lamington founder Sarah Teensma’s daughters were young, she shared a similar frustration to most parents: socks that simply wouldn’t stay up or stay on active little legs. Already running her own t-shirt business and looking to expand her brand, she saw an opportunity to not only add socks to her range, but to design them exactly the way she wanted them for her own children. Now with a global reputation for producing high-quality merino socks and tights, Sarah and her team remain committed to their vision to consciously create a beautiful boutique range of top-drawer socks through the use of sustainable products and practices.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I was working as an Instructional Designer when my eldest daughter was a pre-schooler, and wanted to find something I could do from home. I worked with a friend who had just become pregnant, and we wanted to find an idea that would allow us to still work together but be home with our kids. The brand was not originally socks – socks came later!
Did being a mum yourself inspire you to start Lamington?
Yes, definitely! I found out I was pregnant with my youngest daughter the weekend I launched Lamington at the Auckland Gift Fair. My daughters are now 17 and 20. One is in the process of starting her own career, also showing strong leanings toward fashion and business.
Yin and Yang: What is your one tip to balance work and family?
Great staff: our team are AMAZING!!! We have lots of laughs, but we all take care of each other. Because we all have families, we understand the juggle.
Where did the name come from and does it have any special significance?
The name came from a desire to find a word that would be instantly identifiable to all New Zealanders but subtle enough to not lend itself to gender or age. I think lamingtons hold a special place in the hearts of all Kiwis one way or another. Everyone has a memory about a lamington. The heritage of the lamington is of course widely debated – let’s agree its roots are Antipodean 😉
Can you tell us a little bit about your brand? How did it come about and how long you have been around?
Lamington was launched in 2005 as a Baby Tee-shirt Brand. Several years later, the quintessential Lamington sock was added as a supplementary product, and it fast became clear that socks were the brand!
