At Baby Tula, we believe that every parent’s journey is unique, filled with moments of both joy and challenges. Tula parents are paving a new world for their kids and should be able to walk through their parenting journey with products that are an expression of who they are. 

When we set out to redesign our best-selling Explore carrier, our goal was to embrace everything that made it a favorite among parents while updating its aesthetic and functionality to meet the evolving needs of new moms and caregivers. The driving force behind this transformation? Our rockstar designer, Kate, who is not only passionate about creating beautiful products but also  understands the complexities of motherhood. 

Motherhood is the Guide 

For Kate, the process of redesigning the Explore carrier was deeply personal.  

"Our goal was to keep everything that’s loved and cherished about our original Explore carrier and update the aesthetic for a more clean, streamlined look—all guided by the context of being a new mom," she explains. As a mom herself, Kate knows firsthand how overwhelming those early stages of parenting can be. "When your baby comes into the world, it’s an absolutely magical experience, but also a complicated one! There are so many new stages and so many new products to figure out. We wanted to simplify that experience for moms, and all caretakers for that matter." 

This understanding of the emotional and practical challenges faced by new parents was central to the redesign process. Kate and the Tula team focused on making carrying your babies more intuitive and reducing the visual clutter that could make the carrier seem complicated.  

Balancing Beauty and Functionality  

The Explore carrier has always been known for its versatility, offering multiple carrying positions to suit the needs of both parents and babies. However, this functionality sometimes led to a more complex design.  

With the new Explore, Kate and her team sought to blend this functionality with a sleek, modern look. "The new Explore design aligns better with the visual language of the rest of our carrier portfolio," she says. "Explore offers more carry options [than our other Tula options] and therefore looked a little more complicated, so with our redesign, we strived for the best of both worlds—a carrier that can do it all, but still speak to our clean and easy Tula aesthetic. 

I am so excited about the new Explore for so many reasons, but if I had to pick one—it’s the hidden buttons and snaps! Removing those visual elements from the front of the carrier gives a much cleaner canvas to showcase all our lovely prints and fabrics." 

Designing with Empathy and Passion 

Kate’s journey with Tula began even before she became a mother, and her passion for design has only deepened since. Before joining Tula, she designed handbags, travel bags, backpacks, and wallets. "But carrying objects is totally different than carrying tiny miracles," she says. "When I got to start working with real moms carrying real babies, it was a game changer for me. To witness parents’ lives made easier through good product design made everything click into place for me—my profession and passion became intertwined." 

Now, as a mom herself, Kate brings an even greater level of empathy and understanding to her work. "Becoming a mom has been transformative for me in so many ways," she shares. "I’ve never felt so in the right place at the right time as I do right now." This transformation has enhanced her design instincts, allowing her to intuitively solve problems and create products that truly resonate with parents. 

A New Era for Explore 

We're so excited about this updated carrier and we can’t wait to see how it supports the lives of parents and their little ones. All that we do at Tula is fueled by a desire to make life easier for parents while celebrating the beauty of a parent and child bond. 

As Kate puts it, "Our products exist to foster that connection with your kid, and I couldn’t be more proud to design for our company’s mission." 

Whether you’re a new mom or a seasoned parent, we know this new Explore carrier will becomes a cherished part of your parenting journey.