Erika Drobnič has been creating innovative furniture in Slovenia for several years, including multi-purpose Kiara cradles. She is a mother herself, and after her daughter was born, she wanted to make her new baby comfortable. The cradle was being created when she was expecting her second child, daughter Kiara, after whom she named the cradle.

The British Court
The idea that the Kiara cradle would be Slovenia’s present to the British Court came about last year, when Drobnič was given the opportunity to be introduced in the British market, which was excellent promotion for the small company.

In Slovenia’s name, the cradle was presented to the British Court by the Slovenian Ambassador to London, Iztok Jarc, on 7 August. A similar cradle was also presented by the Ambassador to the British charity, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, on behalf of Slovenia and the Razvoj in inovacije company on 16 September.

The cradle is distinguished by its multifunctionality
The cradle was designed from the perspective of parents who know what they need for their children. It has wheels and can be moved about, and once the cradle is no longer in use because the child has grown out of it, the cradle is easily dismantled and reassembled in a new form which is needed for the child’s development and must not be missed in any home: small chairs and a table. The upper part of the cradle serves as a basket for toys on four small wheels. This also means that if you do not want to construct the entire cradle for a second child, you can use just the basket. Thus the cradle acquires an unlimited lifetime, which saves money and space, so frequently a problem with children’s furniture.

The cradle meets all EU standards and is constructed with high quality and safety in mind. It is available in several colours and with different bedding patterns made especially for the cradle.

The poetry of wood, glass and lace
The cradle combines three noble, but simple materials: wood, glass and lace. The hand-blown glass part was made by Steklarna Hrastnik. The perfection of the product is also complimented by Slovenian lace, which decorates the bedding. The cradle has a distinctive Scandinavian appearance based on Slovenian tradition. The cradle is made of birch wood, which has been used for centuries for cradles, and the noble indigenous figured maple veneer. The symbols in lace combine the English rose and the Slovenian heart, the combination of the royal coat-of-arms and Slovenian tradition. The cradle was named Kiara LOVE, which is Erika Drobnič’s trademark, with the added Slovenian motto LOVE deriving from the word Slovenia.

The cradle is aimed at Slovenian and foreign markets
The ‘Kiara’ cradle is a unique Slovenian-made multi-purpose product that parents can use throughout the entire period of a child’s growth. Already at first sight, the cradle appears different, as it combines modern design and innovative multi-purpose use. The beautiful colours and motifs are guaranteed to excite every child. The ‘Kiara’ cradle is a product which you will be proud of whether you receive it or present it as a gift. The ‘Kiara’ collection was very successful at the Kind + Jugend fair in Germany in September 2011. It is protected as a Community design and has received several awards at international innovation fairs around the world. The cradle is a product of exclusively Slovenian work, knowledge and materials; it complies with all EU standards, which is confirmed by the conformity marking.

At present, the cradle can be purchased in Slovenia and Europe, but Erika Drobnič is hopeful of a breakthrough in the American market in the near future.

New projects
The company Razvoj in inovacije is developing a children’s room which, like the cradle, will also be multifunctional and will grow with the child, while enabling the child to adjust its own space. The project, which began in mid-2013, is still in its initial phase; the company expects to complete it in three years.

Tanja Glogovčan, SINFO