Lovaloom Astra Geminidas Review

Lovaloom Astra Geminidas

59% Pima cotton / 37% Mulberry silk / 2% polyamide / 2% polyester / 330 GSM

23 months and 28 pounds 

I've long had an affinity for all things celestial in design. I was really looking forward to seeing the Astra design in person and it did not disappoint. The Geminidas colorway is black and ecru with very subtle golden sparkles. I immediately noted how dense and weighty the wrap is, one of the more substantial I've tested.

In hand there is a medium diagonal stretch, the wrap is soapy, with the black side slightly more soapy than the cream. Medium - high thickness, feels more substantial due to the dense, tight weave. Very flat texture, there is slightly more texture and grip along the inside rails, which are generous and have lovaloom written in the pattern on the cream side only. There is no rough feel from the subtle golden sparkles, just an overall soft and soapy wrap.

For me the Astra design is a whimsical classic. Especially in the Geminidas colorway, black and ecru, you can't go wrong. This is a wrap design and colorway you will not tire of quickly is my guess. In different carries you get a different look and feel, depending on if the large stars or moon are featured more prominently, or the connected constellations. Astra Geminidas is a wrap you can dress up or down, if you need a fun, but special occasion wrap this is a perfect choice.

I found this Astra very easy to wrap with, the soapiness really assists in getting a precise wrap job, but it is also a very forgiving wrap with sloppy carries too. For someone with a squirmy toddler sometimes you need a wrap that you can get your child up in under 30 seconds, but it will also be comfortable for more than 30 minutes! I am currently not a typical wearer with a back injury, so it says a lot for me if I can use a wrap for any period of time past a few minutes. I mostly wore this wrap in double hammock tied in front and it was a dream with my heavier toddler. It also performed well in a ruck, very solid and supportive. This blend was really a downright pleasure to wrap with, weighty yet soft, lots of glide and some wool like properties, though there is no wool content. It wraps very similarly to both Omnifera Wings of Desire, which I have previously reviewed, and Artipoppe Argus Signature Jack.

Astra Geminidas would be on the top of my list for my toddler if I was in the market for a wrap right now. The pattern will appeal to those who love classic and slightly quirky, but the blend is all over a stand out for heavier babies and toddlers. I would give it a pass for a newborn, but as we all know newborns grow up quickly and this wrap will be there for the long haul and long carries. I almost always personally prefer wraps in my base or longer, but this Astra will shine as a shorty too, there is very little stretch while wearing and no sag, so it will be a solid toddler worthy shorty. If  you need grip at all give this one a pass, same if you like an airier wrap, or thin in hand - This will not be the wrap for you. If you love luxurious blends, heavier weight, dense and tight weaves, glide and soapiness, Astra Geminidas is definitely a wrap for you.

Thank you Christina at Lovaloom for letting me experience the stellar Astra Geminidas!

Find Lovaloom's chatter group on Facebook here.

Omnifera Wings of Desire Sandalphon Review

Omnifera Wings of Desire Sandalphon
78% Pima cotton/14% Mulberry silk/8% baby camel / 300 GSM pre wash
1 year and 26 pounds

*Note tested and photographed in March 2016.

Wings of Desire is a weighty wrap and upon arrival I could feel that and that there is also very low texture and a smooth dense feel. The name made me smile as I am a long time fan of the Wim Wenders film of the same name. Wings of Desire Sandalphon on first feel is a high quality, luxurious blend.

Back to the low texture, running my hand over the wrap I didn't anticipate much if any grip while wrapping. There is a low amount of diagonal stretch. Wings of Desire is medium thickness and dense, but holding it up to the sun it shows as less dense and there is a floppiness to the wrap as well, which I felt would translate to easier wrapping.

Wings of Desire Sandalphon will appeal to those who dig retro colors and vibes. The brown is a cool toned milk chocolate and paired with creamy ecru the other vibe here is classy. The wing pattern dominates the wrap, but because of the colors it doesn't look busy or overwhelming.

I wore the wrap with my 1 year old main wrappee in double hammock with a CCCB, ruck tied Tibetan knotless, and FWCC. The low texture translated to almost no grip while wrapping. It's really easy to tighten, but extra care is needed to maintain tension. I did have to adjust my carry a few times, in ruck especially and double hammock. Wings of Desire has no itchiness from the baby camel content, I have previously tried Artipoppe baby camel blends and this is very comparable. Because the wrap is floppy and moulds very well it feels less like a heavyweight, but the width of the wrap keeps me from wholeheartedly recommending to newborn wearers. This wrap will shine as a shorty for toddlers, the cush and support is there, and if you did a carry like ruck or ruck tied under bum and it was very tight you wouldn't have to readjust and could wear for extended periods of time because of how cushy and supportive Wings of Desire is. If you are looking for easy care, or a grippy wrap, this one isn't for you. If you enjoy luxury blends and need a lot of cush for your shoulders this wrap performs well and with a toddler in single pass carry you will be able to carry for extended periods comfortably. We enjoyed our time with the wrap, cushy and bouncy, and full of sleepy dust.

Please check out the Omnifera Facebook chatter group here.

Linuschka Bolero Feerie Review

Linuschka Bolero Feerie
48% Peruvian pima cotton / 52% Tussah silk
1 year and 24 pounds / 2 years and 38 pounds

Bolero Feerie is one of the most textured wraps I've had the pleasure of testing. The nubs and slubs on this silky beauty were the first thing I noticed and I am still in awe. The wrap was just slightly brighter and more pink toned than I was expecting from the pictures I had seen.

 

Medium thin in hand, Bolero Feerie is deliciously textured with all the nubs and slubs creating a woven wrap that is a tactile delight. Both sides have the same nubby texture which creates a look of perfect imperfection. The vintage feeling floral pattern also adds some texture and ups the grippy feel. This wrap does feel more dense, but holding it up to the light you can see there is an airiness along the lines of the pattern. There is also a low to medium amount of stretch.

The Bolero design will appeal to those lovers of boho style and vintage vibes. Bolero Feerie has a lot going on, in a good way, and can be a statement wrap, or fit in nicely if you have other standout pieces in your outfit that are detailed and textured. The different colors of tangerine, coral pink, and cream create a warm and pretty pink toned orange. The silk adds a warm sheen. The overall effect here of color, texture, and design is exquisitely luxe and beautiful.

I wore Bolero Feerie mostly with my 1 year old, but decided to test a simple ruck with my older toddler who is a formidable 38 pounds and was very pleased with the support and cush. He was by no means weightless feeling, but there was no digging and very good support for a single pass carry and a heavier fellow. With my 1 year old I put this wrap thru the paces with FWCC and double hammock many variations. We wore it a lot and for long periods of time, 2 plus hours. This beauty became our nap wrap, so silky soft and such gorgeous drape. I had anticipated the pattern and nubby texture would result in a wrap that is grippy and more of a challenge for those second passes and that was absolutely not the case here. The grip was just the right amount to aid maintaining tension with tightening, but glides over easily and tightens easily. I needed just slightly more work on my initial chest pass in double hammock, but pulling the second pass over my baby the wrap glides easily for all the texture. This wrap is also very forgiving with sloppier wrap jobs. The strong tussah silk fibres were evident here in long wears and how well the wrap moulds provided additional comfort for those long wear times. Some wrappers may find it to be more on the narrow side and more care is needed with creating a seat and adjusting the wrap high enough on your child's back, but I personally am used to slightly more narrow wraps such as Kokoro and it was not an issue for me. Wraps similarly to Sling Studio Falling Feathers Margot Storm.

Linuschka Bolero Feerie is one of those wraps where it's exceptional good looks match it's equally impressive wrapping qualities. I wholeheartedly recommend it for all ages and in all sizes. For toddlers though I think this would be stellar in base size for multi pass carries, unless you are only planning on wearing your toddler for short ups. This wrap is not for you if you don't like a lot of texture, or lines and "imperfections" bother you. Also if you prefer smooth wraps and a lot of slip, you may want to give this one a pass. Though you may also want to give it a chance as I tend to prefer smooth and dense wraps with low texture and a lot of stretch, but that is not this wrap and I still think the wrapping qualities are amazing.

Thank you so much to Oxana for the wonderful opportunity to test this special wrap!

Find out more about Linuschka here: http://www.linuschka.de/en/