The Pajama Squid is a dream of a children’s boutique and online shopping site, and the dream child of Tiffany King.

I walked through the doors of The Pajama Squid yesterday and was immediately filled with a ravenous desire for every single item on the beautiful shelves. Everywhere I looked were children’s and baby delights with originality and character. Literally everything I viewed was completely unlike anything I have seen in my exhaustive retail study of kid stuff these last five years: lovely frocks, suave leather retro sneakers, hand-sewn stuffed creatures, t-shirts with clever or classic graphic design, hardcover art books, wooden toys.

Takoma Park resident and boutique owner Tiffany King has hand-selected The Pajama Squid’s imaginative inventory. Rather than attend the retail shows and dispassionately choose items marketed by Madison Ave, Tiffany personally researched and chose the unique handmade clothes, toys and books. Sending sometimes 600 e-mails a day, she sought out the brands and items carried at The Pajama Squid based on their creative design and social responsibility. Many of the brands are free-trade, benefit mothers and children in developing countries and most of the toys and clothes’ materials are natural and eco-friendly. Tiffany says, “As a missionary baby born in Kenya, I am drawn to international touches and crafts that are free-trade and handmade by interesting people. The store has items from France, the Netherlands, Morocco and India.”

Photo courtesy of Ilse Eisele.

Tiffany says that she had been dreaming of this store for the last two years but that it came to life in just two months of hard work. Open only three weeks, The Pajama Squid’s Carroll Street storefront is already making a great impact in the Takoma Park, Silver Spring and Washington communities. Takoma Park mother of two Sara Nagy was at the shop for her second trip and purchased a pair of snazzy See Kai Run sneakers. She said, “I think they are unique and the leather seems nice and comfortable. My son loves colorful clothes and changes his outfits five times a day and he will love these shoes.” Sara also said as she left the shop, “I want to buy everything.”

I asked Tiffany for assistance in selecting a new baby gift and a birthday present for a 4 year old girl. She happily suggested the Skidaddle animals for newborns that can hang from a baby carrier handle and have vivid stripes that engage young minds, as well as a darling graphic tee just perfect for a preschool fashionista. And as I had my daughter with me as assistant reporter, I couldn’t get out of there without picking up a little something for her: a precious hair clip by giddygiddy.

Tiffany also stocks children’s books from infant to age 12 – an eclectic mix of classics and new authors unified by beautiful illustrations and imaginative stories.

If you don’t live in the area, don’t fret: many of the fabulous items in the store are also available online at The Pajama Squid.com!

The Pajama Squid
7320 Carroll Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301.560.7956
tiffany@thepajamasquid.com
Open Sunday-Friday 10am-6pm
Closed Saturday
The Pajama Squid blog