Maybe the Cutest Local Business of all Time? “Leni’s Bears” is Turning Tiny Clothes into Timeless Keepsakes
If you’ve ever opened your kid’s “too small” bin and immediately needed to sit down because the wave of emotions nearly knocked you out… yeah, same. Those tiny clothes hold entire chapters of our early motherhood era, and let’s be honest, get put aside waaaay too quickly. So when we discovered Leni’s Bears, a local Vancouver mom and maker who transforms sentimental baby clothes into the sweetest keepsakes, we knew this was something our community needed to know about.
If you’re a parent, you know the feeling: staring at a tiny onesie you cannot donate because it holds too many memories. Enter Leni’s Bears, a Vancouver-based keepsake studio turning your little one’s outgrown clothes into custom teddy bears and blankets you’ll treasure for years.
The magic behind it all is Chelsea, a local mom and family & marriage therapist who stitched her very first memory bear from her daughter Lennox’s (Leni) newborn outfits. That simple, sentimental project sparked something bigger - a way for families to hold onto the sweetest parts of early parenthood in a tangible, beautiful way. It makes me think of Unicorn Spaces": one of the key components of a Unicorn Space is “Community”, and the ability to share your creative outlet with others. Chelsea is doing that in bucket-loads.
What She Creates
Leni’s Bears specializes in:
Memory Bears made from your baby’s clothing
Memory Blankets crafted from 20–30 favourite outfits
Each bear or blanket is fully customized, down to the fabric selection, special details, personalized embroidery, and the personality you want the piece to have. Prices start around $95, making this one of the most accessible handcrafted keepsake options in the city.
How It Works
You gather your most beloved baby clothes - the sleeper they wore home from the hospital, the PJs they lived in during those chaotic newborn nights, the tiny shirt that still smells faintly like baby shampoo - and Chelsea transforms them into something new. You can drop items off locally, mail them to her, or arrange a pick-up depending on availability.
Turnaround is typically around four weeks, and every single piece is made by hand with care, intention, and a whole lot of mom-heart.
Why We Love It
Leni’s Bears isn’t just a product - it’s a memory you can hold, hug, and hand down. Not only are you supporting a local small business & mom by ordering from her, for parents looking for a meaningful gift to preserve those early years in a meaningful way, this Vancouver gem is an absolute treasure.
