Skip to content

Our Story


Established in 2005

The Original Bird & Bean®

Bird & Bean® is a children’s clothing label and retail stores based in the Bay Area of CA.  For over two decades, we’ve been creating thoughtfully designed, comfortable, and timeless clothing for babies and kids.

What started as a small, passion-fueled business in Northern CA has grown into a trusted brand for families who care about quality, softness, and clothes that kids actually want to wear.

Bird & Bean®, the label, was founded in 2005 and has been independently owned and operated ever since. While there are now other brands in the children’s space with similar names, Bird & Bean® is the original — built slowly and intentionally over many years through loyal customers, thoughtful design, and a deep commitment to families.

Our history matters to us. It reflects our values, our experience, and the care we put into everything we make and sell.


How It All Began

Bird & Bean® was born in a tiny Oakland, CA studio with a simple belief: kids’ clothes should be soft enough to love, strong enough to last, and comfortable enough for all-day play. Every piece is designed with thoughtful details, playful prints, and lasting quality—made for kids to move freely and for parents to feel confident in what they’re buying.

From the beginning, we focused on:

  • Soft, high-quality fabrics and thoughtful construction

  • Comfortable fits and details made for real kids 

  • Timeless designs that don’t rely on trends

As the brand grew, those principles never changed.


What We Make Today

Today, Bird & Bean® offers a full collection of baby and kids clothing designed with comfort, durability, and style in mind. From everyday essentials, newborn gifts, to special occasion pieces, everything we design is created with intention.

We prioritize:

  • Natural, breathable fabrics

  • Thoughtful construction and fit

  • Pieces that can be worn, washed, and loved again and again and hopefully passed down to the next lucky kid

Our goal is simple: clothes that make life easier for parents and feel great for kids.


What We Believe In

At the heart of Bird & Bean® are values that guide every decision we make:

  • Comfort first — kids should be able to move, play, and relax freely

  • Quality over quantity — fewer, better-made pieces

  • Timeless design — not fast fashion, not disposable

  • Community — supporting families and small businesses

We believe shopping thoughtfully matters, and that small, independent brands play an important role in creating a more meaningful retail experience.


Thank You for Being Here 

We’re proud of where we started, how far we’ve come, and the community that has grown with us since 2005. Bird & Bean® exists because of families who value quality, care, and connection — and we don’t take that lightly.

Thank you for supporting an independent brand with a long history, a clear point of view, and a lot of heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you the original Bird & Bean®?
Yes. Bird & Bean® was founded in 2005 and has operated continuously as an independent brand since that time.

Why are there other brands with similar names?
Bird & Bean® has been in continuous operation since 2005. Other brands using similar naming entered the market at later dates.

Are you affiliated with any similarly named brands?
No. Bird & Bean® is an independent company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any other similarly named brands.

How can I confirm I am purchasing from the original Bird & Bean®?
Purchases made directly through birdandbeanshop.com or in our store are from the original Bird & Bean® brand.

The Bird & Bean® Label

We Love Kids

We Love Kids

We love their cute little faces, their innocence, honesty, curiosity and their playfulness. 

Bird & Bean® is my love of kids and my love of design morphed into one cute little package. 

We create the softest, sweetest clothes that appeal to both kids and their grown-ups. We are the favorite dress or shirt that your child won’t take off. And, we want to be sure that our clothes are durable enough so that you can pass them down to the next lucky kid!

Our BamBeanie™ Fabric & Other Product Information

Our clothing is made with our special BamBeanie™ buttery soft bamboo viscose/spandex

It is extremely soft and stretchy, making it baby + kiddo’s top favorite, is absorbent and breathable, and doesn’t shrink or pill. We love our fabric and think that the weight and softness can’t be beat! 

We make these clothes for kids after all, and we want them to last through all of the shenanigans and then get passed on to the next lucky kiddo!

We use low-impact, water-based inks for printing and we comply with all guidelines to ensure that all of our products are lead-free and safe. 

Additionally, we do not treat any of our products with flame retardant chemicals. As such, all of our sleepwear complies with the “snug fitting” guidelines for items that are not treated with flame retardant. Please reach out if you need more information about federal sleepwear regulations!

Our Retail Shops

In 2016, after more than a decade designing her children’s apparel brand and following the births of her two children, Janel Andersen decided to explore the other side of retail. That vision became Bird & Bean, the retail store.

Located on the Oakland–Berkeley border in the heart of the Rockridge and Elmwood shopping districts, the shop features a full selection of Bird & Bean pieces alongside other unique collections and everyday essentials for new parents and thoughtful gift-givers.

Inspired by her own “bird” (daughter) and “bean” (son), Janel’s goal is to offer impeccable customer service and share her years of baby and kids’ product expertise — helping customers find exactly what they’re looking for.

Stitch + Sparrow

In the fall of 2019, sister store Stitch + Sparrow opened directly next door to Bird & Bean. Designed as a natural extension of the brand, the shop offers a thoughtfully curated collection of inspiring designers, locally made jewelry, handbags, accessories, and lifestyle goods.

Owner and buyer Janel Andersen personally handpicks every piece, creating a selection that is relaxed yet refined — approachable, well-made, and meant to be worn and loved. The assortment features a mix of established favorites and emerging designers, with an emphasis on quality, craftsmanship, and timeless style.

Brands you’ll find throughout the shop include Emerson Fry, Clare V, MABE, Mirth, Laude the Label, Tallulah and Hope, Corey Lynn Calter, Native Nectar Botanicals, Homebody, Slow North, Juniper Ridge, and many more.

Why Stitch + Sparrow?

Stitch speaks to where it all began. In 2005, at a kitchen table in Oakland, California, the very first stitch was sewn into a tiny baby t-shirt — the beginning of what would become Bird & Bean.

Sparrow reflects the values that continue to guide the business today. Often associated with joy, simplicity, community, and devotion to family, the sparrow is both industrious and nurturing — always gathering, creating, and caring for her young.

Together, Stitch + Sparrow represents thoughtful beginnings, purposeful work, and a deep connection to home and community.

Visit Us

We’d love to welcome you in person.

Visit Bird & Bean and Stitch + Sparrow at:

3212 College Ave and 3210 College Ave

Berkeley, California

Bird & Bean

3212 College Avenue,

Berkeley, CA 94705

(510) 879-7066

Everyday: 10am-6pm

Stitch + Sparrow

3210 College Avenue,

Berkeley, CA 94705

(510) 879-7066

Everyday: 10am-6pm