This is not the first time we have the brand of Omnifera on our blog – some time ago, you could read an extra-excited Linda’s review of Morava Hermetic, which she did not lend me for a single moment so I did not get the chance to be excited as well. Therefore, the ˈhistorical overviewˈ of Omnifera is missing – let’s fix that right now.
Omnifera is a Latin word for “all-bearing”; and, in fact, it is the only Czech manufacturer of truly ˈhigh-endˈ wraps. High-end means high-quality materials, high-quality production and unique design. Moreover, such wraps are often released in very limited editions – and, of course, sold for fairly high-end prices. Although even all-cotton pieces are quite expensive, Omnifera’s ˈdraw to purchaseˈ is still popular and each new release is always hopelessly sold out.
The brand of Omnifera was founded in 2014 by an architect and designer Jana Kráčmarová and her family. The magic of blends is typical of all the Omnifera pieces – ranging from pima cotton over camel and alpaca to Mongolian yak wool. Moreover, more than half of Omnifera wraps are of weight 300 g/m2 (or higher). And, above all, the original design is something Omnifera takes pride in. However, I have to admit that I personally like few Omnifera’s designs. ˈWingsˈ owned by (almost) anybody? Bitten-off dots? Stars, clouds, ehm, well… not for me, thanks. Kubista and Morava in some colour variations – why not, but still – nothing to sweep me off my feet. But then there are the Heart Rock wraps! I loved it more than a year ago when I first met the delicate grey Montmartre, and shortly after that first meeting I was blown away by Heart Rock Lime Mountain. It is an absolutely perfect design, in my opinion – it has simply everything: good idea and perfect execution, it is not as simple as it seems (you can find hidden hearts in the pattern – therefore Heart Rock!), it is variable and, moreover, geometric – and I simply love geometric patterns! Hopefully, I will meet Primrose Hill, Cho Oyu or Annapurna one day…
By the way… Have you noticed I keep praising Vatanai for their witty geographical names? Omnifera got the same idea in case of Heart Rock – all of the wraps are named after a hill or mountain, some of them having a deeper meaning at the same time. Lime Mountain is to be found the US – in Arizona as well as in Nevada; Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world. The above-mentioned Primrose Hill is located in London – the very place where the wrap was introduced to the market on a babywearing trade fair. The same goes for Montmartre, named after the hill of love and loose morals in Paris, which was woven on the occasion of another babywearing trade fair, Bébé-Portation. Khüiten is the highest peak of Mongolia – and as you can probably guess, the wrap contains Mongolian yak wool. Even Marmolada is a mountain in the Dolomites, while the name evokes marmalade at the same time, which perfectly fits its sweetish purple-pink-wine-red colour. And, my absolute favourite – the stunning turquoise Cho Oyu – again, one of the Himalayan eight-thousanders and, moreover… wait for it ;)… Cho Oyu means “turquoise goddess” in Tibetan language! Everything just fits so perfectly in a way that I have never thought possible.
Our dear friend and a bottomless reservoir of wraps, Klárka, brought us a double unforgettable experience – and we are very thankful for that!
Heart Rock Lime Mountain
Composition: 50 % Egyptian cotton, 50 % mulberry silk
Weight: 330 g/m² pre-wash
Size: 6
Back wrap cross carry with sort of a freestyle finish 😉
The Lime Mountain was probably the very first Omnifera wrap I have ever had the opportunity to tie. What a luxury to meet such a wonderful wrap! Mulberry silk is unbelievably soft and pliable. Nobody would guess pre-wash weight of 330 g/m2at the first sight and touch – although there is quite a lot of the wrap in one’s hand, it literally melts when you touch and tie it. It is one of the pieces which basically ties itself – as I have already written, it is perfectly pliable, you can tighten it accurately to a millimetre, it slides just right and holds tight even in one knot. I could barely feel wearing those 9 kilograms. The Lime springs slightly, being firm enough at the same time – exactly the properties necessary for wearing even a toddler in a single-layer carry without sagging. Not without reason the owner lent the wrap to me at the moment when her partner was away for a week – at that time, it was ˈdad’s wrapˈ- he simply refused any other wrap. That says a lot about the Lime Mountain’s properties, doesn’t it?
I have already praised the pattern highly… and now it’s time to praise the colour! Stunning green tuned with fine grey with a silk finish – what more could you ask for? The slightly irregular structure of silk is just the icing on the cake. The only broken note is that the wrap is not really an easy-care companion in bad weather. It is not really prone to pulls, but mulberry silk is quite demanding when we speak about care – it needs soft and gentle hand (hand wash with no spin is not that easy when you take the weight into consideration…). Moreover, the particular silk used in this wrap has a tendency to get hairy and lumpy a bit. However, it is still one of the most beautiful and pleasant wraps I have held in my hands so far.
Heart Rock Makalu
Composition: 50 % Egyptian cotton, 50 % Japanese silk
Weight: 310 g/m²
Size: 5
Rucksack backcarry with star finish
Is all silk the same? Far from it! Japanese silk is very different from the above-mentioned mulberry one. There are tiny nubs in the wrap, it is not shiny and does not really slide – moreover, it feels completely different when you touch it (as Linda would say: “It is kind of greasy”). I had similar feeling about Kenhuru with tsumugi silk, which is not the same as Japanese silk (at least according to all the information I was able to find online) – tsumugi is more like Japanese noil silk… Well, unfortunately I cannot say anything more specific about Makalu’s silk.
In any case, when you compare Makalu and Lime Mountain, they are completely different wraps in my opinion. Although the pre-wash weight is lower in Makalu, onewould certainly say that it is the thicker one in reality. In fact, it is kind of ˈpuffyˈ – but not really fluffy – although the word just doesn’t want to go out of my mouth, Linda’s remark about grease is not completely out of order. Makalu is simply a heavy and dense wrap (in a good way) – primarily intended for toddlers (presented by the manufacturer as well, indeed). One would really have a hard time tying a little baby in it – unlike the Lime Mountain, which could be just fine for smaller wearies.
When being tied, Makalu behaves like a true fatty – although it is nicely pliable and feels pleasant in one’s hand, it still requires an experienced hand to be perfectly tamed. One knot is not a problem – anyway, when a standard-sized person ties this size 5 wrap, there is not really much ˈmaterialˈfor double knot left; moreover, the consumption for a knot is enormous (Omnifera wraps are generally rather shorter than longer, judging by the pieces I have had in my hands). However, if you climb this eight-thousander, your reward will be a super-comfortable wearing.
As far as the looks go… Have I ever mentioned that I do not like purple colour? 😀 Well, it’s just not the Lime Mountain…
