At Unglued, we are always looking for new state and local pride items to showcase ND and MN! When Local Littles reached out, we were SO insanely excited to find out that the CUTEST state-related pajamas were being designed right here in town through Jess and Aasta! Read on more about them below—they even included a discount code you can use, too. We cannot wait to see everything they keep Meet The creating!

Tell us a bit about yourselves.

Jess Mouw: I grew up in Cando, ND, and moved to the Fargo-Moorhead area for college. I quickly fell in love with the community here and decided to make it home. Now I live in West Fargo with my husband, Hunter, our son, Otto, and our dog, Fisher. While we might not love the wind or long winters, we absolutely love the people and the strong sense of community. In our free time, we enjoy movie and game nights with friends, staying connected through our local church (shoutout to Harvest Valley), and keeping active with golf and basketball leagues, plus lots of family walks with Fisher.

Aasta Waugh: I’m a Minnesota native and former tattoo artist. I’ve recently transitioned into being a full-time mom and designer. Since having my daughter, I’ve tried to stay creative in everyday life. When I’m not designing for Local Littles, you’ll find me gardening, sewing, baking, or spending quality time with a good friend or family!

Describe what type of products you make under Local Littles.

We make children’s bamboo pajamas with designs inspired by our local communities and states! Our ultimate goal is to help little ones—and their grownups—love where they live.

Tell us how you got started with your business!

In April 2024, our founder, Jess Mouw, a proud North Dakota native with a deep love for all things Midwest, became a mom to her son, Otto. As she shopped for him, she found herself wanting clothing that celebrated her Midwest roots, her city, and her state. Because comfort and convenience are key in the Mouw household, Otto practically lived in PJs, during his first six months! While on maternity leave from her 8-to-5 job, Jess started dreaming up the idea of high-quality bamboo pajamas that reflect the places we call home. And just like that, Local Littles was born! Jess teamed up with an old friend from small-town Minnesota—a former tattoo artist turned new mom—who hand-draws all of our unique designs.

Bamboo onesies are all the rage right now—could you tell us more about the benefits of this material?

They provide softness and comfort. Bamboo fabric is incredibly soft, silky, and stretchy, making it perfect for growing kiddos and suitable to help those with sensitive skin! Bamboo is breathable and moisture-wicking, helping regulate body temperature, which helps keep your little one cool in summer and warm in winter!

How have you chosen what goes on your onesies?

For our state onesies, we aim to incorporate a blend of local wildlife, native flora, landmarks, and iconic features of each state to make each design personal and unique.

What is your most popular one so far?

Our most popular design is our newly released Land of 10,000 Lakes print.

The process of figuring out how to get your sketches and illustrations on a onesie like this must have taken quite a while! How did you go about it?

Our process starts with a lot of research and brainstorming about each state— we really want to capture what makes each place special. We often reach out to family and friends from those states to gather their input and favorite local gems. From there, we start sketching ideas and refining the illustrations until they feel just right. Once the artwork is finalized, we work closely with our production partners to bring the design to life on our onesies. It’s definitely a labor of love, but seeing it all come together is so rewarding!

What is something you’ve enjoyed the most about doing this handcrafted business?

Growing Local Littles has been such a fun adventure so far. We both agree that the best part has been getting to work together as new moms while including our little ones in so much of what we do. They’ve become our pajama testers, models, and biggest inspirations.

What is the most challenging thing?

Spreading the word about our products and brand has been the most challenging part of the journey so far.

Any future plans you can share with us, or designs to look forward to?

We are really excited about the release of our State Fair print, coming out later this summer. It’s a playful celebration of everything people love about state fairs—delicious food, fun attractions, and more. We’re also busy working on two new state designs and a festive twist on Christmas pajamas, all set to launch later this year.

Another arm of the business we are excited to launch is our Partner Pajamas. We are excited to partner with organizations and companies to create custom children’s pajamas that make thoughtful and unique gifts for employees or clients. If you are a local business owner and would like to learn more about this opportunity, please reach out!