Liberté Apparel is proud to introduce The Love Handle,^®* a chic and fashionable garment that functions as a child walking tether, but once and for all eliminates the stigma.

Valerie Sumner, a former New York State attorney and founder of Liberté Apparel, needed a way to keep her active toddler within arm’s reach.  Like many parents, she could not bring herself to use the traditional child harness because of its unattractive appearance and negative connotations.  After searching the web and children’s stores for an alternative, and finding none, she sewed a simple and colorful safety sash to use when traveling with her toddler. 

Valerie was instantly greeted with compliments from parents, grandparents and other caregivers on this novel apparel, many commenting that they had tried the traditional tether, but stopped using it because of the critical comments of passersby. 

Armed with a team of talented designers and sewers in New York’s garment district, Valerie has solved this age-old dilemma with the hip and stylish Love Handle^®.  Expanding on her original “sash” idea, The Love Handle^® is the culmination of more than a year of collaborative design work and is made in the U.S.A.

The Love Handle^® is fully self-adjusting and fits children of all sizes from the time they take their first steps as toddlers, and for years to come.  The Love Handle^® uses no straps, snaps or other fasteners.  It is made from durable cotton canvas and lined in lightweight cotton.  The Love Handle^® has been rigorously safety tested, and will securely support your child while allowing you to control the distance he or she travels. It is comfortable when worn, and easily folds to fit in a purse or diaper bag.

The Love Handle^® is available in a variety of hip and sophisticated styles.  It is perfect for use in shopping malls, boutiques, fairs, city sidewalks and other crowded areas.   The Love Handle^® gives today’s multi-tasking parents (and grandparents!) an extra hand, and allows children to express their independence outside the confines of a stroller, while safely within arm’s reach. With The Love Handle^® adults look hip, and kids keep their dignity intact.

This unique apparel promotes child safety and improves the lives of parents, grandparents, caregivers and our children.