Label, Love, Repeat: Smart, Stylish Ways To Keep Kids’ Stuff Found All Year (Win!)

Kids lose things—this is a fact of parenting life. Annie Nadeau, founder of Quebec’s Colle à moi, has turned that daily chaos into a tidy, design-forward solution: waterproof, machine-safe labels, no-iron stick-on name tags, customizable bento boxes and even Kawaii-themed sets that make identification feel fun. For busy families juggling activities, work and the school year’s endless rotations, Annie’s practical-yet-pretty approach promises effortless, year-round organization—no vacation-cutting label sessions required. In this Q&A she shares why durability, sustainability and a personal touch matter, plus her best hacks for labeling everything from sneakers to snack boxes. —Noa Nichol

Where did the idea for Colle à moi come from?

When I read my five-year-old son’s school list a few years ago, I was scrambling around and running out of time to identify everything by hand. As a well-organized mom, I looked for personalized label solutions, but nothing was to my liking.

I thought, “I should make ID labels that I like with my own designs.” The idea for the business was born.

In 2014, after two years of research and development, Colle à moi sold its first labels.

How do you differentiate yourself from other label options on the market?

Our clothing labels stand apart by their durability and quality, on the one hand. They won’t come off in the dishwasher, the microwave, the washing machine and the dryer. They even sometimes last longer than the products themselves! We also offer a satisfaction guarantee. Furthermore, each illustration is hand-drawn, so all our designs are exclusive – and designed with love by me.

Where do you get your inspiration for your illustrations?

Our children’s school supplies are part of everyday life, and that’s what inspires me to create designs that reflects what’s trending. It’s a way for me to combine business with pleasure. I look at décor and fashion trends, at popular shades, but I do also follow my spontaneous creative impulses. Finally – my children, even if they grow up so fast, are an infinite source of inspiration.

Do you have a creative ritual?

Yes, absolutely! It all starts with a team discussion where we analyze market trends and look at our clients’ comments and suggestions. They are a true source of inspiration for new illustration collections or products. Once the team has agreed on a direction, it’s my turn to dive into visual creation. My ritual begins early in the morning, when everyone is still asleep. I make a good cup of coffee, then sit down to work in peace. This is the time of day when I’m most creative, focused, and efficient— as nothing distracts me. Then, I share my illustrations to the team and get their feedback. It’s a process that’s both stimulating and nurturing. Creating images that amaze children brings me immense joy.

As the founder of this company, what makes you most proud?

I like to think that Colle à moi brings children’s items to life with tags and other personalized products and more importantly, that thousands of children are getting their lost things back, thanks to our labels.

Any wish for Colle à moi’s future?

I am very grateful for the success and growth we had over the past decade, thanks to my talented team and loyal customers. My wish is that this success story lingers, and that Colle à moi continues developing durable and unique identification products that will make families’ life easier.

What’s your most popular collection at Colle à moi?

Unicorn Princess, definitely! Otherwise, we always choose a “default” collection before starting to customize the labels. The collection we choose is generally among the most popular.

What’s your biggest challenge?

Our annual sales are condensed into a two-month period during the year, July and August. Our biggest challenge is therefore processing, producing, and shipping all orders in time for the start of the school year.

A funny anecdote to share?

A customer ordered two silicone bottle bands in different colors, asking to write: hot sauce and mild sauce. We were quite intrigued, until we discovered it was for a restaurant!

We also see all sorts of first names and unique ways of spelling them. It’s also interesting to see how popular first names have evolved over the years.

What are the most popular first names right now, according to your observations?

The names used for labels generally follow the trends. We’re just a little behind, since mothers generally buy our products when their children start daycare. In the last six months, the top printed names for five boys and girls were:

• Thomas, William, Liam, Louis, Émile

 • Florence, Alice, Emma, Charlotte, Olivia

What is your favorite product/collection?

The bottle band is so practical! It helps limit the spread of viruses, especially since it’s not uncommon for our children to have bottles identical to their friends’. The teacher’s planner is also a favorite. Even though I’m not a teacher, I use it in my personal life and at work, to organize myself.

Win! A $200 Colle à moi Gift Card!

Congrats Kim P. of Port Coquitlam, BC, who will receive a $200 Colle à moi Gift Card! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.