Our devotion to sustainability leads us to many interesting and up and coming products, people and companies. One of these people is Pretty Govindji. She has created the products that make up Kangovou. The sustainable, stylish and practical dishes are some of our favorites!
We wanted all of you to get to know Pretty and learn more about the Kangovou dishes, so we asked her to talk with us about her company, her products and what drives her.
How did you come up with the idea for the Kangovou products?Several years ago, I moved my whole family to organic eating after researching and educating myself on the effects of pesticides on young developing bodies like my three little boys. I educated myself on what items had the highest levels of pesticides and what items did not need to be bought organically. I was under the impression that I had done everything I could to eliminate toxic chemicals from the foods that my kids were eating. In 2009, the news reported that certain plastic children's products including plates, cups, spoons and bowls contained bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that is harmful. It turned out that I was putting nutritious, healthy and organic foods on plates and bowls that contained BPA and were leaching chemicals into my kids' food. Out of frustration, I threw out all my plastic plates, bowls and cups and went out looking for an alternative. Not being able to find what I wanted, I started with a large round stainless steel plate that my mom gave me, which she had brought from India. Over the years, I had family members and friends who traveled overseas bring me back stainless steel dishware that they were able to find during their travels. Over two years, I tested all the items on my three boys. I found out what worked, what didn't, and what would be nice to have -- the wish pile! That's when a friend of mine, Tess Brennan decided to join me and help me with designing products on our own. Together we worked on developing the ideal feeding set for kids. These products had to be free of BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Lead and Melamine. All these chemicals have major effects on our kids lives. It turned out that what we created was great for adults as well. Adults are also using our plates and our bowls.
What do you think the best features of the dishes are?
The fact that all our dishes can be used by kids and adults. Our compartment plates are being used by kids at schools for lunch and adults are also using them for portion control meals. Our flat plates are also being used by both kids and adults. I use the flat plate almost everyday for a salad at lunch.
Tell us a little about the products, where are they made? What are they made from?
All of our products are made of 18/8 stainless steel which is a high quality, sanitary, food grade stainless steel. There are many reasons why we used stainless steel. First and foremost, stainless steel is non-toxic and non-leaching and it's safe for food usage and storage. It's also very durable so you are not spending tons of money replacing containers over and over. It's also stain and rust resistant. During the product testing phase I found a number of problems in using stainless steel dishware: (1) The stainless steel cups sweat when you place cold liquids in them, making them difficult to hold, and (2) Stainless steel dishware conducts heat. To solve these problems we designed an outer plastic cover made of polypropylene (PP #5),which is a food grade plastic.
All of our products are BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Melamine and Lead free. Our products also come with lids so it is safe and convenient to move from the dinner table straight to the fridge. All of our products can also be used for travel.
All our products are made in South Korea.
What is your background?
My background is in Human Resources. I worked for a couple of companies in their Human Resources Department before becoming a Mom. I also have a Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and an MBA.
Do you have children?
I have 3 boys. I have a 9 year and 7 year old twins. They keep me busy!
What are your dreams for Kangovou as a company?
It is our goal to provide a line of products that offers safe and eco-friendly solutions for today's parents who want to solve real-world needs. We want to develop and market an entire suite of products, from stainless steel dishware to organic skin care products, and children's clothing, which delivers both style and functionality and are healthy for children and the environment.
If you could do one thing to change the way we treat our planet what would it be?
If I could do one things to change the way we treat our planet is have less waste and recycle as much as possible. I would like to continue to educate and provide products that make life easier for people to use sustainable products in order to the reduce waste.
What inspires you right now?
My kids inspire me to do and create things that are better for them and the planet.
Do you have other questions you would like to ask Pretty? If you would like to see her dishes feel free to come in the store, or check them out on the site.
I currently have the compartment plate & flat plate combo on my wish list. I dream of a beautiful salad for lunch in this gorgeous dish. Which dish would you buy?