Green Diaper

A legal eagle couldn’t bear the thought of her baby’s diapers polluting the environment. So she made her own.

DID you know that before a child is potty trained, he or she would have used up to 7,000 disposable diapers?

For 34-year-old lawyer, Azrina Azmi, the thought that her precious angel, Ayra, was polluting the environment the minute she was welcomed into the world was just too much to stomach.

“I tried the traditional diaper but it’s not very convenient for working mothers or babysitters.


Enterprising spirit: Azrina Azmi established Fresh Bots with the aim of making attractive and affordable modern cloth diapers.

“Then, I started buying modern cloth diapers from overseas but the shipping costs made them very expensive,” Azrina explains. “That’s when I decided to make my own.

“I only had basic sewing skills with my daughter as model and tester. I used up bales of cloth before I found the right fit and, more importantly, a cloth diaper that works just as well as a disposable!”

After establishing Fresh Bots (derived from the words “fresh bottom”) in 2003, this legal eagle experimented with various designs and materials before coming out with a prototype.

Holding up a gorgeous Raspberry coloured diaper, Azrina explains that modern cloth diapers are as convenient as disposables but, unlike the latter, can be washed and used again and again.

The use of snap buttons or Velcro straps replace the need for safety pins.

“New mothers don’t need to learn how to fold or pin diapers! More importantly, parents save a lot in the long run when they switch to cloth diapers,” she said.

“Disposable diapers cost an average of RM0.60 a diaper, so you’d spend around RM4,200 for one child.

“Compare that with RM1,530 for a set of cloth diapers (around 27 pieces) and you’ve saved RM2,670.

“If you have a second child, you can save RM5,000, since the same set of diapers can be used.” Azrina agrees that cleaning cloth diapers is a common concern for parents, but says, “mothers who are put off by washing solids on their baby’s diapers can use a liner, which is thrown away.”

She says they can also soak the diapers for 15-30 minutes to expel urine.

Azrina says that only a third of the normal amount of detergent is needed to wash the diapers and that no bleach or softener is needed.

“Our hot Malaysian sun acts as a natural bleach and mothers can opt for an extra rinse to remove any residue.”

Parents keen to try modern cloth diapers will be pleased to know that cloth diapering is a healthier option for their children.

For good hygiene, paediatricians recommend that newborns be changed about 10 times a day while older babies should be changed about six times.

Regular changes allow the baby’s skin to breathe, thus preventing nappy rash.

Also, cloth-diapered children potty train earlier as they learn to recognise the feeling of dampness, which is usually absent when wearing disposables.

Hearing this confident lawyer passionately sharing her experiences may lead one to think she breezed her way into this new world.

Azrina shakes her head: “It wasn’t a bed of roses. My family’s support was the key to my success and continues to be.

“My mother helps out with childcare as I’m still a full time lawyer.

“I had to source for the right materials to make the cloth diapers. Eventually, I found suitable materials from the United States.

“Another major challenge is convincing customers that Malaysian-made products are just as good as imported ones”.

Fresh Bots’ range of cloth diapers include the EASI All-In-One (100% cotton), EASI Pocket Onesize (polyester and suede with adjustable sizing and soaking ability) and EASI Pocket Original (polyester and suede in S, M, L and XL sizes).

Currently sold at baby boutiques and selected online retailers, Fresh Bot merchandise are also exported to Singapore, New Zealand and Britain.


Colourful creations: Fresh Bots’ made-in-Malaysia cloth diapers.

“Committed to quality and continuous improvement, we regularly seek feedback from our customers,” says the soft-spoken entrepreneur.

“When I started out, I wanted to make affordable cloth diapers to give mothers the choice of dressing their babies in natural, breathable fabrics.

“As we moved along, I also offered washable nursing pads, waterproof bed pads, towels and soft sole leather shoes to complement the diapers.”

When asked about future plans, Azrina shares that two new Fresh Bot diapers will be introduced in July, along with the opening of a showroom-cum-retail store in Ampang in October.

If this determined lady’s innovative and enterprising spirit hasn’t knocked your socks off, then you may be touched by her caring spirit as she also tries to help single mothers by employing them as seamstresses.

“I was raised by a single mother – I just want to help them as much as I can,” is Azrina’s simple reply.

To other entrepreneurs about to strike out on their own, she advises: “Believe in yourself and never doubt your own capability. Do not let others tell you that you cannot do it because if you don’t do it, you will never know if your business will succeed or not.

“To fail is better than not doing anything at all.”

She can be contacted at 6012-304 0811. Fresh Bots’ website is www.freshbots.com.